Getting the runaround from eBay customer support?
I have had an open eBay account since 2021, but only started selling (seriously) this year. Other than a few minor hiccups, I have never run into any real problems until this week. Here is a rundown of the past four days – my question for this community is this: am I getting the runaround?
June 6th at 6 PM: I made a number of sales this day, including a larger sale for over $1,000. Immediately, I receive a red banner on the mobile and desktop versions of the site asking me to update my bank account information. I log into my bank account and type in my routing and account numbers, as well as my debit card information. I receive a green check mark after this telling me that it is under review, and it should be resolved in 48 hours.
June 7th: I reach out to eBay via their automated chat bot and am told that my outstanding funds (around $1,450) will be available after the bank account information is verified. At 11 PM, I am prompted yet again to provide my account information (only bank account this time, not debit card.)
June 8th: The green check reappears, but I am asked a third time for my bank account information. I type it in, and the green check mark appears again. I speak on the phone twice with eBay customer support, and I am assured that once the bank account information is cleared, I should be ‘good to go.’
June 9th: My case is elevated and I speak to a manager at the managed payments department – she informs me that the reason the green check mark keeps ‘disappearing’ is because my bank account login is not compatible with their instant verification service. Finally, I feel like I’m getting answers! I request two micro deposits and am told to wait up to 3 business days for the deposits to appear in my account.
June 9th – later that day: The micro deposits appear quicker than expected and I type them in. Once I do this, however, a new red banner appears saying that my payments are on hold until I complete a routine seller performance review. I call customer support again, and am told that the seller review was initiated on the 6th because I made a larger than usual sale. I was not told about this seller review until after all of my bank account information was verified. The customer support representative (Crystal) was very helpful and explained that because I also was in the process of verifying my bank account information, it is possible that the seller performance review banner was ‘hidden’ under the bank account verification banner.
June 10th – The review process and bank account verification are all set, and my spendable funds/withdrawal funds are ready for use. I confirm a purchase for an auction that was already in my cart, and then withdraw close to $1,300. My bank account does not reflect this, and after the 30 minute timeframe I reach out to eBay customer support and my bank’s customer support. eBay tells me that the funds are not being released through instant withdrawal because “it is the weekend, and the bank is closed.” My bank, SoFi, explains to me that because the amount is over their instant withdrawal limit, it may process as an ACH transfer instead of an instant transfer.
June 10th, 6 PM – I receive an email from eBay saying that, yet again, my account is under review. My instant withdrawal still says ‘processing,’ but my remaining spendable funds are now on hold. What I am worried about is this: will my instant withdrawal be stalled because of another “performance review?”
TL;DR – I have spoken to six eBay support representatives at this point over the past four days, and have received a different answer every time. I need these funds to cover selling costs and get my car repaired. What other course of action do I have? Will this cycle continue, and will I ever see my funds? I am beyond frustrated.
klhmdg • Volunteer Community Mentor
