eBay Forcing you to give your checking account with routing number and Social Security number

[loriv8473]

Forcing you to give your checking account with routing number and Social Security number . I am not a big seller I just sold a few things I never used that I had then eBay locked my account AFTER selling some stuff saying I had to update my account. I refused to give my private information. I called eBay and of course I was tossed around from one person to another. I asked them why PayPal doesn’t ask you that kind of private information they allow you to use your bank card like a credit card and do two small deposits with one withdrawal to verify. If you are a business they only require your EIN number.  Never do they ask you for your private information. Brittany from eBay the last woman I was talking to said well PayPal is a Financial company and a eBay is a market place. Ok so that supposed to make me feel comfortable giving Them my private information? That is supposed to tell me it’s Secure to do so? I had to ship the stuff I sold to the people because I’m not a jerk but eBay won’t give me my money. I told Britney I was deleting my account she sent me the link. Once I know the people received what they purchased ( because I’m honest)  and want to make sure they got it even though it cost me money. I WAS a victim of fraud twice. My SS# was stolen and it ended up freezing my tax returns and the second time I had my bank account drained. I was told by the police to NEVER give your SS # out other than in person and never give your routing # out unless it’s in person or a government site which have very high security and Only if you need to exp: direct deposit tax return. I have never given it out since. There is NO good reason eBay needs that. They have documentation they took the sales tax out. Personally I think anyone that got ripped off by eBay and they will not give them their money back need to get together and sue eBay. 

[dcl_91]

I agree!  I would rather sell very slowly on CL than submit to MP.  Everything else to one side for a moment, I paid bloody tax on everything I have purchased.  I am a private citizen, and if I want to sell something I no longer use or need, then the government has a bloody nerve trying to collect tax on it AGAIN.  Businesses that sell new or used items is one thing, but they are taxing people to death!!

[dcl_91]

Right, it gets worse and worse.  IRS may force a lot of stuff on eBay, but it does not make it right, and I am bloody sick of IRS.  I am STILL waiting for my stimulus payment from LAST FEBRUARY, and no one is doing a bloody thing about it.  IRS bloody well TAKES whatever it wants from us, but try to get back the money they ow you, and you will be fighting and waiting a very long time indeed.

As an aside, is anyone else STILL waiting to receive unpaid stimulus payments???

[mam98031]

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@dcl_91 wrote:

If seller is just a small seller selling things she no longer uses or needs, then why should need a tax form??  She is not a business.

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@dcl_91 

By who's definition.  Yours but not likely IRS's.  And it is what IRS determines is correct that matters.

Many make this mistake, so don't worry about it.  To be a business you do NOT have to be formally set up or even have a license.  

The first time you sold something and got paid for it, you became a little business.  Now for those that sell ONLY used stuff from around there home, their income may not be taxable, but that doesn't mean you don't have to report it on your Federal Tax return.  But there are some rules that if you qualify you may not owe any taxes on your sales.

The moment you sell something you bought things change.  If you buy something at a yard sale or sell something for a friend or do anything other than sell your own stuff

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/five-things-to-remember-about-hobby-income-and-expenses

https://www.1040.com/blog/2019/7/12/selling-stuff-online-taxes-for-etsy-ebay-letgo-and-more/

https://www.findlaw.com/tax/federal-taxes/do-you-need-to-report-your-online-sales-to-the-irs.html

[kensgiftshop]

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@reidgreetings5 wrote:

In summary; Your bank will send you a summary of your earnings for tax purposes prior to the annual April deadline. As required by law for all citizens of the US. Along with those statements comes additional literature regarding the reasons for sending them, along with a statement as to having provided that same information to the IRS.

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I've had a checking account since the early 80s and none of the banks ever sent me any summary of my earnings.

So it must not be required for all citizens of the US.

[mam98031]

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@dcl_91 wrote:

acrc3113, I agree with you 100%

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@dcl_91 You might be better off learning the actual facts on how this process works.  While I'm confident @acrc3113 means well, they aren't really accurate.

MP does not require your full SSN on Casual Sellers [no store] or a Small Seller [with store] that appears to never get close to the threshold for having a 1099K issued.  For these sellers MP only requires the last 4 digits of their SSN, not the full number

As to the checking account you attach.  MP does NOT have "unfettered access" to that account.  They have the ability to make deposits to that account and they can withdraw from that account to cover a negative balance in your MP account.  Before they do that however, they send the seller an email letting them know that in a couple days [they will state the exact date] they will need to pull X amount from your bank account.  Also if a seller is monitoring their MP account like they should, they will know this is coming likely before Ebay ever sends an email.  However if enough sales happens for you and it covers that negative balance in your MP account, then MP will not look to your checking account to fund anything.

