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Original poster

Closed my eBay account because they put my payouts on hold for more information.

60 replies

srailfonaidraug · 06/06/2024 18:45

Been buying and selling on there since 2009, 100% positive feedback, top-rated seller etc.

Last night a buyer bid, won and paid £65 + postage for the set of guitar pickups I had listed. I get the "you got paid" email and 10 minutes later, another email stating:

You need to update some details on your account. You may have received this email for a variety of reasons. For example, you may have started to sell more than before or enrolled in a new service.
You won’t receive payouts or be able to use some eBay services until you verify your account information. We understand that this is frustrating, but this process helps us keep our marketplace safe. We appreciate your cooperation.
Please make sure you update your account info by 03 Jul, 2024 to release your held payments and avoid further restriction. Once you’ve made the requested updates, we’ll verify your info, and you’ll be good to go.
Thanks for being part of the eBay community.

Fair enough I thought, sounds a bit like coercion by fake security scaremongering but I'll play, and clicked on the "Update account info" link. This took me to a page requesting my full name as it appears on official government documentation, my date of birth and a choice of either my passport, driver's licence or some other official government ID complete with photograph.

This is that online junk shop eBay remember, not my bank - which incidentally has never asked for any such thing. I mean who do those bottom-feeding, parasitic, money for other people's mould and mildew merchants think they are?

Nope. Account closure initiated, app deleted and good riddance.

OP posts:
Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 10/06/2024 15:17

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 10/06/2024 14:32

OP I think you have a lot of issues to work on

Ebay haven't asked for any more information than my bank has ever asked for

You’ve been wrong in your assumptions twice before in this thread so, indeed, why not make it a hat trick eh?

Ludicrous to suggest the online flea market that is eBay ought to be able to demand the same ID from private sellers as a bank does from private customers.

You’ve also previously mentioned having to provide similar ID to online gambling site/s. Since I never engage with such businesses, that’ll be one issue I personally don’t have to work on.

OP posts:
JusteanBiscuits · 10/06/2024 14:47

It's law. Once you have reached a set limit (off top of head, it might be £800) this has to be done for money laundering protection purposes. Ebay have to do it. It's fairly recent legislation, so you might have only just reached the limit.

I run two sports clubs, and when we reach the limit for takings we have had to do this.

Nothing to do with HMRC. Just money laundering prevention (and yes, it is / was a BIG problem on selling sites)

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 10/06/2024 14:32

OP I think you have a lot of issues to work on

Ebay haven't asked for any more information than my bank has ever asked for

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 10/06/2024 14:08

MistressoftheDarkSide · 10/06/2024 06:05

Interesting thread.

When I had my bricks and mortar shop (which I closed at the beginning of the year) I also had an eBay business account, all set up legit etc. This was about 3? 4? Years ago?

Anyway, it wasn't going great as I wasn't in a position to pay for promotions etc, but as I'd done ok as a private seller in the late 90s / early 200ps I thought I'd just persist as obviously an online platform seemed to be essential.

And then we had the joy of switching to "managed payments" which required a whole load of form filling. Except because Ebay is primarily a US platform it didn't understand UK business partnerships. I and my late DP were partners in the business and it was not a limited company. (Don't go there - yes, I know hindsight is a wonderful thing). Spent hours going round in circles trying to explain we didn't have directors, then trying to put ourselves as directors to be told business owners can't be directors.

I actually ended up having two phone calls with some baffled chap in Utah and getting nowhere. When a third call was scheduled I threw in the towel and stopped selling as until it was all sorted and verified I would not have been able to trade or access any money.

Small businesses are dependent on somewhat consistent cash flow and sudden bureaucratic hurdles can throw a real spanner in the works.

So I hear you and feel your pain OP.

Be entrepreneurial, be self-sufficient, make your own money, hustle till you drop they advise and you too can reap untold rewards - if you can prise that money out of the organisations that handle it that is.

As for Etsy - don't get me started on trying to set up an account with them. And no I will not be touching Vinted with a barge pole.

Useful to get a (former) business seller’s perspective. Thanks for that and hope you find a way to make your business work.

OP posts:
MistressoftheDarkSide · 10/06/2024 06:05

Interesting thread.

When I had my bricks and mortar shop (which I closed at the beginning of the year) I also had an eBay business account, all set up legit etc. This was about 3? 4? Years ago?

Anyway, it wasn't going great as I wasn't in a position to pay for promotions etc, but as I'd done ok as a private seller in the late 90s / early 200ps I thought I'd just persist as obviously an online platform seemed to be essential.

