Account suspension

dysynni

We have just been issued with an MC113 notice and our account, as well as our daughter's, has been indefinitely suspended without any warning or reason given, except some vague reference to 'risky, unsafe behaviour'. The weird thing is we have 100% positive feedback and have done absolutely no wrong. Phone calls have resulted in a refusal to discuss the matter, and a total unwillingness to listen. It's so frustrating!!!

We learnt that eBay employs 3rd party agencies to randomly check people's records. We did experience an alarming event 10 months ago when we successfully bidded on an expensive antique table, only to be informed by the seller (after we paid him) that he had sold the item months previously, and he claimed that eBay had failed to remove the listing. This all got complicated, but in the end eBay helped us to retrieve our funds, and the case was closed. We can ONLY think that this was recorded inaccurately, and appears as dodgy business in our records (though we honestly can't understand how).

So after 17 years, with 1000+ happy, successful and positive transactions behind us, every bill paid on time and absolutely no nonsense, we appear to have come very abruptly to the end of the road. Thank GOODNESS we don't rely on eBay for our business. Just sorry not to be able to continue to help the environment by buying second hand ...  I feel really sorry for anyone whose livelihood depends on eBay as it seems they can be a rule unto themselves.

I wonder if anyone else on here has experienced similar?

theonlywayisup

There will always be a reason that ebay suspends accounts and whilst you have not knowingly done anything against the rules, can you be sure that your daughter has not done anything wrong?  When an account is suspended it goes hand in hand with all other accounts (in the same name or not) being suspended too. 

dysynni

That's kind of you to reply and very helpful, thanks - and yes, even though she has hardly ever used hers, we were just wondering the same. She has been an incredibly busy student teacher this last year so something might have got overlooked. We will certainly check. 

noitsnotme

How old is your daughter?  Did she open her eBay/Paypal accounts before she was 18?

dysynni

Just checked with our daughter and no, she has 100% positive feedback on her 8 transactions, and was sent an email to say that her account is being suspended because it is associated with ours. So honestly there doesn't appear to be a reason. We remain as baffled as ever. I can only think there must have been a glitch somewhere in eBay's records, probably relating to the event I described above, however unlikely that might seem. It does make one question the safety of their systems. Any ideas how we might proceed? EBay are adamant that the case is closed and their decision cannot be overturned. To say this is frustrating doesn't come close.

soolin

Feedback is immaterial - the seller expanded dashboard and warnings/percentages are all that really matter. 

Can you still access any part of your accounts to check your expanded seller dashboard? In many cases smaller sellers don't realise they need to watch their defects, late marks from buyers, cases not dealt with etc- and falling below a certain percentage would get you suspended, however it is very rare to go straight to a suspension without a prior warning.

dysynni

She's 23, and no, I'm sure she was older than 18 when she set up her account. There is nothing to suggest she has done anything wrong, and the email she was sent clearly states that her account was being suspended because it's associated with ours (same home address I guess) - implying that it's nothing to do with her directly. I've just looked on my seller dashboard. My past and current seller levels are 'Above Standard'. My Transaction defect rate, my Late delivery rate and my Cases closed without seller resolution are ALL 0.00%. So a full score here I would say. I had no prior warning whatsoever of the suspension - suddenly and out of then blue the account was indefinitely suspended. I have used eBay mainly for buying over the years - only about 0.5 % of my transactions have been sales.
What to do next I wonder?? (I really appreciate your thoughts and time).

John_

If you’ve exhausted your options I’d suggest trying to set up a new account, ensuring you use a new email address. It may not work, but it could.

soolin

John_ said:

If you’ve exhausted your options I’d suggest trying to set up a new account, ensuring you use a new email address. It may not work, but it could.

I really think this is a bad idea, these so called stealth accounts are pushed on dodgy websites but rarely last long. A true stealth account would need an entirely different IP address, bank account with different address and all completely new names, the moment you try and confirm your details with the bank and they have a different address you end up having problems. There is also anecdotal evidence that eBay often seem to allow these stealth accounts to trade for a while, then swoop in and suspend them when there is money in a PayPal account - and managed payments will make this easier. You will always be looking over your shoulder wondering when you are going to be caught.

OP is there anyone else at your address or associated with you that might have been previously restricted? 

dysynni

Thanks. I'm not inclined to try to open a stealth account as this would not sit comfortably with me. But thanks for the suggestion. No there is nobody else here. I don't think any other family members use eBay. I am so baffled and confused, as the severity of eBay's actions would indicate a really serious offence - and I am honestly not aware of any. Again my thinking comes around to it being an error on eBay's part. But they refuse point-blank to discuss it with me, or to give any clues as to what I might have inadvertently done.

dysynni

I wish there was a way to find out what I'm supposed to have done wrong, but every avenue I have tried leads nowhere. EBay just repeats that they are unable to tell me the reason for my indefinite suspension 'to avoid circumvention of their policies'. I have accepted that my account will remain closed indefinitely, and that a reversal of EBay's decision is impossible (they have repeated this many times), but I would dearly love to know what on earth happened.