Suspended eBay Account

Everybody knows that eBay is the centre for online trade – in fact, more of the world's internet commerce goes through eBay than any other single website – and that accounts for a lot of money. For thousands of people around the world eBay is a source of full or part-time income, and a vital part of their money-making career which they could not live without.

With such a crucial role in the online economy, eBay has become one of the largest and most-trusted institutions of the internet age, and the ultimate beacon of online trade and commerce. But how would you feel if suddenly one day your eBay account was suspended? Picture it: one minute you are happily trading and racking up profits, and the next your account is blocked and your personal details blacklisted, leaving you out on a limb and financially insecure?

It is a more common scenario than you might think. The internet is full of stories from disgruntled traders who have had their eBay account suspended by the website's staff. This article will explore in depth the is to issue of suspended eBay accounts, and answer some frequently asked questions about suspended eBay accounts, including what happens if your eBay account is suspended, why your eBay account can get suspended, and the most common question of all, “how can I get my suspended eBay account back?!”

Before looking at reasons why your account might have been suspended, lets look at what actually happens to your when your eBay account gets suspended. This information comes directly from eBay users who have had it happen to them.

The main things that will happen when your eBay account is suspended are:

• You receive an automated email informing you of your suspension, which may include details of why your account was suspended;
• Any auctions you are running are immediately closed, and you may not receive credit for fees for ended listings;
• Any outstanding eBay fees are due immediately
• The personal information associated with your account gets blacklisted, which stops you from creating a new account (note: this includes your name, email address, physical address, phone number, your computer's IP address, and any other personal information you have given eBay at any time.)
• You have limited or no access to eBay account features, like leaving feedback or sending email to other users.

For someone who relies on trading through eBay as a source of income, having your account suspended can be disastrous. First, any current auctions you are running are immediately closed – which means an instant loss of money for you. Plus you may not even get the money for listings which have already ended. Second, any fees you owe to eBay or eBay users are due immediately. The “ifs” and “whens” are not important: you have to pay it straight away.

Perhaps most importantly though, your personal information is blacklisted by eBay, which means you can not register a new account using the same name, email address, physical address, telephone number or even the same IP address as you used on the suspended account. We will see how you can get around this later and start a “clean”, new eBay account.

Having your account suspended “indefinitely” is the most common method used by eBay to suspend accounts. The word “suspended” itself is the clue that your account could be reinstated by eBay at some point, if they want to. A typical suspension period will last for 30 or 60 days, usually with no definite account reinstatement date.

Since it might be possible to get your account back, it helps to know why it was suspended in the first place, so lets look at some frequent reasons for eBay accounts being suspended.

Acording to eBay there are two possible reasons your account can be suspended: for “serious” breaches of eBay's Rules and Policies (which you agree to abide by when you sign up for an account with eBay) and for non-payment of outstanding eBay fees.

If you have ever read eBay's Rules and Policies you will know they are extremely long, contain several pages, and contain lots of legal jargon which the average eBay user is unlikely to understand. But we can still look at some real life examples of how specific eBay users have violated eBay policies and had their accounts suspended.

• Non-payment of outstanding eBay fees

When it comes to non-payment of eBay fees, the road to having your account unsuspended it usually quite simple. According to the eBay Rules And Policies, “your account will be reinstated automatically as soon as you pay any outstanding fees.” Viola.

• Identity and Tax Verification

In cases where eBay might doubt your identity or tax registration they will quote you a part of their Rules And Policies which states that they can suspend you for “creating problems, possible legal liabilities, or acting inconsistently with the letter or spirit of our policies." Usually in this case your account is flagged automatically, and can be easily reinstated by sending them certain documents verifying your identity. Examples of the documents eBay might request from you include:

1. Proof of name and address
2. Proof that the item/s you listed are in your possession
3. Confirmation of your up-to-date contact details
4. Receipt, bill of sale, dispatch or sales invoice
5. Agreement with your supplier

Once they receive your information and are satisfied with it, they can choose to reinstate your eBay account.

• Listing more than 100 auctions per day

Many eBay users claim that when you list more than 100 auctions per day your account is automatically flagged by eBay and likely to be suspended. For that reason it is recommended to list under 100 auctions per day. For a brand new account some eBay users say you can be flagged for listing more than 5 auctions per day.

• Copyright Infringement, or, the “VeRO Program”

The VeRO (Verified Rights Owner) Program was set up by eBay to protect the owners of “intellectual property rights” (such as copyrights, trademarks and patents) from any kind of infringement or counterfeiting from eBay users, and it applies to all eBay listings.

According to eBay Rules & Policies there are three main ways you can violate VeRO and have your account suspended: listing counterfeit goods (such as bootlegged clothing or DVDs); listing goods you do not have the rights to sell (certain products like games consoles you must be an authorised retailer to sell); and reusing someone else's images or texts without their permission.

In this case you will have to plead your case to eBay and remove the offending items from your auction, but it is not guaranteed that you will get your eBay account unsuspended.

By following the above examples, you might be able to get your account unsuspended simply by paying outstanding eBay fees or providing them with relevant identity and tax documents. However, if you are unable to get your account unsuspended that way, your best option is to register a new, “clean” eBay account.

eBay will do their best to try and stop you registering a new account if you are a suspended user, but it is possible to do if you know how. The crucial key here is that you use a completely different set of personal data – that includes everything: name, address, IP address, telephone number, email address, physical address, bank account, etc. – to trick eBay into thinking you are a new user.

Here are some tips that will help you get a “clean” new account:

1. Delete all cookies, saved passwords and eBay-related software (such as Turbo Lister) from your computer.
2. Get a new IP (Internet Protocol) address. This varies in difficulty depending on your ISP, but can be done quite easily by using eBay from a different location or by resetting your modem or router. Proxy servers is another option.
3. Register a free email address with an email provider such as Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo.
4. Register under a different identity, such as your partner or friend's name and address, if they agree to it.
5. Use different bank, credit card and Paypal information. There are several places online or offline that will give you with a free credit card or bank account to use, but remember it has to be registered under different details from your suspended account.
6. Do not log back into your suspended eBay account.
7. Do not rush back into selling (see “Why was my account suspended: Listing more than 100 auctions per day” above.) Around five auctions per day should be fine for a brand new account not to get flagged.
8. Do not use any information that matches the information associated with your suspended account.

Remember that as soon as eBay get one whiff of your former identity, even a matching phone number, Paypal or IP address, they will automatically suspend your new account leaving you unable to trade.