Account Permanently Suspended Without Explanation

[nicholas._3767]

I created my first eBay account 10 days ago and listed some clothing and a couple text books. In the first few days I got buyers that attempted to buy two of my listed items but were blocked because they were flagged as suspicious buyers that may be using a fake account or something of that nature, the first red flag notifying me that eBay might be scam riddled and failing.

Then, a few days later I got an email notifying that my account has been "permanently suspended because we noticed activity that we believe is a risk to our community" of which I am so sorry to your community because I've endangered you by trying to sell some clothes and economics books. The email proceeds to use vague language telling me that I can't access my account and my listings were removed.
Of course I then come on this forum and other sites to find similar stories in the past year or so where people got no explanation from eBay in the same situation.

When I tried to find a customer service number to talk to someone, I got nothing but automated systems telling me to go online for customer service. The only communication source I could find was the "chat" where I waited to talk to a supposed real agent. That's when, two times, the agent clearly pasted a script that is sent to banned users and immediately ended the chat (screenshot below).
The second agent did give me this explanation when I asked "what will be done with my personal information I was required to divulge when signing up for my eBay account": Agent - "Those information will be saved on file however it won't be shared" and then sent the same script I got from the first agent and immediately ended the conversation.

How is this acceptable? How can anyone trust that their personal information (they have your social security number, bank account information, address) is safe on a platform that is apparently riddled with scamming to the point that a new user will immediately be removed from a brand new account and avoids contact with users? Amazing that this is a public company that tons of people still use yet operates as a black hole with files of our personal information. Absolutely insane.

[rebell45]

Sorry this happened to you, as it has to many others lately. No one will ever be able to explain it.

[donsdetour]

could be you were associated with a different account.  If you were using a public access: this does happen.

Oh and from the messages this account will be found and killed also... Just saying..

[wesk_36]

Were the "economics books" you listed actual books or maybe digital books?

I am just trying to figure this out as I see many members report being booted off ebay for reasons not explained by ebay. It sounds like "Veronica"  (is she human or a robot?) is just parroting a script.

[fashionsandbeauty4u]

Who is "abizh64"? Is that the account that was suspended?

Are you located in the United States and were shipping from the United States?

Had you received prior warnings from eBay about your listings on that account

or any others?

[nicholas._3767]

The books were hard copy and I found the ISBNs in eBay when listing and auto-filled with eBay's information.
Veronica is a human according to the bot-chat but yes, Veronica and the second person that I talked to pasted in the same script. They both gave me one or two messages that did seem to be written by an actual person but as soon as they realized my account was suspended they send the script and end the chat immediately without time to respond. Seems evasive and shady.

[nicholas._3767]

"abizh64" is the suspended account. I made this new one just to share the experience here because I am unable to from the suspended account, but sounds like this new account might end up being suspended too.

I am located in the US. I got no information about the "suspicious" buyers before the purchase was canceled so I don't know where they were located.

The only warnings I received were that the buyer that was trying to buy some clothing I had listed was "not a registered user" and a "suspicious buyer" and that the orders were canceled/listing removed. I then restored the listing via a link in the notification email and it was back up. Nothing other than that before getting the notification that my account was suspended. So this whole thing could be related to me getting targeted by a scammer-buyer, but if that's the case, then I'm a user who signed up, shared my information with eBay as required, was almost scammed through their platform, and then was suspended with little to no communication about what just happened. I'm left wondering how this company can operate this way and still be successful.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Were you selling high dollar sneakers or other designer goods? Did you have any replica items?

[coolections]

My guess is there is a whole bunch of stuff you have not told anyone here. If someone want to spend the time asking 30 questions and you answered them we would get to the bottom of your suspension.

[fab_finds4u]

Were you listing designer clothing? That can get you suspended if eBay suspects they're counterfeit. What clothing were you selling?

Did you reply to any messages from buyers? If a message asked you to text them your PayPal and you answered them it could get you banned.

Is someone  associated with your account that's been suspended? ? If you're in a dormitory and everyone has the same internet connection if one person gets suspended then everyone else gets suspended.

Did you buy a used computer or phone from someone that has a bad eBay account? 

Have you used the same email address to make more than one account?

Has a family member or relative left eBay owing money or has been suspended?

Were you listing with pickup only and said only cash accepted? 

Were you in managed payments so you could get paid?

DId you offer International sales before you sold 10 items?

Were any of your listings misleading? In the wrong category? 

[coolections]

OK, that is a start, now we just need to see if the OP answers.

[ittybitnot]

@nicholas._3767 

The responders that post here are just sellers and buyers.  We exchange and share information that is often helpful (or not) to other users.  There is no way we can know what the suspension is about, nor what to do about it.  

Similar things have been happening for a couple of decades now.  Some are solved, some are not.  If you want advice you will have to answer the questions offered to you.  Many of the posters here have been on this site for twenty years or more.  Though we all learn something new every day, most stories are repeated over and over. 

The good news is, that the internet is a big place now, and eBay is not the only act in town.  In fact, other venues may be more profitable with less fraud.  Hopefully, if you do not get your issue resolved, this will be an instance of "when one door closes, another (better) one opens" for you. 

[nicholas._3767]

Relatively cheap, newer clothing. Nothing fancy or replica or even branded.

[coolections]

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@nicholas._3767 wrote:

Relatively cheap, newer clothing. Nothing fancy or replica or even branded.

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That's a start, now how about answering the other dozen questions as somewhere in there is why you are suspended.

[nicholas._3767]

Were you listing designer clothing? That can get you suspended if eBay suspects they're counterfeit. What clothing were you selling? - Not designer. A pair of jeans and a blazer from an overseas brand. No logos on them.

Did you reply to any messages from buyers? If a message asked you to text them your PayPal and you answered them it could get you banned. - In the 8 or so days I had the account I didn't get any messages from buyers.

Is someone  associated with your account that's been suspended? ? If you're in a dormitory and everyone has the same internet connection if one person gets suspended then everyone else gets suspended. - I am at home where I share internet with my direct family. No one else has or has had an eBay account.

Did you buy a used computer or phone from someone that has a bad eBay account?  - New computer, no one else has used it.

Have you used the same email address to make more than one account? - No, I used my primary email account to create it and it was my first ever account. My account I'm using here was made using my partner's email address.

Has a family member or relative left eBay owing money or has been suspended? - No, I asked my family when I read that could be a possible reason for suspension.

Were you listing with pickup only and said only cash accepted?  - I believe I had both shipping and pickup options available and would accept any form of payment. I don't remember exactly but I would prefer card payment anyway so I wouldn't have selected that.

Were you in managed payments so you could get paid? - I'm not familiar with "managed payments" but I hadn't sold anything.

DId you offer International sales before you sold 10 items? - I selected domestic shipping only for my listings.

Were any of your listings misleading? In the wrong category?  -  I believe not. The items listed were books and clothing. The options were fairly clear on what to pick for categorization.

I read the guidelines closely after being suspended and trying to figure out why it may have happened. The only guideline I can see potentially being an issue is my descriptions of the clothing because I copied some descriptive words and sizing information from the website I bought the clothing from and similar clothing items. 
If this was a violation of policy, I would expect the listing to be take down and a notification sent to me AT MOST, not the permanent suspension of my account and the subsequent treatment from customer service like I'm a black-balled criminal who can't be spoken to. There has got to be another reason why such a strong action would take place, no?