Account permentaly suspended but cant get any help/answers

[grantoboy]

Unsure where to turn for help with this one.

I have a main eBay account that I have had for almost 20 years now. Nothing special, mostly buying but some selling. I have 100% feedback and never any issue with my sales.

Created a 2nd eBay account to start selling virtual items from a game my son plays as I saw others selling the same on eBay. Did my research and found eBay allows more than 1 account and actually encourages it if selling items different to your main account. Also search that the items I wanted to sell were allowed and found that the items I wanted to sell could be sold on eBay with no issues.

Create new account, use my real details, verify my ID and bank (all details used are the same as my main account)

Create my listings make 23 sales (sell 55 items) and receive only positive feedback. Have a feedback rating of 15 (more but had return buyers)

I thought all was going well until I received a notification saying my account had been permanently suspended. Email below

We wanted to let you know that your eBay account has been permanently suspended because of activity that we believe was putting the eBay community at risk. We understand that this must be frustrating, but this decision was not made lightly and it’s important that we keep our marketplace safe for everyone. Learn more about how and why accounts can be suspended.

Here’s what you need to know

• You will no longer be able to use your account to buy or sell items and any new accounts you set up may also be suspended.
• Any listings have been removed and they can be viewed below.
• We’ve credited all associated fees except for the final value fee for your listings.
• Any outstanding selling fees are due and will be charged to your payment method on file. If you’ve already opened any dispute claims for these fees, they won’t be charged until the claims have been resolved.

If you have any questions or concerns, or think we’ve made a mistake, please get in touch. We’re here to help.

Confused, I contacted support as suggested only to be told they cannot tell me why I was suspended. I request to speak with a supervisor and am told one will call me in 24hrs. I waited 24hrs and received no call. Contact support again and explain my situation and ask to speak with a supervisor only to have the operator hang up on me. 

I do a quick search and find this appears to be normal practice that they just hang up on you, call again get another person kind of happy to help until they read my file and they go cold stone. I ask to speak with a supervisor and am told one would get back to me in 48hrs.

Knowing this is a tactic they have used on me before I agree and proceed to make contact via email only to get an instant response, email below

Thanks for contacting us about the suspension notification we sent you.

We wanted to let you know that your eBay account has been permanently suspended because of activity that we believe was putting the eBay community at risk. We understand that this must be frustrating, but this decision was not made lightly and it’s important that we keep our marketplace safe for everyone. Learn more about how and why accounts can be suspended. 

You will no longer be able to use your account to buy or sell items and any new accounts you set up may also be suspended.

If you have any questions or concerns, or think we’ve made a mistake, please get in touch. We’re here to help. 

Regards,

eBay

I have tried 2 further times with email only to get the same instant response. Appears they have just black listed me.

Now I sold only a small number of items (total $450) and have a payout owing to me of about $330. All items sold were delivered and no one lodged any complaints. I had it set to take all fees before payout also.

How do I go about obtaining these funds?

My account says "Your payouts are currently on hold because your eBay account is suspended. You'll start getting paid again when your account is reinstated" but since my account is permanently suspended, I am not sure this "reinstated" stage will ever happen.

No one at eBay support will help, I have no idea what it was I did to get suspended nor will anyone even respond to any of my questions, even tho the base of every email the send me says "If you have any questions or concerns, or think we’ve made a mistake, please get in touch. We’re here to help."

Any help with where I should go from here? This experience has really left a very poor taste in my mouth, not the experience I expected from such a company. Unsure if it makes any difference but I am located in Australia

[grantoboy]

My understanding is that the listing is an exception to the policy being itss an "Online digital virtual item" then it does not need to be listed under the "Everything else" category.

Electronically delivered items need to be listed in the Everything Else > Information Products category in the classified ad format

This is simple to understand

• If the classified format isn't available on the seller's eBay site, electronically delivered items are not allowed (If this catergory does not exist you cant list)

(but the following are exempt and can be listed)

• Exceptions to this policy include electronically delivered:
  • Tickets
  • Domain names
  • Digital trading cards
  • Online gaming virtual items

[gutterpunkz05]

The account your using here, is still or again showing no listings, the previously suspended account is now showing 3 listings.   I'd be worried with an account receiving so much attention in such a short space of time.

[grantoboy]

I agree with you in this regards but this attention is out of my hands and I have zero control over it.

It is nothing I have done myself and appears to be from the questions I have asked on here.

Fingers crossed if it does raise any flags eBay look the reasons why first and contact me prior to any further restrictions

[*sons_n_daughters*]

They won't contact you because it's all bot generated. There wouldn't be enough days in the week, or people, to contact everyone who is risking suspension. Trust me, you've been flagged, so you're taking a huge risk relisting those items. 

[ramcycle2010]

I've been contacted every time I've risked suspension, and the reasons clearly explained (as they should be).

[domino-710]

To be continued..................LOL

[gutterpunkz05]

Not if it is triggered by an external third party.   1 .privacy legislation will apply  2.  ebay is restricted at law under managed payments as to what they can divulge.

[ramcycle2010]

All of my incidents were triggered by external third parties. These were copyright/trademark owners who reported my listings through eBay's Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) Program, for infringing on their intellectual property rights. 

I have on occasion, inadvertently listed an item that is considered illegal because it is an unauthorised replica of an existing product. I was unaware that these items were knockoffs, partly because it is often hard to tell, but mostly because they were items I had previously bought for my kids ON EBAY.

[i-once-was-bump]

I would not relist any digital items until you get the money currently owing from previous sales. If suspended again you will have to fight for that money.
Take the advice given and try selling digital items elsewhere until you are sure they were not the reason for the suspension.

[gutterpunkz05]

Only ever had one vero and apart from being told not to list it again, was not provided any further info.    The  product was a ryco filter kit, and the complainant was toyota.   toyota did not even get a mention in the listing.  No details of the actual complaint were ever provided