Here's a "fun" eBay/PayPal problem to figure out!

iamassault

I had a lot of success with another problem in another thread so I thought I would attempt to explain this one and see if anyone can figure it out! I am currently using a friend's eBay account to sell items, so I'd like the eBay problem to get sorted out at some point. The PayPal problem isn't quite as bad since I have a working PayPal account, but I'd still like it to get sorted. I will explain both of my problems... sorry for the large amount of text lol

Problem #1: eBay

I've been using eBay for over 10 years, since before the UK site opened. I used one or two ID's at first, but in 2000 I was working for a company in London and was required to use eBay to buy some stock for a project I was setting up. I used my personal eBay account to bid for items (I know, stupid mistake), and it was all running smoothly until my budget was withdrawn for a few weeks. I then had a bunch of complaints for non-payment (completely justified of course, since I hadn't been able to pay them), and the account was consequently banned from eBay. I sorted out the problems with the buyers after that (since we still needed the items), but unfortunately eBay would not reinstate the account.

Since then I've used a lot of different ID's to get around the eBay rule of "if anyone you know by 6 degrees of separation has been banned from eBay, you can't open a new account", and have successfully been selling for quite a long time. Unfortunately, my most recent ID (running for 4 years, with 100% positive feedback score of 300+) got banned for the reason of "previously banned user". That's when I contacted them about it.

Apparently, according to eBay staff, I now cannot make a new account unless I sort out the problems on my old account. Unfortunately, they will not tell me what my old account's ID is, nor what the e-mail is associated with it (despite them claiming it belongs to me). They told me that I must sign in with my previously banned account (all of them? lol) and contact them from that account in order to find out what's wrong (they would e-mail me on my number associated with that account) and sort it out. Besides the fact that I don't see how I will sort out 10 year old non paying bidder problems, I told them that there is no way that I have access to the e-mail address that I was using 10 years ago, since I have changed ISP quite a few times since then.

I am now stuck in limbo. They won't allow me to have another eBay account (and it's quite strict now, what with credit card registering etc) unless I sort out a problem on an account that I don't know the ID or e-mail to, cannot access, cannot log in on, and cannot access the e-mail of. Essentially, I can do nothing. They refuse to budge and tell me this is the only way they can do anything for me.

Fun isn't it! Any ideas?

Next...

Problem #2: PayPal

This one is pretty similar to my eBay problem, but a little different. I have an old PayPal account that I no longer use. I have no idea what the log in is, no idea what the e-mail is, and I don't think I've used it for about 8+ years. The problem is, my main bank account with NatWest is associated with this PayPal account, and I want to move it to my new PayPal account, which I've had for about 5 years. I've contacted PayPal about this, and they have told me that I need to log in to my other PayPal account and delete my bank account before adding it to my new account. After a while talking to them, they told me that there is a "problem" with my old PayPal account that needs to be resolved before they can "unlock" it so that I can log in and remove my bank account. There are a couple of problems with this. Firstly, I have absolutely no idea of what e-mail is associated with that account, and they won't tell me. Secondly, when I asked them what the problem was, I was told that it was "too old to be on our records".

So essentially, I need to log into an account that I don't know the login ID for, and resolve a problem that isn't on their records. It seems impossible. I asked them if I could simply send them proof that the bank account belongs to me (faxing them documents etc, proof of ID, whatever they need), but I was told that this was not a solution and that I could not do this.

I am at an impass. Any ideas?

soolin

Sorry but my only answer is probably a facetious one as I am tired so probably best I don't post it.

However, for a serious answer I personally can't see any way round this unless you can magically recall your user and log in details.

DaveAshton

An idea for the Paypal issue... cancel the direct debit agreement at your bank. After a few days, Paypal should close the link (at least, they were very quick to cancel the connection when I moved my Direct Debits to a new bank account). Then, you should be able to put the bank account onto your new Paypal account. Of course, it's Paypal... so who knows

soolin

That won't work, it isn't the direct debit that has triggered this it is the bank details actually entered as proof /verifiaction on the paypal account. You would need to actually have access to that paypal account to remove them, regardless of whether a DD is set up or not the bank details are still logged in paypal.

iamassault

Remembering my login details for PayPal will be pretty much impossible since it's way too long ago. And soolin is correct, the direct debit agreement (I don't even think there was a system like that set up when I joined PayPal initially) wouldn't be the thing linking the account. I think it was simply added as a way to withdraw cash. If I remember rightly, at that time you could verify your account via a credit card without needing to add a bank account (I could be wrong though).

