Sellers Periodic Performance Review causing problems

[eb24662]

I am on my 10th day of this performance review and a buyer is waiting for their item which I cannot ship before I get paid and doesn’t seem that ebay cares. How long does this last? It’s costing me money and time while ebay is holding $2800! It was the sale of a large item that triggered it. But taking down more than 100 listings seems extreme! Why leave a buyer wait 10 days for item to be shipped! The buyer can even open a case of not delivered item! They contact ebay who tells them ebay will ask me to ship and when they get the item I get paid! I have contacted ebay by phone and chat without result. All they wanted from me was proof that my sold items were delivered. This information is easily verifiable in the sold items. I have sent it and haven’t heard anything. It seems more of a lame excuse to me to keep my account suspended when they keep my payout! 
How long did this absurd process last for people? Ebay spokespeople pretending to be ebayers like @mam98031 need NOT reply. Genuine sellers that went through this only! Thanks.

[buyologist-3]

..."Just because you don't have access to the money doesn't mean you weren't paid."

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With all due respect, anytime I don't have $ in my hand, I haven't been paid.  It may be held by someone else, but until it's in my hand, payment hasn't been completed.~~~Thank you.~~~ 

[mam98031]

I know for some, whenever there is an issue on Ebay they leap to Ebay must be having money problems.  It is just something they say to enflame the issue and isn't based in any kind of fact other than they are angry.  A better understanding of how MP actually works will usually do away with this assumption pretty quickly.

Ebay has told you that they are going to continue to put you on a Performance Review every couple of weeks?  If they said that, did they tell you why or is this just an assumption on your part?  A Performance review will hold your money from 3-5 days while they complete they review and then your funds are released.

I don't know why they do it this way, just that it is what they do.  No other site does this, but Ebay has some different procedures than other sites that is for sure.

If this isn't where you are getting your money for your day to day life, why not just wait and see if this second review resolves the issue all together?

I would still encourage you to call the Payments Team again.

[mam98031]

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@buyologist-3 wrote:

..."Just because you don't have access to the money doesn't mean you weren't paid."

--------------------

With all due respect, anytime I don't have $ in my hand, I haven't been paid.  It may be held by someone else, but until it's in my hand, payment hasn't been completed.~~~Thank you.~~~ 

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What @albertabrightalberta is said was that the buyer DID PAY.  And that is a fact.  It is a separate issue if Ebay is doing a Performance Review on your account and your money is held up for 3-5 days.  You can still ship your items and use the Ebay label system if you want.  This way your shipping costs can be paid by your MP account so you aren't out of pocket more money.

[buyologist-3]

Oh, I agree that the buyer paid, it's just the holding that bugs me.  A short while I might be good with but 10 or more days, and reviews over reviews even if things are fine, 'they' do new reviews repeatedly.  Maybe they'll get this straightened out soon.  But what crappy timing with all that's going on!  Thanks for your answer! 

[mam98031]

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@buyologist-3 wrote:

Oh, I agree that the buyer paid, it's just the holding that bugs me.  A short while I might be good with but 10 or more days, and reviews over reviews even if things are fine, 'they' do new reviews repeatedly.  Maybe they'll get this straightened out soon.  But what crappy timing with all that's going on!  Thanks for your answer! 

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Well that is interesting @buyologist-3 .  I have not read about anyone having a 10+ day hold. I've always seen the 3-5 days.  Have they increased the hold time?

[buyologist-3]

You know: high priced items for instance.  Sometimes at ebay's bots' will.  No matter, it is what it is.  The words for the times is Adjust and Adapt.  

[mam98031]

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@buyologist-3 wrote:

You know: high priced items for instance.  Sometimes at ebay's bots' will.  No matter, it is what it is.  The words for the times is Adjust and Adapt.  

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I don't know that to be true and cause a seller to have a performance review just 2 weeks after having one.

[mill_6724]

