Ebay holding my money ransom

[pvmr1980]

Posted again as answer incomplete.

I have never sold on Ebay until this year. As we are downsizing, I have been selling old items from our loft which we have owned for years or been left by family who have since deceased. These items were purchased with money earnt whilst working and vat paid on the original purchase. Over the year, I have sold just over £1000 which is much needed towards household costs, but due to rules by Ebay on reporting "taxable income", my money (£27) is not being released unless I give my NI Number. I totally object to Ebay policing my account on behalf of HMRC and I'm sure blackmailing a client is unethical and potentially illegal. I understand the need for ensuring a business is taxed, but for a 70 year old clearing stuff out this is appalling. 

The answer I received just directed me to policy.

It did not answer: Why did ebay allow me to continue to sell items knowing it was not going to pay the proceeds from my sale to me; holding them ransom?  If the policy is 30 items, then simply prevent sales over that. 

[susaturne47]

But at the same time they are demanding private sellers information and holding onto their money if they don’t provide it. I didn’t agree to putting my NINO on there before and I don’t now. It’s a personal choice. They could pay me and close my account today but they refuse to. If it means giving over my NINO then I d rather leave eBay. I notice they haven’t stopped me be able to list any more sales either! Why not if I m such a risk? Clearly I m not a risk. I’m just protecting my private information and who I trust with it.
Kind Regards,
Sue

[k77gto]

The price you pay for selling online. What makes me laugh, they say you should never part with any goods until you been paid, yet even though the customer has done that, you haven’t received no money officially from them.

i don’t think it’s right for anyone to hold on to your money if it’s rightfully yours and what makes it worse ebay says,  once the customer has received his item you get paid but you don’t and more so that customer could dish out a load of nonsense saying the item is not to specification, when the truth is he or she has decided they don’t want it now, so we’re does that leave you, totally dejected and wondering what your item is going to look like when you get it back, probably not in the same condition it was in when you sent it but the likes of eBay don’t give a *bleep* about that. It’s all a game plan to benefit the buyer , benefit eBay and disregard you.

This why I stopped selling on there as  before hand it never use to be that way. My advice! When you sell something on eBay it’s either cash on collection or delivery with an extra charge. Bankers draft if you feel you can trust them.

[kepeb1]

Hi all,

20+ year user

Just been reading through all the points made in previous comments, I am interested to learn more about the legality of eBay's steps here if anyone has pursued that far yet. I feel this will become a much more relevant topic when users realise they are being blackmailed.

I had seen the pop-up warnings (and also noted the use of language ''update' your account) or restrictions may be applied.

I also understand eBay's legal obligation to HMRC.

Okay, not ideal but  (after declaring a few times now- Managed payments BPF Simple Postage etc.) I will simply not be selling on eBay again after the date given as I would never share my National Insurance Number with an online retailer. My used stuff will all go in the landfill.

As the date approached I removed 6 or 8 listings for clothing and household items which had done the auto-relist cycle several times since May and remained unsold.

I  have about £25 from a previous Halloween costume listing as 'Available funds'

EBay was to become a purchase only website in my case, so this would be used on some other junk I don't need 🙂

Unfortunately, I found myself in the loop described by a previous user.

'MY' funds are locked (No, I cannot make a purchase with this, but can still however with credit card)

This money is now held captive until I provide private information which I NEVER agreed to share.

 Again, based on the previous 'helpful' comments, I must state - I am aware of the legislation, and eBays obligation to HMRC. This does not prescribe or authorise coercion in this manner. 

That is not the argument.

-I will not be supplying more private details

-I have requested my account be closed entirely and do not wish to trade

-eBay refuse closure because there are non-zero funds available

-eBay refuse to transfer funds until I submit additional private info NIN

-Request to delete the funds along with account if necessary

-eBay refuse

Like many others who have had brushes with, or have been the victim of Identity theft/security issues online, I would never share this or my photo ID with dodgy apps for sales or otherwise, and no longer wish to deal with eBay and do not want a copy of any of my private details retained by them.

Finally the last 'reddit style'  "Well-Ackshually..." comment describes the arbitrary £1740.05 (or 30 listings) threshold. This is irrelevant for obviously personal sales and eBay were obliged to implement limits on individual sales without NIN, not withholding user funds after the fact.

I am not sure how invested I am after the previous fiascos with eBay to resolve this at all, Potentially the result is another dormant account as I will not be using it again, Although I would prefer it was removed and deleted.

I suppose we will see.

But for those stuck in the loop... You are not alone.

[kepeb1]

Obviously the crack about landfill was a joke. Calm down.