Asked to Contact Customer support - security code
I got a bizarre restriction, wanted to see if anyone can shed some light on this.
When I sign onto my ebay account, I am immediately brought to a screen that tells me to confirm my identity by receiving a phone call or text message to the phone number i have on file. There is no option to update my phone number, it will only allow me to send a call or text to the number I have on file, which I do not have access to.
It also gives me the option to call them instead, and they provide a customer contact number and a security code to use when I call. So i tried calling and giving it a shot.
The ebay rep said this restriction happened because I changed my internet service provider (wtf?). I was using a verizon flashed mifi device, but it broke so I began temporarily using a regular verizon hotspot device instead. I cannot say this switch correlated EXACTLY with when I got this restriction, but it was around the same time.
She said they "fingerprint" the ISPs of ebay users and that by changing my service provider I triggered a security check. However, I have switched between hotspot devices and internet service providers with no issues many times before, so it makes me wonder if the rep was just saying this as an excuse. Keep in mind I run many, many accounts and this is the only account that I have ever had this type of issue with.
She then told me to simply use my current Internet Service Provider with ebay for a month, and that they should lift the security check if I call back after a month. This also makes 0 sense to me. Especially because I cannot even LOG ON to my ebay account to access it, so I do not understand how I am supposed "use my ISP" for a month. In addition to this bizarre situation, they haven't removed the listings I have active on this account, so I'm still selling and unable to log on to revise my listing, respond to customers / cases / returns opened against me, nor am I able to even pay my fees with a prepaid card.
Since this is a stealth account, the rep could not find any public database questions to ask me (she tried), but what also seemed strange is that she would not give me the option of even sending in docs to verify my identity. She just left it at "use your ISP for a month and try calling back."
I'm just a little baffled. Never had this type of restriction, never heard of ebay fingerprinting ISPs, and can't understand why I cannot even access my account at all yet my listings are still active.
Can anyone shed some light on this? I thought I've seen every type of restriction, but this one is new to me. Any vets or anyone with a similar situation can help me out??
Last edited by nodeal; 07-01-2016 at 07:14 PM.
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