Explain my situation please, I have been an eBay user for the past 2 years and I have regularly bought items (around 4K in sneakers in the past 4 months, gold coins, jewelry, etc.) I went ahead and listed a ring, that I had bought on eBay back for sale and it sold like 3 days later. I shipped out the same day.. using 2 day fedex shipping. I spoke with the buyer after shipping and after she received the item. At first it said that there was a new seller hold to make sure the item was delivered and matched the listing which it was on 5/12(payment from buyer confirmed 5/10). It then moved the funds on my payment tab to “available funds” with “no scheduled payouts” so I called and spoke to several reps.. the first 2 said that I was just waiting to make sure the package was delivered(even though it showed as delivered on fedex and on eBay), the 3rd saying it would initiate on the 15th(Monday) then on Monday I was told i was under a “periodic review that started on the 12th and that I would be paid out by 4am on Wednesday. It is now 1 pm and the most recent person said they can’t do anything about it, that it should finish today and they have no idea at all why I was being reviewed and that they had no time or date to give me for when it will finally pay me out and that it should just happen tomorrow. I am so fed up with this whole situation. This is not explained in any of the registration for new sellers and is not even in their help menu. I asked why it takes 5 entire days to “review” my account, which I have only sold the one item, and I gave them my SS, my bank account info, name, address, everything they could possibly need to ensure I was who I claimed to be short of taking a DNA sample. They had absolutely no idea what the review entails and they said they can not even contact the office who is in charge of this process. They said it is automatic apparantly but could not explain then who makes the decision on what happens going forward, esp when they don’t even know what the review looks at specifically or what makes it hold your funds over their specified “5 day” holding period. I feel like this is a scam or a way to make money off of the funds they owe me but I don’t know. They make the funds available however to spend on their site which makes zero sense. If they felt that my account was being used fraudulently then WHY would they allow me to use the money.. but only if I used it on their site. Just seems like they hold your money anticipating that you will just spend it (earning them more money) by the time 5 (well going on 7) days is up. Please help me and explain how any of this is even somewhat acceptable and explain what they are doing for 7 days while they “hold” my money and also why they allow it to be spent.. just so long as they get a further cut of it. I just really don’t feel good about the whole situation. I really feel that this is extremely sketchy because no other platforms do anything like this whatsoever.. if you are a new seller beware .. but no new sellers would look this info up considering it is never mentioned not a single time in any of their registration information. So anyways please explain and help me if you can.. I am hoping they give me my money, but at this point I really do not expect to get any of it because this feels like a classic scam but I guess we’ll see. Thanks In advance if you can help in any way shed some light 

[firstne-0]

I made those posts yesterday about not having a payout date booked in light of the fact that I had no clue about what was happening at that point. EBay didn't illuminate me that I was in an intermittent audit until today. I don't believe this is a result of a security issue as eBay expresses I'm going to be first class one month from now yet interested could be an illustration of a security issue? What's more, how much longer could that sort of survey take?

[donsdetour]

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@mill_6724 wrote:

Explain my situation please, I have been an eBay user for the past 2 years and I have regularly bought items (around 4K in sneakers in the past 4 months, gold coins, jewelry, etc.) I went ahead and listed a ring, that I had bought on eBay back for sale and it sold like 3 days later. I shipped out the same day.. using 2 day fedex shipping. I spoke with the buyer after shipping and after she received the item. At first it said that there was a new seller hold to make sure the item was delivered and matched the listing which it was on 5/12(payment from buyer confirmed 5/10). It then moved the funds on my payment tab to “available funds” with “no scheduled payouts” so I called and spoke to several reps.. the first 2 said that I was just waiting to make sure the package was delivered(even though it showed as delivered on fedex and on eBay), the 3rd saying it would initiate on the 15th(Monday) then on Monday I was told i was under a “periodic review that started on the 12th and that I would be paid out by 4am on Wednesday. It is now 1 pm and the most recent person said they can’t do anything about it, that it should finish today and they have no idea at all why I was being reviewed and that they had no time or date to give me for when it will finally pay me out and that it should just happen tomorrow. I am so fed up with this whole situation. This is not explained in any of the registration for new sellers and is not even in their help menu. I asked why it takes 5 entire days to “review” my account, which I have only sold the one item, and I gave them my SS, my bank account info, name, address, everything they could possibly need to ensure I was who I claimed to be short of taking a DNA sample. They had absolutely no idea what the review entails and they said they can not even contact the office who is in charge of this process. They said it is automatic apparantly but could not explain then who makes the decision on what happens going forward, esp when they don’t even know what the review looks at specifically or what makes it hold your funds over their specified “5 day” holding period. I feel like this is a scam or a way to make money off of the funds they owe me but I don’t know. They make the funds available however to spend on their site which makes zero sense. If they felt that my account was being used fraudulently then WHY would they allow me to use the money.. but only if I used it on their site. Just seems like they hold your money anticipating that you will just spend it (earning them more money) by the time 5 (well going on 7) days is up. Please help me and explain how any of this is even somewhat acceptable and explain what they are doing for 7 days while they “hold” my money and also why they allow it to be spent.. just so long as they get a further cut of it. I just really don’t feel good about the whole situation. I really feel that this is extremely sketchy because no other platforms do anything like this whatsoever.. if you are a new seller beware .. but no new sellers would look this info up considering it is never mentioned not a single time in any of their registration information. So anyways please explain and help me if you can.. I am hoping they give me my money, but at this point I really do not expect to get any of it because this feels like a classic scam but I guess we’ll see. Thanks In advance if you can help in any way shed some light 

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Hmm for this and the topic:

sales over 600 are going to tag to be sure you have tax info on file; due to the laws in the US on  1099s.

Been some glitches with this.