You would be well served to read the following links.  They are short and easy to read but provide some facts you should be aware of as to how MP actually works.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Payments-Resources/How-does-the-updated-eBay-payments-experience-work-...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Payments-Resources/Have-questions-about-payments-Check-out-this-post-f...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Payments-Resources/Infographic-How-payouts-work-when-eBay-manages-paym...

[mam98031]

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@dcl_91 wrote:

What you have written sounds accurate, but I think what the OP might be feeling in addition to everything else is that enough is enough.  People are tired of being treated like trained seals.  For years all I needed to sign into my bank account was my user name and password.  Not anymore.  Now, I also have to get a code sent to my mobile or my email every time I sign in.  

Quite some years ago now they said they were not going to return cheques unless you specifically asked them to do.  Then, they said they would not return cheques unless you paid them to return them.  Now, they are trying to coerce everyone into using debit cards for everything.   On-line banking to pay bills is not enough anymore.  Now they do not want you to use ATM's.   Anyone who is comfortable with all of this is fine with me, but personally, I feel enough is enough.  I for one will NOT sell on eBay ever again.  It simply is not worth it.  The OP must feel the same way.

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@dcl_91 

It has absolutely nothing to do with MP.  It is likely in your account preferences you can turn OFF that second step on your login.  Stuff like that is usually optional.

All of this post is about your bank issues and not MP issues.  This isn't something you should be holding against MP as you know they have nothing to do with it.

[dcl_91]

I mentioned this as an example of how people are treated like robots or trained seals.  Do as you are told.  Do not question or object to what we say.  

This is why I do not participate on these forums very often.  People just want to argue minutia.  That is all I have to say to you.  

[mam98031]

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@dcl_91 wrote:

I mentioned this as an example of how people are treated like robots or trained seals.  Do as you are told.  Do not question or object to what we say.  

This is why I do not participate on these forums very often.  People just want to argue minutia.  That is all I have to say to you.  

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I'm sorry it makes you feel that way.  Like I said, you are likely in control of that 2nd step on your login.  Knowing the details may help you feel better about stuff which is why I offered you more information earlier as you are taking to heart some incorrect information.

You may not like MP, but making your decision to stay or go is better with the actual facts of how the program works.  Making an informed decision is always better for you.

Ebay owns the site, so they set the rules.  Us buyers and sellers can decide for ourselves whether we want to abide by those rules or go elsewhere.  It really is as simple as that.

So if some site is making you feel badly about yourself like your bank is, move on.  There are options available.

[140dt]

Ebay and the government wants to know how much money we have.  Stay clear of ebay and Biden!!

[releasethekraken_1]

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@140dt wrote:

Ebay and the government wants to know how much money we have.  Stay clear of ebay and Biden!!

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I'm sure the Secret Service will make sure you stay clear of Biden. They may already have you on the list.

[mam98031]

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@140dt wrote:

Ebay and the government wants to know how much money we have.  Stay clear of ebay and Biden!!

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@140dt 

Not everything is political nor does this process have anything to do with the President.  Your CONGRESS passed laws that REQUIRE money processors to confirm the identity of an account holder for which they are going to be processing money for.  It is called the Anti Money Laundering Laws which have been in place long before Biden became president.  And likely some to do with the Patriots Act, again passed by the CONGRESS before Biden was president.

If sellers have been reporting their internet income as they have ALWAYS been required to do, you have nothing to fear from giving this information to Ebay for purposes of income.  But of course if you are trying to hide income, it becomes important.

[amousepad]

routing number ... yes.... routing number with my account number on it... no its not public information. thats how checks are washed.   Im sure youve heard of that...    ebay wants your routing number AND checking account number.   Again... that is NOT public information.

[mam98031]

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@amousepad wrote:

routing number ... yes.... routing number with my account number on it... no its not public information. thats how checks are washed.   Im sure youve heard of that...    ebay wants your routing number AND checking account number.   Again... that is NOT public information.

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@amousepad 

Bank routing numbers are public information.  Your checking account number is not.  However if you have ever written a check out on your account, whomever you gave that check to has your bank routing number and your checking account number.

As to the other poster you are responding to, they said the same thing.  The never said anything about your checking account number being public info.  I think you just misread their post.

[amousepad]

Unless I am mistaken... the ORIGINAL post was "Forcing you to give your checking account with routing number and Social Security number ."   

[mam98031]

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@amousepad wrote:

Unless I am mistaken... the ORIGINAL post was "Forcing you to give your checking account with routing number and Social Security number ."   

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Yes it is a requirement.  It is how MP functions.  It is how it is designed.  The checking account is required because that is how they get the money to you.  The SSN or partial SSN is required to satisfy Federal requirements.

You can fight it if you choose.  That is your choice.  You won't be selling on this site, but you are welcome to fight it.