The New York Times reports that eBay is considering making PayPal the only form of payment allowed on eBay auctions. The company is test marketing this concept in Australia starting next month, and loyal eBay buyers and sellers there are furious.

eBay's stranglehold on internet auction enthusiasts is already clear. It is the most popular auction site, and if you're a seller, you have few other choices that get you as much exposure. But that's not enough for eBay. In addition to all the fees generated from auction listings and sales, they apparently want to ensure that they'll get extra fees from the payments if they require everyone to pay with PayPal.

Company officials say this move is an effort to cut down on fraud. They say that by requiring the use of PayPal, they are able to see buyers and sellers through the payment process, rather than them risking fraud through the use of outside payment services.

With all the insurance plans available (including insurance policies for insurance policies), you might want to take a moment to really think: Do I need "Inconvenience Insurance?"

If you have a fear of being inconvenienced, maybe. But, for most people, it's probably a lot more helpful to know which plans just don't make fiscal sense.

AOL Money & Finance has a new feature that clears the air (and dishes the dirt) on the insurance policies you must absolutely avoid. Or, at least think over carefully before acquiring. For example:

Identity Theft Insurance: Don't bother, says Consumer Reports. Just check your credit report regularly.

Extended Warranties: If you total your car, it won't make a lick of difference, since insurance companies will only give you the Blue Book value.

Inconvenience Insurance: Yep, you heard it right. If it rains on your vacation or you lose your iPod, you could strike it rich. Or, something like that. Avoid it.

On the subject of insurance, however, you might take some advice from WalletPop's Tracy Coenen, who says liability insurance is worth it, especially for consultants (legal, technical, etc.). Why? Because everybody makes mistakes.

B. Brandon Barker is the author of the novel Operation EMU.