What in the world? Email from "Ebay Collections"

[synplet]

This is a first.  On one of my four selling accounts, I just got an email titled "KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT IN GOOD STANDING - PAYMENT NEEDED".

First line: 

Please pay your eBay Seller fees

My fees were, and have always been, paid in full through paypal every month.  The account in question had its fees paid on 8/15/18, right on schedule.  

And before you ask, no, I don't think it's a spoof.  The email came from collections_us@ebay.com

Yet another "improvement" apparently designed to confound the heck out of us?

[gracieallen01]

Some 10+ years ago, when PayPal became mandatory, there were many  disgruntled users that were somewhat upset by having to give all their information to PayPal and set up a standing form of available payment for fees. 

It looks like ebay may be having difficulties prepping for the advent of everybody having to register all their information with ebay to set up a standing form of available payment for fees and such.

I find it hard to believe that anybody thinks that ebay is going to let PayPal handle the collection of fees, when ebay is going through all this trouble to become intermediary and merchant of record and handle - or have say and/or control of - all the funds going through ebay.

It wasn't said - in the recent post by ebay - that the current message fiasco was a glitch or a hack or a phishing or a scam - only  that it was sent 'in error'.  Perhaps, a new part of the setup got out when it shouldn't have?  Something that would have been sent if someone hadn't set up their form of prepayment for fees and returns, with ebay, for the new payment processor format?

Of course, this is all speculation, however, in the realm of ebay, and after years of observation and example, almost anything is possible.

[dina9]

I got it to and my account is also paid, It was NOT in my messages.  The amount was correct as well.......

I reported it to ebay and to the other listed addresses in the expanded email that accepted spoof reports.

One is already investigating.

Interesting...........

[twnpopcards]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

Some 10+ years ago, when PayPal became mandatory, there were many  disgruntled users that were somewhat upset by having to give all their information to PayPal and set up a standing form of available payment for fees. 

It looks like ebay may be having difficulties prepping for the advent of everybody having to register all their information with ebay to set up a standing form of available payment for fees and such.

I find it hard to believe that anybody thinks that ebay is going to let PayPal handle the collection of fees, when ebay is going through all this trouble to become intermediary and merchant of record and handle - or have say and/or control of - all the funds going through ebay.

It wasn't said - in the recent post by ebay - that the current message fiasco was a glitch or a hack or a phishing or a scam - only  that it was sent 'in error'.  Perhaps, a new part of the setup got out when it shouldn't have?  Something that would have been sent if someone hadn't set up their form of prepayment for fees and returns, with ebay, for the new payment processor format?

Of course, this is all speculation, however, in the realm of ebay, and after years of observation and example, almost anything is possible.

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I would probably agree with you if not for the fact that at least one person who pays by CC for their fees also received the same email.  I spoke with a US CSR who did say it was a glitch but you may very well be correct with your comment.  Ebay is supposedly sending out an apology email this morning about the issue so I guess we will see soon enough what their excuse for this is.  I find it kind of odd though that Ebay did not consider this fiasco important enough to send out a correction /apology email last night but felt it could wait until somebody managed to compose it and probably get upper managements approval of the wiggle room wording of it before the release.  Either way Ebay is making another mistake allowing Sellers to sit and speculate for another night and morning about what happened as well as now it is also out on Ecommerce Bytes so it will get much more exposure which I am sure Ebay does not want.

[gracieallen01]

However it washes out, it should be interesting.  The weekly chat tomorrow should be worth the price of admission.

[readabouthorses]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

However it washes out, it should be interesting.  The weekly chat tomorrow should be worth the price of admission.

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Should be an interesting one. I rearranged my weekly grocery shopping trip so I would be here to watch/read.

[shreddermusicandcomputers]

They restricted my account and my bill wasn't even due yet. Restriction started on 8.20.18 while the fees were automatically scheduled to come out between the 23rd and 25th. I just went ahead and paid it because the wait time on the phone was over 2 hours (which made me think, "yep, a glitch"). I caught it before all my GTC listings started dropping off. Only had to relist 2. Man, we just got past the Missing Photos Fiasco.... and now this.

BTW, this happened before a few months back and I had to relist a HUGE amount of listings. I knew if I just went ahead and paid the bill (that is not due yet), it would lift the restriction. I don't get why they just can't leave everything alone for a couple of years. Please eBay, stop messing with stuff for a year or two. You are causing glitches that are hurting more than helping. Have you not learned the phrase, if it's not broke, don't fix it?

[newview]

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brian_burke@ebay wrote:

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@synplet wrote:

This is a first.  On one of my four selling accounts, I just got an email titled "KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT IN GOOD STANDING - PAYMENT NEEDED".

First line: 

Please pay your eBay Seller fees

My fees were, and have always been, paid in full through paypal every month.  The account in question had its fees paid on 8/15/18, right on schedule.  

And before you ask, no, I don't think it's a spoof.  The email came from collections_us@ebay.com

Yet another "improvement" apparently designed to confound the heck out of us?

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All,

For those who received the email, I'm very sorry for any confusion this has caused.  You will receive an email tomorrow confirming the email was in error.

No action is required or needed on your part. 

Thank you for selling on eBay and again, I apologize for any inconvenience. 

Brian

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So ... eBay says, "oops, my bad" ... and that's it?
That's supposed to make it all better?

I'll try that the next time I have a problem with a buyer.

[mystuffisyourstuff35]

The same thing here  scary part is that it sure does look legit. Had the exact balance that I paid automatically 5 days ago. I'm also wondering why this came to my email but didn't go to my ebay messages.  They better send one heck of an apology and give us some free listings for our troubles...

[robot-hands]

That's why I only look at emails twice a year.

[bucksaver2013]

Also received email when account was already paid by auto pay.

[checkit]

This is PURE CHAOS - add up the amount of time and energy sellers have wasted trying to figure out this fiasco.

[conshyconsignment]

Happened to me too, was going to go through the trouble of calling ebay and sorting out, but thought by morning there would be an apology email.

It does not seem to be a spoof email.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

However it washes out, it should be interesting.  The weekly chat tomorrow should be worth the price of admission.

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They'll brush it off, diminish it as a minor issue, and then tell posters it is not the topic of the day. 

People's accounts are being restricted. That goes beyond an error email, accounts are affected, when that happens this is not just some oopsy email. 

[dhbookds]

Agree this was/is real black eye.......

People's accounts are being restricted.

but to be clear........not all the ones notified are restricted........

[a_c_green]

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

However it washes out, it should be interesting.  The weekly chat tomorrow should be worth the price of admission.

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They'll brush it off, diminish it as a minor issue, and then tell posters it is not the topic of the day.  

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Well, yes... it is and it isn't. It's relevant to their plans to take over more control of seller accounts, despite the fact that they have no demonstrated competence in doing so. This mini-fiasco could not have come at a worse(r) time.