This for sure is one of the reasons such happen.

Folks with problems need  to start their own topic and not attach to an existing one.

[mam98031]

@mill_6724 

I will try, but I have a real problem reading a wall of text.  My eyes have great difficulty with it.  Using spacing and paragraphs really help.

It is so important that new sellers learn what the entire payment process is and what is required of them BEFORE selling anything.  I'm not sure why the CSRs you contacted were not able to explain this to you as it is really simple.  

Ebay has had a rule for many years that pertains to New Seller and sellers that have been away from selling for 90+ days. The following is the policy that outlines why you money is likely on hold.

https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-and-payments/payments/payment-holds/

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&&...

[mill_6724]

These links and info are not pertinent to my case or situation whatsoever lol you obviously did not read what was going on because it didn’t space it into paragraphs lol so here is what is going on. Please help shed some light on the situation and explain how this is normal, logical, or ethical please. Thanks in advance. 

I have asked and asked and asked about getting my payout, as it is my money NOT eBay’s and I would like to know the parameters of the system you claim is autonomic in its choosing of whom and when accounts are “performance reviewed”. 

No one can explain what they are reviewing for the 9th calendar day since the payment was confirmed and the 7th since delivery was confirmed and the item was accepted without incident by the buyer. 

No one has been able to explain why I have been chosen for a “performance review” as this is my first sale on the platform, although I have spent thousands of dollars in the past couple years as a buyer of sneakers, jewelry, and collectibles. 

My information was never changed or updated and I provided every single identification details that are possible to provide including my name DOB address, bank account info, my social Security number in its entirety, my phone number, every single thing, all of which is my own and completely free of any issues whatsoever. 

No one is able to explain why it is now past the 5th entire business day and it was was scheduled to “automatically fall off” at 3 am 5/18/22…

..

today 3 different representatives lied to my face again and said it would be off by 5-19-22 at 12AM. 

It is still not off and they are still in definately holding my money without out cause or justification in any shape form or fashion . 

The reasoning as stated by their employees is that this review is to make the community safe and to help ensure that there is nothing fraudulent with my account and a bunch of other literal nonsense. 

It does not take 5 days to review one sale. Especially when it was a perfect sale. 

I accepted the offer on my well written and described listing. The buyer then paid the amount they offered. I shipped the item that same exact day via 2 day fedex express as promised 

 I messaged the seller letting them know I appreciated the sale and that I had shipped. They wrote back stating they were happy and grateful for acceltance of their offer. 

They confirmed they received the item exactly as described and on time via fed ex home delivery. They accepted the item and confirmed delivery. 

During the period from payment confirmation (5/10) until delivery confirmation and item acceptance (5/12/22) the funds were placed on a hold (new seller hold) to ensure the buyer received the item and that it was exactly as described.  

Because they confirmed delivery and accepted the item, the hold was then “lifted” on my account which stated that my funds were available for payout. 

In between the payment and the delivery, I was sent a notification stating that in order to get paid for my item I had to submit my social security number in its entirety for tax purposes, which I did with Expedience(literally the same minute it was received) 

it stated that my account was updated and that I would receive my payout once the new seller hold was lifted which would occur after delivery and acceptance of the item. 

However, even tho it showed my funds as completely available (stating they are not part of processing or held funds) it stated then and still states “there were no payouts scheduled.”

This is when I  began calling customer service to see what was happening and to see if anything needed to be done on my end.

They said my account was up to date and I just had to wait until Monday (5/16) and my payout would initiate automatically and that there weren’t any holds on my funds. 

On Monday, no payout occurred. I called again, this time more angry than before demanding answers about where my money was and why It had not initiated the payment and for them to explain what was happening bc there was and still is no logical reasoning behind this entire situation. 

I was told the funds would be sent in 5/18 @ 3:00 am at the latest. I have this in a separate chat conversation as well. 

Well on 5/18/22 @ 11 am, they are still hoarding my money. So I called again. This time the woman was more intellectually inclined and better at her job . She stated she’d look. 

She then came back and said I was under this ridiculous performance review, despite me doing every single thing perfectly as a seller and despite me being a regular user and buyer on the platform.

She said it had begun on 5/13(day  after delivery/acceptance)and the day before payout.

It never sent any email or message or notification whatsoever regarding this at all. 

She didn’t know how or why it was reviewing my account and she said it should have sent the email and it was really weird it had not and more weird as she read transcripts of previous CS calls. She then put me on hold to investigate. Then after a while she came back and we began talking: 

She tried to tell me this is just random and that it had happened to her also. So she said she’d check bc it stated in her software the review was scheduled to automatically “fall off @3am and she said she’d find out why it hadn’t and when it will. 

After 10 mins she came back saying how sorry she was and that she doesn’t know why it had chosen my account and that it was 95% a mistake and that she and her boss had no idea why it hadn’t ended at that point and that she was powerless to do anything at all about the review.

