Stuck in an eBay thinks I'm a business seller loop

[ninakirov]

Hi, I'm at my wits end trying to sort this. I've been an Ebay member for over 20 years, always a private seller, mainly a buyer but occasionally getting rid of clear out stuff mainly for the wife or old car parts.

recently had an message from Ebay after I listed two second hand pairs of the wife's shoes string I must be a business seller so need to upgrade.  Total sales in the last year just over £200 so clearly not a business seller! Long story short after going round in circles and many phone calls the reason turned out got be that when Id registered my original account in 2002 I'd put in my vat number (the one for my main occupation of graphic designer) suspect they asked if I had one so I stuck it in. A mistake yes but I'd forgotten about it after 20 years.

I've since removed it and  they stopped telling me to upgrade about two months ago. I've just come to sell something and the my account is restricted, can't list anything. Can't get hold of customer service but it's really frustrating as apparently the seller account team don't ever speak to customers so it's a bit like banging my head against a wall trying to find out why they still think I'm a business with an annual revenue of 200 quid.

Every rep I speak to when pushed eventually stops reading the screen and checks my account, realises I'm private and says they will tell the powers that be. Clearly that never happens. Seems I'm red flagged regardless.

Anybody else had the same issue and managed to solve it?

[ninakirov]

I should say the only advice one person gave me to fix it is to open a new private account but as I have 20 odd years of good feedback that seems a bit ridiculous.

[tressygirl]

This account is not showing that it's registered as a business account but it is showing that you haven't sold on it for a long time.

Have you registered for eBay's Managed Payments ?  If not , hopefully this could be the reason why you cannot list items on this account, and easy to address,  see here:

You need to provide eBay with details of a bank account and have this account verified.  The usual method here, is for eBay to send 2 micro deposits into that nominated bank account for you to receive,  and confirm to eBay.

Once this is completed,  you will be able to list items for sale,  and receive payouts from those sales.

This will show you how to register for eBay's Managed Payments.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/help/selling/getting-paid/introducing-managed-payments-ebay?id=4795

If there is an issue with the registration you will need to contact Customer Services.   I know you have spoken to CS,  but it really also depends who you speak to, I recommend contacting very first thing in the mornings when the lines first open for ' live agents,  that is 8 a.m. on weekdays,  9 a.m. on weekends,  as there's more chance of Dublin answering.

Contact them this way.

This is the easiest and quickest way to contact eBay Customer Services, for a Call Back option.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid

Lines open 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. on weekdays

9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekends.

Automated agents will be available on chat outside of the above hours.

As said,  I recommend contacting CS first thing in the morning as there's more chance of Dublin answering.

@ninakirov 

[papso22]

Are you saying that it was this account that had a VAT number or a different one?

[ninakirov]

I have managed payments set up, had that running from the outset. and yes it was this account that had the vat number on it, that was removed months ago as soon as it was flagged as the issue. They told me that if it was still a problem they would contact me again. I double checked again as I'd heard nothing.

Talking to them now fifth time lucky maybe.

[papso22]

I don't understand how a private account can have a VAT number.  It has also been impossible to get a business account (which can have a VAT number) converted to a private account for a considerable time.

I think there must be something else going on but unfortunately the only people who can sort this for you are ebay CS and it may be that a new, clean, private account is the way forward.

[ninakirov]

23 years ago it was a less sophisticated platform , I suspect the system asked if I had one so I added it and forgot about it. It's been a private account since day one.
After 6 different departments with CS this morning it turns out it's an HMRC flag that had flagged it up so nothing Ebay can do unless HMRC tell them to drop it. Finding that person at HMRC may be like searching for the Wizard of Oz.

[ninakirov]

Ok so having spoken to various HMRC people the process is Ebay reports all selling activity to them and they then say whether sellers should be business or private so it's up to Ebay to fix this, round in circles again!

I'm probably a very rare case where a very old private account allowed a vat number so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[ninakirov]

Well after another hour on the phone got put back to Dublin who  has emailed the right department hopefully so we shall see. Apparently this is the first time they have ever come across this situation.

Lucky me.

[ninakirov]

After numerous phoncalls to Ebay and HMRC it turns out I appear to be a unique case in that my account is so old you could add a vat number to a private account. For 22 years not a problem but their new system doesn't account for that occurrence or allow any human interaction so despite there no longer being a vat number there and me having a turnover of a grand total of £185 last year the business upgrade flag can't be removed.

Ebay reports your seller account details to HMRC automatically, HMRC responds automatically. The computer says no basically.

My only option is to set up a new private account, bit of a shame after 23 years of positive feedback but it is what it is.

The chap from Dublin was very helpful but couldn't change anything, he said even if the flag is wrong you're stuck with it regardless.

Long story short don't waste your time contacting them if you are in the same boat!