And then we had the joy of switching to "managed payments" which required a whole load of form filling. Except because Ebay is primarily a US platform it didn't understand UK business partnerships. I and my late DP were partners in the business and it was not a limited company. (Don't go there - yes, I know hindsight is a wonderful thing). Spent hours going round in circles trying to explain we didn't have directors, then trying to put ourselves as directors to be told business owners can't be directors.

I actually ended up having two phone calls with some baffled chap in Utah and getting nowhere. When a third call was scheduled I threw in the towel and stopped selling as until it was all sorted and verified I would not have been able to trade or access any money.

Small businesses are dependent on somewhat consistent cash flow and sudden bureaucratic hurdles can throw a real spanner in the works.

So I hear you and feel your pain OP.

Be entrepreneurial, be self-sufficient, make your own money, hustle till you drop they advise and you too can reap untold rewards - if you can prise that money out of the organisations that handle it that is.

As for Etsy - don't get me started on trying to set up an account with them. And no I will not be touching Vinted with a barge pole.

Oblomov24 · 10/06/2024 05:16

I'm finding eBay and PayPal more and more irritating recently.

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 10/06/2024 05:06

PickledPurplePickle · 10/06/2024 04:58

What a ridiculous over reaction

EBay are just doing the checks that the government require them to do for anyone selling on Ebay

Show quote history

Not on top of the extortionate fees it isn't.

I couldn't care less. Get that through your head.

OP posts:
PickledPurplePickle · 10/06/2024 04:58

srailfonaidraug · 10/06/2024 00:10

Nope. Three items.

Got the message about ten minutes after my third item sold, saying my payout was on hold until I played along with their data-mining charade.

I refunded the buyer in full, pulled my remaining fourth listing and instructed eBay to close my account.

Show quote history

What a ridiculous over reaction

EBay are just doing the checks that the government require them to do for anyone selling on Ebay

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 10/06/2024 04:50

theGooHasGone · 10/06/2024 03:38

Take off your tinfoil hat, OP. Business that handle money are required to collect information about their customers. They don't give a shiny shite about how old your account is - they still don't know you from a hole in the wall when it comes to regulations they're obliged to comply with. They're just jumping through hoops to allow them to stay in business.

You are, of course, completely free to throw your toys out of the pram and close your account in response, but arguing with people who are pointing out why you've got it wrong is a little much, as is the ranting and raving about the state of the world and the fairness of it all.

Thanks for your input.

I care even less about the cherry-picked "regulations" of a failed government trying to con the public into believing it's getting tough on crime, money laundering and tax evasion - after it has decimated numbers of police officers while turning a blind eye to those whose interests they serve engaging in all manner of tax evasion while organised international criminals make millions while laundering their ill-gotten gains in high-end properties in London and elsewhere - than I do about some jumped-up parasitic online flea market's compliance in the whole circus side-show.

And I care even less than that about the opinions of some triggered internet random who clearly lacks the adequacy to care about/speak out against the state of things themselves and doesn't think anyone else should have the right to either, be that due to a vested interest in the organisation/s involved or just sheer, plain ignorance.

But yeah, other than that, thanks.

OP posts:
theGooHasGone · 10/06/2024 03:38

Take off your tinfoil hat, OP. Business that handle money are required to collect information about their customers. They don't give a shiny shite about how old your account is - they still don't know you from a hole in the wall when it comes to regulations they're obliged to comply with. They're just jumping through hoops to allow them to stay in business.

You are, of course, completely free to throw your toys out of the pram and close your account in response, but arguing with people who are pointing out why you've got it wrong is a little much, as is the ranting and raving about the state of the world and the fairness of it all.

dontcryformeargentina · 10/06/2024 00:58

Thank you for posting. You've done the right thing . I'm thinking to close my eBay account too. Once on the radar, try to prove to HMRC that you are selling your own stuff ! Who needs that stress and hustle, just for selling your own second hand crap. The government needs money and we are all easy low hanging fruits. Wait for Jan 2025 when there will be mass reporting of private eBay sellers

Firefly1987 · 10/06/2024 00:28

Anononony · 06/06/2024 19:59

Paypal are just as bad, we have a small business and accept payments via them as well as shopify payments. We've had working capital loans through them and been with them years with no issues

They've decided (for no reason, no cases or chargebacks) that we need to provide proof of fulfillment for 8 orders, proof of buying stock for another 8 orders, and an explanation of our business, and until we do this we can't make withdrawals or payments. Currently over £400 in there we can't access. We make the products to order and have a turnaround time so we haven't reached the orders they want details for yet, and tbh we could do with having access to the money to post said orders!

