eBay Account Suspended? Here's What to Do
eBay account suspensions can come as a shock, particularly if your livelihood depends on this online marketplace. Understanding the reasons behind these suspensions is crucial to avoid disruption and maintain your business operations.
This guide will help you understand the different types of suspensions, why they might happen, and how you can get your account back in good standing.
Different Types of eBay Account Suspensions
eBay doesn't treat all account suspensions the same way.
The severity and reasons can vary significantly, ranging from minor administrative issues to serious violations.
Hold
Sometimes, eBay places a hold on accounts due to outdated payment information or missed payments. This is a protective measure to prevent financial losses.
To lift a hold, updating your payment details or clearing due payments usually works.
Restriction
Restrictions are tougher than holds and often relate to eBay's performance expectations.
If your sales performance drops below eBay's standards, like having too many transaction issues or poor customer reviews, you might find your account restricted.
This could mean lower visibility in search results or limitations on what you can sell.
Suspension
This is the most severe action eBay can take. Suspensions are usually the outcome of a serious violation of eBay’s rules and policies, such as selling prohibited items.
eBay may implement account suspensions for seven, ten or 30 days – or even indefinitely!
Getting suspended means you cannot sell on eBay until the issue is resolved and the suspension is lifted.
Most often, eBay will issue several warnings before taking this step. If you have a history of receiving warnings or restrictions, this may be your last chance to turn things around before you’re suspended from eBay indefinitely.
Why is My eBay Account Suspended?
Common Causes of Account Hold / Suspension / Restriction:
For New Sellers:
Listed your first item before getting verified.
Failure of verification / identity mismatch, and other personal data on eBay accounts.
Engaged in unusual selling activities or violated eBay's rules seriously.
Failure to reimburse funds for refunds that are withdrawn by the system from PayPal / Credit Card.
Failure to pay eBay fees that were withdrawn by the system from PayPal / Credit Card.
For Established Sellers:
High rate of transaction issues due to delayed shipments, product mismatches with descriptions, and inadequate buyer communication.
High percentage of sellers' failure to resolve cases submitted by buyers in the Resolution Center.
Unusual selling activities or serious violations of eBay regulations.
What Happens When My eBay Account is suspended
When your eBay account is suspended, here's what happens:
You can't bid, buy, or sell items.
You're unable to leave feedback.
You can't create new listings or change existing ones.
Contacting bidders is not allowed.
You won't be able to respond to messages on eBay.
If there are bids on your current listings, bidders have the option to withdraw their bids. Once your account is back in action, you'll have the chance to leave feedback on any transactions completed within the last 30 days.
eBay might end your listings early depending on the reason for your suspension. Remember, you might also lose your listing fees based on the suspension cause.
Your account might be fully suspended or just partly restricted. If it's only restricted for selling, you can still make purchases; if it's only restricted for buying, you can continue to sell.
How to Have Your eBay Account Reinstated
Getting your account back depends on why it was suspended. eBay will explain the details in the message they sent you.
❗Watch out for scam emails!
You may receive fake eBay suspension notices or phishing emails, so before you contact eBay or make any changes to your account or listings, make sure the suspension notice you received is genuine.
To confirm it is really from eBay, check your messages in your account to see if the same notification appears there. You can also verify your status by clicking “Account” within "My eBay".
If it’s a fake, you can report it by sending the email to spoof@ebay.com.
Fix the problem
Most account restrictions or suspensions can be lifted by making a one-time payment or by following the instructions eBay provided in the email in your Messages.
For instance, if your account was restricted or suspended due to unpaid seller fees or a refund reimbursement, you can resolve the issue by making a one-time payment.
To make a one-time payment:
- Click on “My eBay” at the top right corner of the eBay website.
- Go to "Account" in "My eBay".
- Select “Seller Account” to see any fees you owe.
- Click to "make a one-time payment". You can use your PayPal account or another payment method.
Once eBay receives your payment, they will reinstate your account.
Sometimes, eBay may block accounts for security reasons and request that you verify or provide personal information. You can usually find a list of required documents and a download link in the "Messages" section within "My eBay." These requests often involve providing proof of your identity, address, or the items you're selling.
If eBay has removed some of your listings and restricted your account, do not relist these items. If you haven't updated your listings as advised by eBay Customer Support, they will be removed again, and your account could be suspended indefinitely.
Contact eBay
Sometimes, the best approach is to patiently wait. However, if you feel there has been a mistake, or you suspect fraud or identity theft, it's crucial to contact eBay right away. Keep in mind that the person helping you might also be having a tough day, so it's important to stay calm and be polite. Clearly explain your situation and ask for guidance on what steps to take next.
Instead of repeatedly demanding to have your account reinstated, which could be seen as bothersome, here's a better approach when you call eBay customer support:
Prepare all necessary information before the call.
Have your eBay User ID, the email linked to your account, and any case reference numbers ready.
Politely ask for the customer service representative's (CSR) name. If it seems like they're new or unsure, it's okay to request to speak with a supervisor for additional help.
Here’s eBay’s customer support number: +1-866-540-3229
Get reinstated
Regaining access to your eBay account after an indefinite suspension can be tough, but it's not impossible. If you find yourself in this situation, you'll need to be patient because getting your account back could take as long as a year. The best strategy is to wait for a year before you reach out to eBay.
Usually, your first suspension from eBay for breaking a rule isn't permanent. However, if you keep breaking the same rules or ignore their warnings, eBay might suspend your account indefinitely.
Can I Open a New Account If My Account is Under Suspension?
Starting a new account isn't the best solution if eBay has blocked your existing one. eBay uses fraud protection measures and keeps track of information like your name, email, IP address, and bank details. This helps them identify and link any new accounts to ones that have been restricted or suspended. That's why creating a new account right away is not advisable.
However, if you still decide to create a new account, you should use a different name, a new email, a new phone number, and a new address. Changing your location to get a new IP address would also help avoid detection.
This might sound complicated, but there's a simpler and safer option—using an antidetect browser.
An antidetect browser lets you set up different browser profiles. Each profile has its own cookies, cache, and settings. It's like each profile is a separate device. This means that your new eBay account will appear to be from a completely different place than your original account, helping to prevent eBay from linking the two accounts together.
Final Thoughts
Suspension isn’t the end of your ecommerce sales. Find out why your account is blocked, follow eBay's instructions for reinstatement, and avoid making the situation worse. And you can also sell on other online marketplaces.
For those considering starting a new account while suspended, using an antidetect browser can help mask your digital fingerprints. Additionally, you can use BrowserScan to check if your digital fingerprints are properly masked, which helps protect your privacy and enhance your security online.