Ebay Refusing to Make Payout

[ffahmy1]

This is another example of Ebay refusing to make a payout while they hold our money and collect interest.  I have been a member for 24 years, same bank account and nothing else has changed.  First excuse: need to verify bank account....so they did that (by making deposits and withdrawals) and said that was o.k.  Second excuse: need to verify my social security number which they already had.  Did that and they said verification and they confirmed it was o.k.  Now they won't say what else they are looking for/at.  They keep saying they need 5 days not do a further review.  Every day the 5 days starts over.  In addition to being unethical, this is potentially criminal behavior.  They collected their fees (almost $1000) on day 2 after the buyers payment cleared and have been sitting on my money ever since.  I would warn anyone against making a significant sale on Ebay.

[wrong66]

Good luck. Next time read eBay policy BEFORE you list and you'll be just fine. 

[kensgiftshop]

---

@ffahmy1 wrote:

It's a trading card, registered with the PSA.  A 2 minute review would show I am (was) the owner of the card.  At any rate, when I talk to them, why can't they specifically tell me why they are holding up the payout.  They didn't site the reasons above.

---

I think it was about 2 years ago, they started placing holds on items that sold for then $1000.

They consider you a new seller, and new sellers will have their funds held.

You sold a high priced item in a high scammed category.

Also, they want to stop hackers form hacking accounts and selling high priced items and getting away with the money.

If they have to make a refund, they want to make sure the funds are there to cover it.

[bonjourami]

To help ensure eBay remains a safe place to buy and sell, and to meet our legal and compliance obligations, we sometimes place a hold on funds, for example, if there's an open case or dispute on a transaction, if your buyer reports a problem with the order, if your account is restricted or suspended, if you owe eBay money, or if you're a new or infrequent seller. 

[ffahmy1]

The policy is totally vague and basically allows them to hold funds using any criteria for any length of time.  But you're right....I should have read the policy and other people's similar experiences with difficulties getting paid in advance.  I shouldn't have assumed just because I had never had an issue before that things would go smooth.  Live and learn.  I obviously won't be selling any more "high priced" items on Ebay.

[ffahmy1]

If those are the reasons for the hold, why don't they say that when I call and talk to them?

[bonjourami]

Because they dont know, those foreign csr's are scripted, and just want you off the phone and on to the next call.

[johnrj1226]

Go argue your case in court - try to get on Judge Judy

[motor5411]

THEY  ARE SITTING ON OVER 10,000 OF MY MONEY RIGHT NOW . CANT GET ANYBODY ON PHONE TO TALK TOO. 

[ffahmy1]

Possibly at the first level...but I escalated to higher levels who spoke perfect English. 

[pburn]

---

@ffahmy1 wrote:

I have sold something with the last year and if there are rules for being labelled a "new" seller these should be provided in advance. 

---

How about this eBay help page for "advance" notice regarding holds on payments for infrequent sellers? Maybe an eBay customer service rep should have called you and read it to you over the phone.

Payments on hold 

Additionally, we may place a transaction hold on funds depending on your seller status or the category you're selling in:

• New or infrequent sellers will experience transaction holds while we confirm that their items have been successfully delivered. This helps sellers become established and build a strong selling history on eBay. In limited circumstances, new sellers may experience holds for up to 21 days.

[ffahmy1]

The item has been successfully delivered and signed for per FedEx tracking.  And again, "infrequent" should be defined.  Very simply solution to alert potential sellers who may choose other selling options instead of waiting 21 days.  

re:  In limited circumstances, new sellers may experience holds for up to 21 days.

What are limited circumstances?  There was/is nothing suspicious about this transaction.  This is a graded card with a serial number.  Yeah, a 24 year member with a perfect rating and nothing but stellar comments on everything (albeit not tons of stuff) he has sold has been hatching a scam for 24 years.  Sounds reasonable to qualify as a limited circumstance.  Also, in the listing, I disclosed something that I knew would devalue the card by $4-5k (which it did).  The PSA says it doesn't change the value, but I knew it would in the eyes of many collectors.  Exactly the type of honesty you would expect from a scamster.   

[mrdutch1001]

looks plain and simple to me= a seller who hasn't sold anything in several months, sells a high priced item= eBay is taking their cautious approach and making sure everything is good and that there are no issues anywhere...and that my friend requires PATIENCE on the part of the seller. eBay is enforcing their policy for any sellers who are not consistent, regularly selling. They are enforcing their policies regarding new, infrequent, casual sellers.

ALL sellers need to be aware that eBay can withhold funds from ANY seller at ANYTIME and they don't have to provide an explanation!

Other selling sites have been known to do same...

[ffahmy1]

re: ALL sellers need to be aware that eBay can withhold funds from ANY seller at ANYTIME and they don't have to provide an explanation!

Yup, I understand that now and that will not be acceptable to me going forward.  

I will deal with this buyer directly in the future if I have any other cards of interest.  He has already asked me if I have any more similar cards.  There are other avenues for GRADED cards which do not have similar requirements.  I will not be selling anything on any regular basis...so being labelled as an "infrequent" seller and having to deal with ambiguous rules and indefinite delays in collecting funds will not be in my future.  

[pburn]

---

@ffahmy1 wrote:

I will not be selling anything on any regular basis...so being labelled as an "infrequent" seller and having to deal with ambiguous rules and indefinite delays in collecting funds will not be in my future.  

---

You are literally the only person who thinks all those eBay help pages, the User Agreement, etc., contain ambiguous rules. Everyone else seems to understand them perfectly and think they're quite clear. That makes me wonder whether you're being deliberately obtuse. Everyone has pointed out your failure to research eBay's policies and procedures--but you're still unwilling to admit it.

And if you can't comprehend that selling two items a year is considered an infrequent seller, all the eBay help pages on the site aren't going to be able to help.

Good luck in the future with your one sale a year, wherever that takes place.

[yuzuha]

---

@ffahmy1 wrote:

re:  In limited circumstances, new sellers may experience holds for up to 21 days.

What are limited circumstances?  There was/is nothing suspicious about this transaction.

---

You are a seller who has not sold anything in at least 90 days and has only ever received 53 feedback as a seller. You suddenly list an $8,000 item and ONLY an $8,000 item for sale. You really can't see why that might be considered unusual/suspicious?