Selling on Ebay - Started new account today, now suspended? eBay no help at all

dannyboy20

Hi all,

My dad sells watches for a living, he sells them on markets and has been doing it for a number of years. But last week he suffered an heart attack whilst packing up at one of the markets. Luckily he was saved and is doing ok, but he can't go back to work for 6-8 weeks.

So today we decided to set up an ebay account for him, to pass the time while he's stuck in the house and also get a small income for him.

I did so on his ipad with the ebay app, and listed a brand new watch with a BIN price. After listing he also signed in to ebay on his phone too.

Now, tonight we've received an email: MC113 Your eBay account has been suspended. It says "recent account activity has raised serious security concerns".

Thinking it was probably a scam email we opened the app up and indeed the account has been suspended. So i've just signed in on my computer and gone to the chat to see what the problem was. They've been absolutely no help at all, refusing to tell me why.

Here are a few copy & pastes from the chat:

"Upon checking, the reason why your account is suspended is due to the discrepancies in your registered information."

"Looking at your account, I can see that there are some serious policy breaches and discrepancies in your registered details, so I'm afraid we won't be reinstating your account. My sincere apologies"

"Due to the risk presented to the eBay community by your account, we have determined it is in eBay's best interest to deny your appeal. This means that we will not be reinstating your account. Your account has been suspended indefinitely. Our decision is based on evidence from our records. I'm afraid we don't share any further information about the specific evidence that led us to take action."

"I'm really sorry. I completely understand that you just want to start here in eBay and if only I could do more to help you with this. However, my power to do so is just limited and I hope that you understand. But our decision is based on evidence from our records. We are not comfortable with your selling practices or your business model."

And that was basically it, I asked for a phone number to speak to someone and they said they will tell me the same information as them.

So now, the account has been suspended, the listing removed and I really have no idea why, all I did was create an account for my dad, link paypal and add a credit card to paypal for the ebay fees etc. Can anyone shed some light on the matter?

wealdroam

This thread really should be on The Ebay Board.

dannyboy20

Sorry I did look for an ebay section but must have missed it. Is there any way I can delete this thread and post there?

wealdroam

Ask a board guide to move it for you.

edited to add: I've asked a board guide on your behalf.

hollydays

ring ebay on their freephone number
08003583229. Pretend to be your dad.
Ignore anything chat say.
Perhaps due to you starting up as a business account, but without registering as a business , that's why they have flagged you.

soolin

That's a suspension message I haven't seen before- and it is much more detailed than the usual messages that ebay send.

The breach must be serious if it is a full suspension and not just a temporary one pending changes. Firstly did you open a business account and does the name it is opened in tally with all the bank and address details?

Has your dad or anyone in the household including yourself ever had an ebay account before, if so is it in good standing?

Lastly, and possibly the most important, you say you listed a watch- was this branded or was it a generic watch, if branded do you have the necessary documentation to prove it is authentic? I suspect you are either using a brand name that is covered by the VERO programme or else you are listing an item that is a look alike or something that infringes someone elses trademark.

'Policy breaches' usually means things like you have asked people to contact you by phone, or to hint that sales 'off ebay' might be accepted, or even something simple like saying you want cash on collection or a bank transfer.

dannyboy20

I've just got off the phone after ringing the number hollydays (thank you) listed and spoke for my dad. Apparently the CS told me it was because of the item he was selling they believed to be fraudulent! Completely different from what chat told me above (discrepancies in my registered details).

My dad listed the item at £49.99, there were other sellers on there listing the same model for the same price BIN, and a few £10 more. The RRP was £120, but it's last seasons stock. He has receipts from the suppliers and he runs a genuine business that pays taxes. So for them to say it's fraudulent without any evidence at all is beyond a joke in my opinion.

I asked to speak to someone higher but she refused saying they'll just tell me the same thing. Then said there's no appeal process and there's nothing I can do and cannot make another account.

So now my dad is banned from ebay for doing nothing wrong, he really needed this to keep him busy for the 6-8 weeks he's off work so i'm pretty pee'd off with them. Is there any way I can take it higher and speak to someone in the UK about it?

soolin

dannyboy20 wrote: »

I've just got off the phone after ringing the number hollydays (thank you) listed and spoke for my dad. Apparently the CS told me it was because of the item he was selling they believed to be fraudulent! Completely different from what chat told me above (discrepancies in my registered details).

My dad listed the item at £49.99, there were other sellers on there listing the same model for the same price BIN, and a few £10 more. The RRP was £120, but it's last seasons stock. He has receipts from the suppliers and he runs a genuine business that pays taxes. So for them to say it's fraudulent without any evidence at all is beyond a joke in my opinion.

I asked to speak to someone higher but she refused saying they'll just tell me the same thing. Then said there's no appeal process and there's nothing I can do and cannot make another account.

So now my dad is banned from ebay for doing nothing wrong, he really needed this to keep him busy for the 6-8 weeks he's off work so i'm pretty pee'd off with them. Is there any way I can take it higher and speak to someone in the UK about it?

Ebay often use the incorrect terminology and can often mean an item was on the VERO list rather than 'fake'. ie meaning that you do not have the manufacturers permission to use the name. This is not uncommon, especially for jewellery and watch brands and the fact that others are listing just means they haven't been reported yet.

If you did happen to list on a basic private account that probably accounts for the bit about your details. It almost certainly didn't help that you opened an account and immediately listed a high end branded item with a BIN, that just screams scam. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but if you had happened to mention what your plans were on the ebay board, before you opened an account we would almost certainly have warned you off doing it that way. It's no help at all to you, but for others reading this- never open an account and start selling BIN high end branded items- work up to it. Open an account, buy 2 or 3 things to get the hang of ebay and to get a little feedback, then perhaps sell a few lower end items first, and then go for larger items. Avoid branded goods until you have thoroughly checked out the VERO programme . Also if someone had come on to the ebay board and said they were looking to buy a branded watch from a bran d new registered seller we would almost certainly have advised them to be careful as it was probably a scam- and that's what ebay are trying to avoid happening.

IO< you can phone again and hopefully get someone else to speak to, but that is really as far as an appeal goes, you might get lucky and be allowed to sell other things, even if reinstated though I would avoid high end branded goods.

dannyboy20

Thank you for your reply and advice soolin. To be honest I didn't think the watch was an high end item, i'd have though armani, gucci etc would be in that category which is why I never thought anything of it. The watch was an 'Original Penguin' watch, and after looking at the sales of them on there nearly all have them sell for less than £50.

I don't know what to do for him now, it's my fault I guess, id try and help him sell on amazon but I read the fees and process is just not worth it.

Would I be able to sell them for him on my business account? I've sold watches on there before for him and gave him the cash, or would my account now get flagged too?

soolin

I would be concerned that if you now sold these watches on your business account that it will just link you and you'll put your own account in danger. You may already have endangered your account if you have any of the same information, including address, or if you have logged in at your fathers address.

pinkshoes

dannyboy20 wrote: »

I don't know what to do for him now, it's my fault I guess, id try and help him sell on amazon but I read the fees and process is just not worth it.

Why not get him to join local Facebook selling groups and try listing some on there?

He could also try gumtree.

Both these are cash in collection type transactions.