Absolute nightmare, i hate them but some people assume you're a scam business and won't buy if they can't use PayPal so we have to keep it as an option really 🙄

Edited

Ugh yeah I had this on paypal-luckily they restricted my account whilst no money in there so I just stopped using it. I would close the account but heard you can't whilst there is still an unresolved issue?

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 10/06/2024 00:10

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 09/06/2024 22:00

Selling X amount of items or over £X of items triggers checks because of the new tax rules

You might only have sold £500 but you sold lots and lots to make that

Online selling is now subject to tax. So it's wrong

Nope. Three items.

Got the message about ten minutes after my third item sold, saying my payout was on hold until I played along with their data-mining charade.

I refunded the buyer in full, pulled my remaining fourth listing and instructed eBay to close my account.

OP posts:
nobeans · 09/06/2024 22:04

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 09/06/2024 22:00

Selling X amount of items or over £X of items triggers checks because of the new tax rules

You might only have sold £500 but you sold lots and lots to make that

Online selling is now subject to tax. So it's wrong

Only if you reach the limit though

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 09/06/2024 22:00

Selling X amount of items or over £X of items triggers checks because of the new tax rules

You might only have sold £500 but you sold lots and lots to make that

Online selling is now subject to tax. So it's wrong

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 09/06/2024 21:48

Nah, just err-on-the-side-of-bureaucracy window-dressing in lieu of proper governance and administration.

An algorithm triggered by £500 worth of used gear on an account that's been running for 15 years on a platform functioning specifically for that purpose needs recalibrating.

OP posts:
ButWhatAboutTheBees · 09/06/2024 21:35

I had to provide my driving licence to open a bank account though?

I can't see them asking for anything more than standard ID verification

I've had to do the same for an online bookies before too

DelilahBucket · 09/06/2024 21:35

It's called Anti Money Laundering regulations. They are legally obliged to collect this information as a financial service provider. It doesn't just apply to banks. YABVVVU

nobeans · 09/06/2024 21:31

Either people want a toughening up on crime, all crime, or they don't. These are clearly anti fraud and anti money laundering measures.

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 09/06/2024 21:25

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 09/06/2024 20:05

No. They don't care if you are selling on your own clothes etc.

They are bothered if you are buying and selling to make money.

If your account gets stopped the most you will have to do is tell them it is your own stuff you are selling on. If that is all you are doing.

If it's a business then you should have declared it. Same as everyone else. Regardless of anything you think about some.

No what? I'm not selling clothes or buying and selling anything else to make money. I'm selling my own stuff for less than I bought it because it's pre-owned, by me.

My payouts did get stopped and the least they wanted me to do was provided them with more ID, including photographic, than required to open my bank account.

That's all there is to this, regardless of which stick you've gotten the wrong end of.

OP posts:
SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 09/06/2024 20:05

No. They don't care if you are selling on your own clothes etc.

They are bothered if you are buying and selling to make money.

If your account gets stopped the most you will have to do is tell them it is your own stuff you are selling on. If that is all you are doing.

If it's a business then you should have declared it. Same as everyone else. Regardless of anything you think about some.

Original poster
srailfonaidraug · 08/06/2024 15:32

SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 07/06/2024 20:26

It's HMRC and eBay... and all other sales platforms.

They ask everyone who gets flagged by their algorithm.

The taxman’s worried about not getting a cut from people who might be earning themselves a crust buying and selling tat, so ordinary folk trying to recoup a few quid while moving their own personal stuff on get lumped in with that by fleabays “computer says no” algorithm.

Meanwhile the major players in tax evasion get the benefit of this pretentious deflection and carry on as normal.

They could fix the algorithms, but they’d have to fix the idiots supposed to be running the country first.

OP posts:
SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth · 07/06/2024 20:26

It's HMRC and eBay... and all other sales platforms.

They ask everyone who gets flagged by their algorithm.

NoDramas · 07/06/2024 20:13

I had something similar with Vinted today when I requested a funds withdrawal. They use (an intermediary?) Mangopay. I am apparently close to some unspecified limit and need to supply more confirmation information.

I started the process and got as far as the upload passport/driving licence picture requirement. As I didn't have them on me I closed the app with a view to completing later at home.

When I opened the app the screen Inhad been on had disappeared and I'm none the wiser. Have I satisfied them? Is my cash in the ether? I guess I'll find out in the next few days 🤷‍♀️