Facebook, eBay etc. - Rights of Appeal and More

anthony t on 18/11/2021 - 15:29
Last edited 18/11/2021 - 15:37 by 1 other user

About 2 years ago, I logged in to my Facebook account for the first time in about 3 years to see if there'd been any activity. I don't like or use social media much but understand why some do. I noticed that where I hadn't had a photo on my profile, there was one now - of a female I've never seen before, between say 19 and 25 years of age. I decided to delete my account, which FB told me took 2 weeks, so I immediately changed the password and waited for the deletion to happen, as it did.

Last week, I updated my Ebay profile for my current email and street address. The reply said 'welcome to Ebay' etc.so I uploaded a briefcase for sale. But the next day I had an email from Ebay to my updated email address saying 'Your eBay account has been permanently suspended because we noticed activity that we believe is a risk to our community'. Though 'permanently suspended' is illogical, I tried to sign in, but everything was 'invalid'. So no access to the work I'd done for the sale item.

I emailed Ebay with details, who replied with exactly the same answer. I then tried to sign in to my 'old' Ebay account. It worked, and as my ad was nowhere to be found, I re-uploaded it, sold it, & even contacted Ebay on their chatline. They answered my query, and congratulated me for being a member for 13 years!

I also tried to open a new Facebook account a month ago (to sell stuff on their MarketPlace) but was advised I was 'excluded' and could try again in 'a few weeks', which I didn't. (Are these events connected?)

I mentioned these experiences to friends, who'd had similar things happen to themselves or friends. There is NO recourse or review process I, or they, could find for either of these issues.

I told them I didn't care anyway, but some said 'fine for you, what about people who use FBMP or Ebay for their on-line business/selling?' Good question!

So I'm asking if anyone knows if there is a place to 'appeal' these exclusions, as I assure you I have never had a poor review or experience with either, and imagine many others who've been 'locked out' have the same problem, which could ruin their business (let alone all the work that went into creating their 'shop') and other negative outcomes I haven't even thought of.

Related Stores

Facebook

eBay Australia

Marketplace

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  contrafibularities on 18/11/2021 - 15:35

  +3

  Wait until the digital rights ombudsman is created, but until then it’s between you and the companies involved just like any other business.

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  brendanm on 18/11/2021 - 15:53

  Facebook doesn't let new users access marketplace, will also restrict it if you don't have any friends on your account.

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  rektrading on 18/11/2021 - 15:55

  Facebook and eBay are centralized platforms. They can do anything they want as long as they don't violate users' civil rights.

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  freefall101 on 18/11/2021 - 16:00

  I'm confused, did you update your ebay account or did you create a new one? If it was updated, how did you log into your "old" account? It should be one and the same.

  As for facebook, your account got hacked. Don't reuse passwords, use a password manager, use two factor authentication (where possible). I imagine anyone who relies on facebook marketplace for their livelihood doesn't leave the account unused for years and is a little more careful with their security. But ultimately you're at their whim, it's their platform. People get banned from online platforms all the time for good and bad reasons, there's generally very little they can do about it.

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  deme on 18/11/2021 - 16:43

  +1

  MS Paint diagram is needed.

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  anthony t on 18/11/2021 - 17:19

  Sorry, it's a confusing series of events. I thought I was updating my Ebay account, but they seemed to create a new one, then disable it, as the old one surprisingly still worked.
  As to new users, I hadn't done anything with the 'new' Facebook account yet - I couldn't get past the sign up screen. But thanks for the friend-free and FBMP info.
  I don't think they had two factor authentication when I last looked at it. I use it for all that offer it and a password manager now.
  Also, it wasn't me who used it for my livelihood. My wife's friend did.
  I don't mind it being 'their platform' (luckily), but they really need ways for users who feel like they have a case to contact them. I would like it to be '…between you and the companies involved just like any other business', but most businesses I've ever wanted to question (except anesthesiologists) could be contacted for a 'proper' reason, or would look into a claim.
  I look forward to a digital ombudsman! Though they'll be completely swamped.
  Thanks for the thoughts.

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  eqv on 18/11/2021 - 18:32

  +1

  I had my eBay account "permanently suspended" once. I tried emailing eBay support a few times and got the same reply, saying that the decision is final and no appeal is possible.

  Eventually I gave up and told them I will accept their decision, and asked them to refund me for the items that I have paid for but haven't received yet. Surprisingly, I was directed to another department who actually managed to reinstate my account after asking me to verify a few things with them.