Account restricted, funds on hold

[hobbit66]

How long can ebay legally hold on to my funds ?

They have restricted my account with no warning or explanation and say I have to upload tracking for all I have sold to prove delivery. All items I have sold have Royal Mail tracking uploaded and all my buyers are happy !

I have threatened legal action against them but not sure how to do this yet. Surely they have no right to hold my funds indefinitely ? I'm more than happy to close my account, but will ebay then pay up ?

So very sad what ebay have become ! It seems I will not be selling here again and will definitely not buy from this platform again 😞

[tressygirl]

Please don't think of wasting money on any legal action,  as nothing illegal has taken place.

As a new or returning seller eBay have to see delivery proved with tracking, as this is a security measure for you and your buyers.

Otherwise,  anyone could come on eBay sell expensive items take the money and not send out the items.  Hacked accounts happen too,  so eBay need to see the genuine buyer is using the account to sell.

You have tracking showing delivery,  but there's been some bank holidays and weekends so payouts could be held a little longer,  the usual can be 21 days.

If money is not in your Available section  by early next week contact Customer Services,  provide those tracking numbers showing delivery and they should release your payouts sooner.

@hobbit66 

[papso22]

No idea how long they legally can, but we have seen 170 days mentioned in other posts.

One of your problems could have been all those new items on a private account.  If you are going to take legal action against ebay you need to be sure you are squeaky clean.

[hobbit66]

But surely ebay can see my tracking and the fact that all has been delivered ?

copy....

Hello hobbit66,

We restricted your account because we noticed activity that we believe is a risk to our community. 

This restriction means the following: 
- Your selling privileges are temporarily restricted. You won’t be able to create new listings or revise any listings that are live on our site. You also can’t register a new account at this time. 
- If you are a seller participating in managed payments, we are withholding your future payouts. You’ll start getting paid again after you resolve your restriction and your account is reinstated.
- Some of your listings may have been removed. You’ll find details of any listings we removed below. 
- Any fees paid or payable for listings that are ended and/or hidden from search will not be refunded or otherwise credited to your account.

To help us remove the restriction on your account, you’ll need to:
- Provide proof of delivery for all of the items you sold on eBay by uploading tracking. Learn how to track items you've sold: https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/tracking-items-youve-sold?id=4088

More specific details are provided below.

Once you complete these requirements, reply to this email, and we’ll review your account. We may ask you to provide additional information during our review. 

We removed the following listings:
405403150193 - Hornby TT:120 TT3010TXSM LMS Princess Coronation 'Duchess of Atholl' DCC Fitted
405450236654 - Hornby TT:120 - TT6025/26/27 TOUAX sffgmss IFA Wagons with 45' Containers
405445055262 - Hornby TT:120 TT3004M LNER Class A1 4-6-2 4472 'Flying Scotsman' DCC Ready
405450145808 - Hornby TT:120 TT3013M BR Class 50 Co-Co 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar' DCC Ready
405445303400 - Hornby TT:120 TT3009TXSM BR Class A4 4-6-2 60025 'Falcon' DCC Fitted
405446404761 - Hornby TT:120 TT3008M BR Class A4 4-6-2 60016 'Silver King' DCC Ready
405446403128 - Hornby TT:120 TT3005M BR Class A3 4-6-2 60078 'Night Hawk' DCC Ready
405450141811 - Hornby TT:120 TT3010M LMS Princess Coronation 'Duchess of Atholl' DCC Ready
405445048617 - Hornby TT:120 TT3004TXSM LNER Class A1 4-6-2 4472 'Flying Scotsman' DCC Fitted

The safety of our community is a top priority for us. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Regards,

eBay Customer Service

[myriad*seller]

This has been discussed on your other threads on your other ID

You are selling multiple brand new items and are a business seller selling on at least two private accounts 

You have to supply eBay with ALL the tracking documents they have requested and will have to provide further ID including your National Insurance number so your sales data can be passed to HMRC. 

This was all covered in the previous thread 

[myriad*seller]

Your previous thread, for info. 

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/Ebay-have-lost-the-human-touch/m-p/7670613

[hobbit66]

Oh for goodness sake why do all posts on here always have to come back to whether you're a private or business seller !  I AM NOT A BUSINESS

This issue is about how can it be legal for ebay to hold my funds...surely that is theft ? 

Surely ebay can see all the tracking for my sales (Royal Mail Tracked 24/48) , it's all there plainly for them to see, all delivered by Royal Mail. Not forgetting all the positive feedback from my buyers. How can I further prove delivery when it clearly shows all delivered. This is just ludicrous ! What the hell is wrong with ebay ? Don't they want any customers ?

[lucy_farmer]

'This issue is about how can it be legal for ebay to hold my funds...surely that is theft ? '

Nope, it's not theft.

Everything that ebay do to us is something we have 'signed up for' every time they update their Terms and Conditions.

We are given the option *not* to sign up for whatever they want to do next, by not selling on ebay........🙁

[myriad*seller]

You will have to argue this with HMRC hobbit

eBay will provide them will all your sales data

HMRC will not accept your excuses that you claim not to be a business seller. You've sold 95 brand new items on one ID and 20 on another, you have passed the reporting threshold for eBay to give your data to HMRC AND to hold your funds until you provide all info requested. 

Your "hobby" is about to land you with a big tax bill. HMRC can look back at your eBay sale for up to 6 years and bill you for tax owed from those years too, so it is best to comply, rather than fight it. You admitted yourself in your other thread you buy these items to sell "as a hobby". Well, this creates a tax liability, whatever you think! 

eBay look like they are about to close both your accounts anyway 

The "we noticed activity that we believe is a risk to our community" is usually the last message you get before an account suspension. 

You should have done what eBay required, not dug your heels in and claimed not to be a business. It's too late now. 

[myriad*seller]

From your other thread where you clearly state you buy items brand new from Hornby to sell "as a hobby"

This makes you a business BY LAW. Your constant whining that you are not a business will NOT wash with HMRC. They will require a tax return/Self Assessment and eBay WILL be passing your sales data from all your accounts onto HMRC.  

[myriad*seller]

I'm glad eBay are FINALLY taking action against business sellers trading on private accounts. 

[hobbit66]

Gosh you business sellers really are a hateful lot !

As I have said time and time again HMRC are fully aware of my dealings on ebay and are quite satisfied that I have no tax to pay as I have made no profit that requires this.

You always have to bring every conversation back to the question of business seller or private seller.

Whether you believe me or not I don't really care because I know the truth !

This post was about ebay holding on to my funds, I really wanted to know how long they can hold them legally ? They restricted my account and froze my funds with no warning. I have asked ebay for an explanation because I honestly cant understand why they seem to think my items are not tracked. Surely they can see all my items sold are Royal Mail tracked and delivered complete with buyers feedback. Why is it seemingly impossible for ebay to be transparent and explain the situation ? All I want is an explanation because I can't act if I don't know what they want !

As for ebay, yes finished for me, both buying (with the new buyers fee coming in) and selling. Well it seems you have all got your wish of destroying all private sellers. I do believe though that ebay will lose a lot of buyers as bargains will cease here with people not wanting to pay retail prices from business sellers. I mean why bother with ebay when you have the excellent efficient Amazon ?

[geosacha007]

They have restricted you because they think you are a business seller selling on a private account.  Asking for delivery confirmations is the usual first step.  Then they often ask for your receipts for your purchases of the items.  Then if you did buy to sell they permanently restrict you.

They will probably release the funds in several months time.