Ebay -- a warning

I thought I'd warn you about E-bay -- something I've just experienced I never knew.    Here's the quick background, and aftermath:

I was looking at stuff on E-bay during the Christmas season, and saw they were offering "free" advertising of your merchandise for the Holidays.   I had a couple of things I didn't need -- so I listed them, and they sold.  About a month later I got an "invoice" in my email from E-bay for $26.50  "for the period of December 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012".   It stated the invoice would be automatically paid out of my Paypal account.

I thought the thing was spam -- because I didn't authorize any charges -- and didn't think they could get into my Paypal account unless I authorized it, and gave out my password.  Wrong!!!!   Paypal and E-bay are in it together -- and even without my approval or password -- about fifteen days later Paypal paid the damn thing.

I called up Paypal -- and they said it was authorized thru my original Ebay agreement.  I asked how they could do that without my password or approval -- and just got the response -- that's what they do,  and I needed to contact Ebay.

I contacted Ebay, and their billing department told me I wasn't charged for the advertising -- just the "sale".  I   told them that was "deceptive", and it was the same thing.   They told me the usual -- too bad.  They could care less.  I then tried to cancel my account -- I was told that takes 180 days -- and I needed to pay another $1.36 for the other item I sold before I could cancel.   I told them there was "no way" I'd authorize a payment based on a false advertisement.   My thinking is:  if they want to steal my money -- hell -- I'm not gonna help them.

So -- as I go thru the usual b.s.  of making complaints to government agencies (that will likely do nothing) -- I want to warn everyone about some of the hidden things within Ebay and Paypal.  While this is the first problem I've had in over five years since I got on Ebay -- I think that if a company is that sneaky -- then it's time to do business elsewhere.    Just warning everyone.