Suspended account, no explanation

[gtechzone]

I own this eBay account as a private person. Recently I decided to sell on eBay via my company, so I created a new acount for my company. I (maybe stupidly) did 1 USD test order - listed 1 USD item on new account, bought it via old account, paid and left feedback saying that new account has limited selling history and that people should verify my history on the old account. No intention to manipulate feedback, just wanted to provide some anchor for my buyers because, even it is new account with no history, people can verify my history on this account.

Then I asked eBay to raise listing/selling limit, they raised it. I listed 3 items (exactly like I list it on my old account) and after several hours, I got an email from eBay, that my account is suspended permanently. No prior warning, no explanation why. I contacted eBay support what is the reason and their answer was "please understand that we can not disclose any further details in regards to your suspension due to security and privacy concerns on eBay." Then I asked whether and when I will be allowed to create eBay account for my company, they ignored it and stopped communicating.

Even though they wrote in one email "In addition, any other accounts you own, or that are associated with this account, will also be suspended." my old account is still living. I asked them about suspension of my old account, they replied with "As of now it is in good standing".

Any idea why this happened? I find it really really bad they can close accounts without any warning and without any explanation.

[joseh1445]

If you need real answers from ebay, its time to contact your lawyer.   eBay reps will tell you any thing, just to get you off the chat/phone.  Good luck to you.

[slippinjimmy]

@gtechzone 

"listed 1 USD item on new account, bought it via old account, paid and left feedback saying that new account has limited selling history and that people should verify my history on the old account. No intention to manipulate feedback, just wanted to provide some anchor for my buyers because, even it is new account with no history, people can verify my history on this account."

Unless you followed ALL the requirements on this page what you did is a violation of several of eBay's oldest policies.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/test-listing-policy/test-listings-policy?id=5039

Also this:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-policies/feedback-manipulation-policy?id=4231

[gtechzone]

No I didn't follow any requirement mentioned there. I know I violated the policies. Still I think it is not normal to suspend account, without any warning, because of this, in my opinion minor, violation and not to provide any explanation.

[pburn]

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@gtechzone wrote:

No I didn't follow any requirement mentioned there. I know I violated the policies. Still I think it is not normal to suspend account, without any warning, because of this, in my opinion minor, violation and not to provide any explanation.

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The warning was in the form of the help pages linked above, which you should have read before you created the second account.

You may feel those multiple violations were minor, but eBay does not.--nor do most other sellers.

Again, the explanation is provided--right there on those pages.

[ebooksdiva]

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@joseh1445 wrote:

If you need real answers from ebay, its time to contact your lawyer.   eBay reps will tell you any thing, just to get you off the chat/phone.  Good luck to you.

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What does a lawyer have to do with policy violations?

Ebay was within their rights to suspend the OP for clearly not following rules.

[ebooksdiva]

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@gtechzone wrote:

Even though they wrote in one email "In addition, any other accounts you own, or that are associated with this account, will also be suspended." my old account is still living. I asked them about suspension of my old account, they replied with "As of now it is in good standing".

Any idea why this happened? I find it really really bad they can close accounts without any warning and without any explanation.

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If your old account is associated with the new account through IP address it will get shut down.

There is no warning because they expect people to read policies. 

Why it happened is you didn't read up on what is NOT allowed.

[gtechzone]

Guys, you all really think that it is right to permanently suspend an account because of unintentional minor policy violation? Like really? Without any warning, without providing any explanation? Only explanation I have "it was suspended because it exhibits risk to eBay and to its community. I won’t be able to disclose any further information due to privacy reasons". No, I don't think I can accept that. Just answer with "it is right to permanently suspend an account because of unintentional minor policy violation, without prior warning, without providing an explanation". I will then think I live in a different reality...

[mg152]

Yes, it’s right to suspend you. You broke numerous rules.  Ebay doesn’t think you’re trustworthy.

[gtechzone]

Numerous rules? Name them then.

eBay doesn't think I'm trustworthy? Are you eBay representative? I have been selling on eBay since 2006, paid many thousands of USD in fees to eBay, never had even any warning about violating rules. Not sure what else should eBay seller do to be the trustworthy one. I think you are not right.

[gtechzone]

And in other words, you agree to the police forever impounding your driver's license for going 5 mph over the speed limit. I like that 🙂

[gtechzone]

FYI, I again tried to register a new selling account for my company. After 2 days, without any activity on this account (no buying, no listings, no selling), I got suspended again because of the same stupid security concerns. Customer support again is not able to tell me the exact reason.

I'm afraid I'm starting to dislike eBay very much.

[slati_2013]

"I own this eBay account as a private person. Recently I decided to sell on eBay via my company, so I created a new acount for my company. I (maybe stupidly) did 1 USD test order - listed 1 USD item on new account, bought it via old account, paid and left feedback saying that new account has limited selling history and that people should verify my history on the old account. No intention to manipulate feedback, just wanted to provide some anchor for my buyers because, even it is new account with no history, people can verify my history on this account."

You did not just do a test account. You listed something and purchased it yourself. Then you used feedback to tell people you can be trusted because of your other account. Can't do that. Every account you create has to stand on its own.

But the reason why you were suspended and the suspension will never be lifted is because buying your own item falls into the dangerous area of money laundering. Not that you were aiming to do that, unfortunately some people do that online. eBay had no choice but to suspend you. The government can be tough on companies that do not deal with anything that can be a sign of money laundering. For eBay, you are a major risk even though I can clearly see you simply screwed up and had no bad intentions. .

[deltilogical]

I'll be blunt.  Your mistake is you are trying to use Ebay as a business platform.     Ebay is not a business platform.   Ebay is the future.  Trustless. 

What kind of answer is " won’t be able to disclose any further information due to privacy reasons".  IN what world is this satsifactory customer service?

IN trustless sociopathland. 

[luckythewinner]

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No intention to manipulate feedback

You say didn't want to manipulate feedback after admitting you made a straw purchase in order to leave feedback that violates eBay policy because it was not about the transaction. Sorry, but it sounds EXACTLY like you intended to manipulate feedback and use it for a purpose that was not permitted.

Still I think it is not normal to suspend account, without any warning, because of this, in my opinion minor, violation

eBay does not consider what you think when applying policy. 

and not to provide any explanation. 

If the message you got was anything like the one everyone else gets, it probably mentioned something about ensuring confidence in the platform. That was the reason.