etsy nightmare

[ixxx]

Dear All, my account was permanently suspended by etsy a few days ago, together with many others, due to copyrights infringements. Stupidly I didn't keep any record of my customers contact details, everything was in the dashboard, so one by one they started to complain to etsy about the seller who disappeared with pending orders. I have tracking numbers ready, but cant contact any customer and all my emails to etsy remain unanswered. Now etsy is refunding everybody who opened a case against me and eventually they will receive the items they ordered, already shipped, for free. So etsy closes my account, doesn't give me any chance to communicate with my customers, refunds them all, and eventually will go after me to get the money back. This is a nightmare.
Now my questions:
1. can they get money automatically withdrawing from my bank account or credit card on file? Both are almost empty, as a precaution.
2. legally speaking how far can they go to get the money back? The account is registered in EU not USA.
When you lose a case to Paypal, they refund the customer, your account ends up in negative balance, you owe them money, they send a few nasty emails, then nothing happens. I'm afraid etsy will be more persistent.
Did anybody have a similar issue? Please let me know your experience.
Thanks

[agent006140]

what kind of bank account do you have?

[MeilenBoss]

I've been in that loop so many times.

They will attempt to charge the CC you have on file.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by ixxx

1. can they get money automatically withdrawing from my bank account or credit card on file? Both are almost empty, as a precaution.

No overdraft on bank account? Credit card is maxed?

[ixxx]

Originally Posted by agent006140

what kind of bank account do you have?

SEPA account in EUR

[ixxx]

Originally Posted by rsot

No overdraft on bank account? Credit card is maxed?

I dont understand the meaning of your questions

[rsot]

Originally Posted by ixxx

I dont understand the meaning of your questions

You said both were "empty" so just confirming that PP wouldn't have a way to withdraw funds...the way you were saying it meant that even if PP made a "cash grab", they wouldn't be able to take anything...

[ixxx]

Originally Posted by rsot

You said both were "empty" so just confirming that PP wouldn't have a way to withdraw funds...the way you were saying it meant that even if PP made a "cash grab", they wouldn't be able to take anything...

I sued PP as an example, meaning you discard an account with a negative balance and PP can't come after you to refund the money you owe them, being a stealth account. But etsy has my bank account and my debit card on file, with my real name. Can they take legal action against me in EU? I'm sure they can outsource to debit collectors in my country. This is what I was asking the community.

[rsot]

How big is the amount in question?

[Duab]

Originally Posted by ixxx

I sued PP as an example, meaning you discard an account with a negative balance and PP can't come after you to refund the money you owe them, being a stealth account. But etsy has my bank account and my debit card on file, with my real name. Can they take legal action against me in EU? I'm sure they can outsource to debit collectors in my country. This is what I was asking the community.

There is no straight answer to this, only speculations. Depends on amount in question mostly.

[ixxx]

All together etsy refunded about 1500 USD to a few customers, most of them will receive what they ordered AND the refund. I doubt they will tell etsy that actually the seller was not a scammer LOL

[oibruv]

Originally Posted by ixxx

All together etsy refunded about 1500 USD to a few customers, most of them will receive what they ordered AND the refund. I doubt they will tell etsy that actually the seller was not a scammer LOL

They won't. Same thing happened to me on a few occasions. Just think about it. When your accounts get suspended, who is going to be more valuable for Etsy in the future? Of course it's the customers because they're more likely to come back and spend money, generating more money for Etsy. Once we're suspended, we're dead to this company.

I am saying this because even though I had provided proof of shipment, Etsy ignored my messages in the cases buyers opened after I got suspended. They literally ignored my messages within the cases saying "[...] since the buyer did not respond to our request to provide proof of shipment, we have decided to refund you the full amount [...]". Bull**** like that.

[Starduster]

Wow. that is so brutal and unfair. Especially if you can prove the items were delivered. I'd sue Etsi.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Starduster

Wow. that is so brutal and unfair. Especially if you can prove the items were delivered. I'd sue Etsi.

Forget thinking of lawyers - you'll get fleeced nicely as well by them...

[agent006140]

suspended due to copyright infringement,Etsy has to protect itself,so refund buyer money and close your account,

[Starduster]

Originally Posted by rsot

Forget thinking of lawyers - you'll get fleeced nicely as well by them...

No, not at all. This is a perfect case for Small Claims Court. If OP is truly in USA they can bring the suit in their locality. It doesn't matter that the goods were considered infringement. As long as they're not stolen only the CR holder can bring suit. Small Claims doesn't deal with that as an issue. BUT they DO deal with a Seller that has provided tracking showing goods delivered, and a company still keeping the funds.
Anyway, it wouldn't make it to a Judge, cuz ets will write him a check right before the 3rd court appearance.

[murdered_by_ebay]

Originally Posted by Starduster

No, not at all. This is a perfect case for Small Claims Court. If OP is truly in USA they can bring the suit in their locality. It doesn't matter that the goods were considered infringement. As long as they're not stolen only the CR holder can bring suit. Small Claims doesn't deal with that as an issue. BUT they DO deal with a Seller that has provided tracking showing goods delivered, and a company still keeping the funds.
Anyway, it wouldn't make it to a Judge, cuz ets will write him a check right before the 3rd court appearance.

large companies like paypal , ebay and amazon have a habit to ignore court appearances and replies on small amounts. they count on people not going to court in the first place. and with bigger amounts paypal for example tend to pay out of court and ask to sign a non-disclosure agreement

[agent006140]

OP is in Thailand,he is SOL.

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by ixxx

I sued PP as an example, meaning you discard an account with a negative balance and PP can't come after you to refund the money you owe them, being a stealth account. But etsy has my bank account and my debit card on file, with my real name. Can they take legal action against me in EU? I'm sure they can outsource to debit collectors in my country. This is what I was asking the community.

Etsy wont bother with such an amount,you said you sold $1500,so ETSY FEE IS WHAT 3%.
AND how can they take action in EU when you are in Thailand.

[Starduster]

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

large companies like paypal , ebay and amazon have a habit to ignore court appearances and replies on small amounts. they count on people not going to court in the first place. and with bigger amounts paypal for example tend to pay out of court and ask to sign a non-disclosure agreement

Exactly. They rely on people not actually going to Court, so the odds are definitely in their favor. But if you're persistent you'll win.
Tho, approx 4 yrs ago, I was really surprised AMZ sent a lawyer to Small Claims. He was an indy lawyer who specialized in retail cases. Can't for the life of me remember what the case details were, but I do remember the person suing AMZ was completely in the wrong. Think he counted on them not showing up.

[Starduster]

Originally Posted by agent006140

OP is in Thailand,he is SOL.

Yep! No recourse, but like you said they won't come after him for the remaining unrefunded amounts.