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Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

I’ve read Amazon Ghost and did some searching through old posts but have seen some newer posts talking about updated verification requirements. I figured I’d start a new thread in case anyone else is in the same situation going forward.

I’ll start with some background.

Previous 7-year account was lost. It was semi-stealth (only tax info was me - name & ss). It did have an attached credit card with partially correct street address (ex. 108 Shenandoah Circle instead of 1087 Shenandoah Circle). That’s not the actual street name but something about as common.

For my new account, my wife will sign up in her name. She's only had a buyer account. I’m going to get all new stuff (computer, phone with tethering, LLC w/ EIN, PO box, bank account w/ debit card) but have some questions.

If I previously used “108 Shenandoah Circle” for old account, does that mean that her current/correct/ID address “1087 Shenandoah Circle” is burned? It’s not a one-of-a-kind street name…but it’s also not in every state. I was planning on opening a PO box and using that address for LLC and also Amazon. However, there is no utility bill to the PO Box. The best I can do is a bank statement or cell phone bill but I presume Amazon doesn’t accept those as a utility.

Does doc review happen with a human or is there an algo that checks utility bills?

When they link seller accounts, are they comparing both account name & also tax id name? Or just main account names?

Is a USA passport valid substitution for DL? The DL has current (and potentially burned) address of "1087 Shenandoah Circle."

Has anyone had any luck calling utility (Directv, electricity, water) to change mailing address on a bill to a PO Box? Or does the service address still show up in big letters? I’m not sure if I can update mailing address and request new bill to be sent to PO Box but it should be pretty easy to accomplish.

For what it’s worth, I’ll be selling private label, inexpensive items ($10-$15) and will be using F-B-A for all.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Yes, “1087 Shenandoah Circle” would be burned and I wouldnt want to risk reusing that same address again.

Not 100% sure on the PO box question, but the address you put on your seller account must match 100% to your docs or they will decline. A human reviews them, not a algo.

Links are done by algorithms and in which may cause an auto suspension or a flag for review by a human to investigate. Literally everything is compared for similarities.

USA passport is a valid ID yes.

I dont see why it wouldnt be too difficult to request a bill address change to your PO box, give them a call and ask. Make sure the name matches your accounts name though.

May I ask what caused your suspension?

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Thanks for your advice.

I'll give the utility address change a try so that it matches po box address used for amz account. My only concern that there would be a line about "service address" on the bill.

Suspicion about what? About human/algo scan? I don't believe it's more than nerves about wanting to get this right on the first try.

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Lets hope it goes alright. If there is a line about the "service address" which doesnt show your account address it will be declined so make sure it all shows your stealth address. Keep us posted!

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Thanks. Yeah, my concern is both addresses (service address & po box mailing address) will be listed on the bill.

Do you know if they prefer e-statements over scanned paper statements? Or all the same to them?

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Print it, fold it like a letter and then scan it and send it. This is the most legitimate looking way, e-statements look more precarious IMO.

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

I agree. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Great advice! You'll also build up some meta data in the docs which will look natural to the reps reviewing them.

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

I don't understand this. How do you "build up metadata" by scanning a document after you folded it?

Re: Questions about new semi-stealth account
 

Naturally when you take a photo or scan there will be some metadata on the file

Test it out yourself with some photos: https://www.verexif.com/en/

If you use an EXIF removing program, you'll strip all this data. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing but who knows with Amazon. Maybe they like to see some clean natural data on there, which you would have by printing, then scan/photo