 She stated that no one whatsoever can influence the review(has to be lie) and that no one can terminate it(lie) and that she has no idea why they take 5 days and that she has no idea what they look at specifically or what the parameters are for the review.

She agreed that it is flat out ridiculous to review an account line mine and esp. ridiculous when I only sold 1 single item that was shipped same day deliveries on time with confirmation all the way around.

She agreed it made no sense. She said that 1000% it would be over by the end of the day and my payout with be scheduled and initiated by 5/19. 

After this call I then immediate got the email saying my funds were temporarily being held as my account was undergoing a periodic performance review. Which it had not said on my sellers tab at all till this point. 

At the time of writing it’s 4:46 Am EST and they’re still indefinitely hold my money (probably making money off it somehow) and 

I need an explanation as to what in the literal **bleep** is going on and I need to know if I will ever receive MY money or if this platform is really a scam and is keeping my money. 

Because that’s how it seems to me as an educated man who has grown up in the era surronded by scamming business/platforms/apps and the people who are behind the scams themselves.

So hopefully someone will read this.. again i doubt it, and maybe just maybe at some point I will receive what is legally my property but chances seem really slim.

Hopefully you don’t just attach some **bleep** links again where eBay states they will take and withhold what is yours If they feel like it and that there is nothing you can do about it again lol because that just makes it seem even more likely that they are and have been selectively scamming hundreds if not thousands Of sellers recently. 

[mill_6724]

And another very important piece to this is that they said I can spend my fund (700$) on the site!

That proves they aren’t actually reviewing me for any real logical reason or purpose because if it was thought there was something fraudulent at all going on with my account then they wouldn’t allow me to use the funds @ all!!!

But they are allowing me to spend my money, just so long as they get another cut of it!

That is very suspicious and seems to almost be a smoking gun proving they are doing this as a tactic and not at all as a legitimate review  service that serves anyone but themself.

Smh.. please let me know why they allow the use of the funds but only if I spend it on their platform (and give them a further 12% of it)

so if I used all of it they would have gained 24% of my total payout.. which to me seems pretty obvious is their goal and objective in taking and “holding” my money for over 9 total days at this point. 

[donsdetour]

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@mill_6724 wrote:

And another very important piece to this is that they said I can spend my fund (700$) on the site!

That proves they aren’t actually reviewing me for any real logical reason or purpose because if it was thought there was something fraudulent at all going on with my account then they wouldn’t allow me to use the funds @ all!!!

But they are allowing me to spend my money, just so long as they get another cut of it!

That is very suspicious and seems to almost be a smoking gun proving they are doing this as a tactic and not at all as a legitimate review  service that serves anyone but themself.

Smh.. please let me know why they allow the use of the funds but only if I spend it on their platform (and give them a further 12% of it)

so if I used all of it they would have gained 24% of my total payout.. which to me seems pretty obvious is their goal and objective in taking and “holding” my money for over 9 total days at this point. 

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They say you can use money on site??

Other than paying fees and or shipping: Such has not been available to do so  for goods as far as I can tell.

As for the review it was triggered by you selling a item that was high dollar in a category know to have problems with fraud etc. It also was an amount that will trigger the 1099 being sent to you.

Such changes in behavior on a account can and will be looked into..

Yours would acualy appear as a possible hijacked account as well. No activity for some time< listing a gold and diamond ring.

If some one came to these boards and asked about such a sale: I would have advised against them purchasing such..

Have you give them all the info they asked for???

[mam98031]

"it stated that my account was updated and that I would receive my payout once the new seller hold was lifted which would occur after delivery and acceptance of the item. "

While you may not think the links I provided to you apply to you, they do.  It is likely you have a combination of reasons why the money is held.

• New or infrequent sellers will experience transaction holds while eBay confirms 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.
• Previously restricted or suspended sellers will experience transaction holds for the 30 days after the restriction or suspension is lifted, while eBay confirms that the items have been successfully delivered.
• High priced items or unusual selling patterns may lead to transaction holds for up to 30 days to help us ensure that buyers don't have any issues with the order.
• The authentication process may lead to transaction holds for up to 30 days until the authenticity of items sold with eBay's Authenticity Guarantee can be confirmed.

You may not agree with the process, but it is one that you are stuck with until you get enough sales moving through your account.  What I typically suggest to sellers is to create some low dollar value listings.  Things you have you think will sell quickly.  Get a dozen or so transactions sold and things will start to improve for you in regards to your money moving.

I can't answer for what the CSRs are telling you.  For some reason they frequently get this specific policy wrong or don't even consider it.  IDK why, I just know they are really consistent.

So while you may not like my explanation or may not agree with it, it is more likely than not that it is exactly what your issue is.