They're fun problems, huh!

lammy82

iamassault wrote: »

Problem #2: PayPal

Have you tried entering details into the "Forgotton your email address" page linked from PayPal's home page? If you can try all combinations of old addresses and phone numbers you may get lucky. Then once you've got the email address you can start guessing passwords, or use the 'forgotton my password' to get a password reminder (assuming you can get into the email address !)

soolin

I can't see what re accessing your original ebay account will do though to be honest, after so much time it isn't possible for the sellers to withdraw the NPBs so all you will have is access to an unusable account.

iamassault

lammy82 wrote: »

Have you tried entering details into the "Forgotton your email address" page linked from PayPal's home page? If you can try all combinations of old addresses and phone numbers you may get lucky. Then once you've got the email address you can start guessing passwords, or use the 'forgotton my password' to get a password reminder (assuming you can get into the email address !)

That's what they tried to get me to do at first. Problem is, you need details that I can't remember. Forgotten passwords are sent to the registered e-mail address, which I definitely don't have access to (someone else may even have it now, so it's not the best idea!), and they won't even give me a hint as to what it is, despite them being quite insistent that both accounts are owned by me.

soolin wrote: »

I can't see what re accessing your original ebay account will do though to be honest, after so much time it isn't possible for the sellers to withdraw the NPBs so all you will have is access to an unusable account.

I know lol. The problem is that they won't "allow" me to have a new eBay account until I sort out the problems on the old one. But to do that, I need to log in and e-mail them from that account, and reply to the e-mails that they send me. Quite impossible if you don't know your login details and don't have access to the account. I find it ridiculous that they are so 100% sure that both accounts are owned by me, yet they won't talk to me about the old account via the new one. It's not even like not having access to a 10 year old e-mail account is a strange thing. Lots of people have changed ISP's in the last 10 years, or changed hotmail addresses etc.

soolin

The problem here is though that you are arguing knowing you are in the wrong, it is difficult to take the moral high ground.

You had problems, as you explained, with your ebay account and instead of dealing with them at the time and possibly (only possibly) resolving it then you just used a different account

It is an absolute rule on ebay that you must not use ebay while suspended on a different account, it doesn't matter whether both accounts are yours or if you borrow one, the rule is clear. Even if by some miracle you got the original account back the more serious breach of trading while suspended still means you would be banned immediately again anyway.

Personally I would walk away from ebay now, find another outlet for your itemsm set up an independent website. If the doom and gloom threads suggesting that ebay is dying anyway are to be believed you would gain nothing by getting reinstated.

iamassault

soolin wrote: »

The problem here is though that you are arguing knowing you are in the wrong, it is difficult to take the moral high ground.

I'm not suggesting that I did nothing wrong, but eBay have stated that I just need to sort out any problems on my old account before I can make a new one. You *can* make a new eBay account after being banned (I think they have a timescale for it but I don't recall it), but they are making it an impossible task.

soolin wrote: »

It is an absolute rule on ebay that you must not use ebay while suspended on a different account, it doesn't matter whether both accounts are yours or if you borrow one, the rule is clear. Even if by some miracle you got the original account back the more serious breach of trading while suspended still means you would be banned immediately again anyway.

Yes, it may be eBay rules, but my moral judgement told me that it was OK to register again. Besides, like I said, eBay also have rules for unbanning your account, which is the process that I am attempting to go through.

soolin wrote: »

Personally I would walk away from ebay now, find another outlet for your itemsm set up an independent website. If the doom and gloom threads suggesting that ebay is dying anyway are to be believed you would gain nothing by getting reinstated.

A friend sells my items for me right now, so I still sell things via eBay. I have also had an independent website for around 10 years, but being unable to use eBay myself (rather than asking people to sell for me) obviously blocks certain avenues, and that's why I'm trying to resolve it. I'd rather have an eBay account than not, even though I don't like how the website has evolved (especially with the introduction of "free shipping" yesterday).

soolin

iamassault wrote: »

I'm not suggesting that I did nothing wrong, but eBay have stated that I just need to sort out any problems on my old account before I can make a new one. You *can* make a new eBay account after being banned (I think they have a timescale for it but I don't recall it), but they are making it an impossible task..

No you can't, using ebay while suspended means a permanent ban.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/account/suspended-accounts.html

While you are suspended

While your account is suspended, you will not be able to use eBay in any way. This includes bidding, selling and leaving feedback. If and when your account is reinstated, you will be able to leave feedback for transactions completed within the last 90 days. Please note the following:

• You are prohibited from registering new accounts with eBay, or bidding or selling on eBay using your other existing accounts. eBay reserves the right to suspend existing accounts as well as new accounts opened by anyone in the same household of a suspended user or by any other associates of a suspended user.
  

iamassault wrote: »

Yes, it may be eBay rules, but my moral judgement told me that it was OK to register again. Besides, like I said, eBay also have rules for unbanning your account, which is the process that I am attempting to go through.

Unfortunately your moral judgement and the ebay fixed rules appear to be at odds, I would hazard a guess that they use their rules to decide this and not yours. AS for getting the account open, as per my original point, what then? YOu still can't resolve anything.