I was a Power-like Seller (over 1000+ feedback with 0 negatives) and I took a break from selling because it's time consuming and I have a day job. Late last year I had some items I had collected to sell during the holiday push, starting shortly after Thanksgiving. After about two weeks of selling, I got notice from Paypal that my account had been flagged for suspicious activity (too much selling after not selling for a period of time) and that I was no longer able to transfer funds (payments collected from buyers) to my personal bank account. At same time, Ebay put notice on "My Ebay" that I cannot sell again until I resolve the issue with my Paypal account, please contact Paypal. Ok.
Each time I'd call Paypal, they'd give me a hoop to jump through (give us your social security number, drivers license number, a second credit card number). Then they'd tell me to wait 24 hours and my account situation will be resolved. Well then I'd get an email saying that my account was "reviewed" and that Paypal still did not have enough information to lift the Security ban on my account. Most irritating was the flavor of these emails and the conversations with Paypal service reps; the tone was always, "this is for your protection". Thanks for protecting me from getting access to my money. So call back again and again, each time jumping through more hoops: enter the tracking number for all items you've sold (oh and btw, it counts against your account review because you don't have tracking numbers for small items that were sent uninsured), go beg buyers to leave you positive feedback, have buyers send email to Paypal on your behalf if you can...
At one point I became thoroughly disillusioned and disgusted w/ Paypal (which is owned by Ebay...more on that later). I was treated like a criminal, as if I had somehow misrepresented the auctions or ripped somebody off, even though in two weeks time, only a hand-full of positive feedback had trickled in; and zero negatives. Finally after sending Paypal proof of residence and answering a phone call from Paypal to my home phone and waiting out 2 weeks of auctions for proof that EVERY package for which I had tracking info had arrived, the restriction was lifted on my Paypal account.
One more thing to mention here...is that on multiple occassions when I spoke to a Paypal rep, they advised me to "just wait 6-9 MONTHS", if no criminal activity is reported against me, Paypal will "typically send the account holder a check in amount of account balance". That kills me to this day. I was such a "high" risk, and had raised such "suspicion", however Paypal had no problem accepting payment from Ebay buyers, had no problem allowing me to go into the hole to send the items, had no problem taking their cut in fees, and had no problem holding my funds in account where they can earn interest. Hmm...this was somehow for my protection mind you! All I have to say to that is, WTF?
So Paypal is finally resolved after 2+ weeks. Now I can sell on Ebay again. Wrong!
Ebay has NO clue that my Paypal has resolved my situation. Each time I login to Ebay I get the same standard contact Paypal to be able to use the full features (i.e. be permitted to sell) of Ebay again. I call Paypal several times. Each time they assure me Ebay has all the necessary info to "review" my account, and they suggest I use Ebay's live chat to bring this to Ebay's attention.
So back on Ebay I do the Live Chat and explain my story over and over again. Each chat person gives me a different link to an email (with text area for my problem) form. I get automated replies that I will be contacted within 24-48 hours by Ebay. I wait 2-3 days, pull my hair out, contact Live Chat, send email, repeat. Oh, and Ebay will not give out a phone number to talk to a real person. Live Chat seems like it might be efficient, but then after about the 3rd or 4th chat session when you look back at your logs and see the same exact cookie
Slashdot Mirror
I too am a "No Longer Sells on Ebay" case study:
I was a Power-like Seller (over 1000+ feedback with 0 negatives) and I took a break from selling because it's time consuming and I have a day job. Late last year I had some items I had collected to sell during the holiday push, starting shortly after Thanksgiving. After about two weeks of selling, I got notice from Paypal that my account had been flagged for suspicious activity (too much selling after not selling for a period of time) and that I was no longer able to transfer funds (payments collected from buyers) to my personal bank account. At same time, Ebay put notice on "My Ebay" that I cannot sell again until I resolve the issue with my Paypal account, please contact Paypal. Ok.
Each time I'd call Paypal, they'd give me a hoop to jump through (give us your social security number, drivers license number, a second credit card number). Then they'd tell me to wait 24 hours and my account situation will be resolved. Well then I'd get an email saying that my account was "reviewed" and that Paypal still did not have enough information to lift the Security ban on my account. Most irritating was the flavor of these emails and the conversations with Paypal service reps; the tone was always, "this is for your protection". Thanks for protecting me from getting access to my money. So call back again and again, each time jumping through more hoops: enter the tracking number for all items you've sold (oh and btw, it counts against your account review because you don't have tracking numbers for small items that were sent uninsured), go beg buyers to leave you positive feedback, have buyers send email to Paypal on your behalf if you can...
At one point I became thoroughly disillusioned and disgusted w/ Paypal (which is owned by Ebay...more on that later). I was treated like a criminal, as if I had somehow misrepresented the auctions or ripped somebody off, even though in two weeks time, only a hand-full of positive feedback had trickled in; and zero negatives. Finally after sending Paypal proof of residence and answering a phone call from Paypal to my home phone and waiting out 2 weeks of auctions for proof that EVERY package for which I had tracking info had arrived, the restriction was lifted on my Paypal account.
One more thing to mention here...is that on multiple occassions when I spoke to a Paypal rep, they advised me to "just wait 6-9 MONTHS", if no criminal activity is reported against me, Paypal will "typically send the account holder a check in amount of account balance". That kills me to this day. I was such a "high" risk, and had raised such "suspicion", however Paypal had no problem accepting payment from Ebay buyers, had no problem allowing me to go into the hole to send the items, had no problem taking their cut in fees, and had no problem holding my funds in account where they can earn interest. Hmm...this was somehow for my protection mind you! All I have to say to that is, WTF?
So Paypal is finally resolved after 2+ weeks. Now I can sell on Ebay again. Wrong!
Ebay has NO clue that my Paypal has resolved my situation. Each time I login to Ebay I get the same standard contact Paypal to be able to use the full features (i.e. be permitted to sell) of Ebay again. I call Paypal several times. Each time they assure me Ebay has all the necessary info to "review" my account, and they suggest I use Ebay's live chat to bring this to Ebay's attention.
So back on Ebay I do the Live Chat and explain my story over and over again. Each chat person gives me a different link to an email (with text area for my problem) form. I get automated replies that I will be contacted within 24-48 hours by Ebay. I wait 2-3 days, pull my hair out, contact Live Chat, send email, repeat. Oh, and Ebay will not give out a phone number to talk to a real person. Live Chat seems like it might be efficient, but then after about the 3rd or 4th chat session when you look back at your logs and see the same exact cookie