Account suspended for using a VPN

[binarytemple]

(moved from default question location - ask a mentor)

Hi, I've had an eBay account for 8 years. Never got a bad review. In fairness I've only ever sold one item for £40 or so, I'm a buyer, not a seller. I own an IT consultancy.

I created a separate business account for buying computers, switches, etc. Same personal details, phone, address, etc. The account gets set up without problems, and with a standing order to my business bank account.

In case you're wondering, I need a separate account as I can write all that stuff for tax against my consulting services income. 100% normal.

Receive a message from eBay about two weeks later, saying the account has been suspended. 

What? That's strange, I haven't done any purchases with it yet, I don't have an offensive name, or custom avatar and I've interacted with no-one so far. 

So I get in touch with customer services, as usual, first I talk to a totally clueless AI before figuring out how to speak to a human. I get through to a human and I attempt to resolve the issue. Of course the customer service agent doesn't have a clue and can't tell me why I've been suspended, only that I've acted in a way that puts the platform and users at risk. What? He can't give me any more information, this feels positively Kafkesque. 

Anyhow, I go searching through Redit (I've now wasted about 4 hours on getting account set-up, dealing with support, etc) trying to find similar stories. 

It turns out eBay has a policy of blocking users who are use VPN. I use VPN for a couple of reasons. 

1. Prevent attacks against my home router. 

2. Prevent trackers and spyware (I won't mention Peter Thiel Palantir here, but I just did).

3. Reduce bandwidth by means of point 2

Anyhow, I'd just like to say, I wanted to buy a set of mini PC for setting up a Kubernetes cluster. Anyhow, I found the exact same product on Amazon with a one year Amazon refurbished warranty (I've bought thousands of pounds worth of stuff off eBay over the years that turned out to be broken and I had no recourse, so the warranty is great). 

I think what I'll do is primarily use Amazon for business and personal purchases as they don't need to tell me how to connect to the internet. 

Thanks. 

[rsl.roni.1zsdwjqffr]

I am thinking the same thing.  Ebay is so worried about me buying a couple hundred dollars worth of items when I normally buy on Amazon.  I have spent thousands, maybe 3 or 4 thousand each year on amazon and just started to try ebay.  Guess I'll stick with Amazon. 

[rsl.roni.1zsdwjqffr]

And I use a vpn on Amazon.   Why does ebay care so much about me using a VPN and gift cards?  If I lived in Argentina I could buy the awning brackets from the seller in person and he wouldn't ask for my IP address.  Ebay accused me of having an account that is suspended and this is my other account.  It isn't suspended.  I don't know why they won't let me buy those the brackets.  I have been trying all month.  I wish the seller sold on the darknet and accepted bitcoin. 

[nickxq]

Same exact story.  Ebay is behind the times and their antiquated system of "VPN=bad" is absolute smooth brain behavior. 

[krazzykats]

Buying as a guest | eBay

(Keep track of the order# in case there are problems.)

[lacemaker3]

I use a VPN quite frequently, because it is required to access the MPP research computers at my university, as well as the library, and all other university systems. I've never been blocked by eBay because of this ... the VPN is active now, actually.

Use of the VPN may have been enabling something else, or it appeared to be hiding something.