eBay checking personal details with credit agencies

[ozseller]

I was listing my first item on my stealth eBay account, and it made me do phone verification, then asked me about the value of my inventory. It also asked me to confirm my personal details, and at the bottom said they would use credit agencies to confirm my details to look at credit score as well as fraud prevention

Is this something to worry about? I don't think I triggered anything, this might just be standard procedure, but I'm not really sure.

Thanks!

[Pandoras_box]

They have always done that on all accounts, stealth or not for many, many years.
I think they have decided to invite closer scrutiny recently - perhaps because of managed payment.

[Hank]

Originally Posted by Pandoras_box

They have always done that on all accounts, stealth or not for many, many years.
I think they have decided to invite closer scrutiny recently - perhaps because of managed payment.

I don't think they have. I've never been asked to explain myself on any of my business accounts and if they did a credit check on some of my no-so-old stealth personal accounts they'd find out it was a bogus name at a non existent address.

If they did it on all accounts then it would be discussed openly and at length on all forums legit or otherwise yet it isn't, hence the confusion.

They have always had the facility to use it, it's in their T&C's and I will agree that going forward it is best to assume they will do some kind of credit register checks and create accounts accordingly.

[HurricaneHuntr]

Originally Posted by ozseller

I was listing my first item on my stealth eBay account, and it made me do phone verification, then asked me about the value of my inventory. It also asked me to confirm my personal details, and at the bottom said they would use credit agencies to confirm my details to look at credit score as well as fraud prevention

Is this something to worry about? I don't think I triggered anything, this might just be standard procedure, but I'm not really sure.

Thanks!

Saw some wording recently like this., I wonder if it shows up on your credit as a soft check ever? I doubt it, unless you give your full SSN or EIN i don't see how they can. That being said, i just gave the last 4. Anyway, i am doing some testing.

[betterlife2021]

Originally Posted by ozseller

I was listing my first item on my stealth eBay account, and it made me do phone verification, then asked me about the value of my inventory. It also asked me to confirm my personal details, and at the bottom said they would use credit agencies to confirm my details to look at credit score as well as fraud prevention

Is this something to worry about? I don't think I triggered anything, this might just be standard procedure, but I'm not really sure.

Thanks!

Have never heard about this kind of check except for identity check by sending ID/passport and adress docs.

[ebaywanton]

I haven't heard of that above OP, they are sure getting stricter and making stealth very difficult :(

[Camaro2SS]

In all 10 years doing stealth never heard of such thing.

[mrstealth99]

I think perhaps you may have misunderstood what they said to you. Companies like ebay, paypal, etc use public record(s) information to verify your identity. It is not a credit check and they do not check your credit. They are cross-checking the name on the account versus public database information for such thing as known addresses, phone numbers, etc.

[ozseller]

Originally Posted by mrstealth99

I think perhaps you may have misunderstood what they said to you. Companies like ebay, paypal, etc use public record(s) information to verify your identity. It is not a credit check and they do not check your credit. They are cross-checking the name on the account versus public database information for such thing as known addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Which still means that they might find out i’m using bogus info, which is what i’m worried about

[maxy]

Never heard that.

[betterlife2021]

Originally Posted by ozseller

Which still means that they might find out i’m using bogus info, which is what i’m worried about

That is one thing I want to know also

[Soundofsilence]

It's not for all newly created accounts. Something is wrong with creation method.

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by ozseller

I was listing my first item on my stealth eBay account, and it made me do phone verification, then asked me about the value of my inventory. It also asked me to confirm my personal details, and at the bottom said they would use credit agencies to confirm my details to look at credit score as well as fraud prevention

Is this something to worry about? I don't think I triggered anything, this might just be standard procedure, but I'm not really sure.

Thanks!

Is this mainly for AU users?

because if something like that were to happen to a USA account it usually means the account is flagged. And I'd just start over and make more accounts.

[Pandoras_box]

Originally Posted by Hank

I don't think they have. I've never been asked to explain myself on any of my business accounts and if they did a credit check on some of my no-so-old stealth personal accounts they'd find out it was a bogus name at a non existent address.

If they did it on all accounts then it would be discussed openly and at length on all forums legit or otherwise yet it isn't, hence the confusion.

They have always had the facility to use it, it's in their T&C's and I will agree that going forward it is best to assume they will do some kind of credit register checks and create accounts accordingly.

They've always done identity check on all accounts and that's a fact - and facts do not submit to what you personally 'think'
That is what I was referring to as it is the only substance in OP's question that anyone should be bothered about. The rest about inventory, etc is paltry.

[Hank]

Originally Posted by Pandoras_box

They've always done identity check on all accounts and that's a fact - and facts do not submit to what you personally 'think'
That is what I was referring to as it is the only substance in OP's question that anyone should be bothered about. The rest about inventory, etc is paltry.

Fact. They have not always done identity checks on all accounts. You have absolutely no evidence whatsoever, but you 'think' what you want.

You'd think a stealth forum like this, with active sellers of bogus account would be testimony wouldn't you.

[degsey69]

I posted the self same thing on the thread link below and was castigated by some who did not know what they were talking about and spread misinformation, yes eBay will do a soft credit check on your details when you sign up for MP, they would be stupid not to, they use other data bases in the US to determine the identity such as drivers license numbers.

https://www.aspkin.com/forums/ebay-d...ur-credit.html

[Hank]

Originally Posted by degsey69

I posted the self same thing on the thread link below and was castigated by some who did not know what they were talking about and spread misinformation, yes eBay will do a soft credit check on your details when you sign up for MP, they would be stupid not to, they use other data bases in the US to determine the identity such as drivers license numbers.

https://www.aspkin.com/forums/ebay-d...ur-credit.html

Here's the problem, this thread was about credit checks. A poster then 'confirmed' that is had always happened on all accounts. I suggested this was no true.
Now the same poster has said they have always done identity checks, something completely different from what was initial posted, and as far as I am aware, still untrue - it's why its discussed at length on all ebay related forum without a definitive answer. There is clearly confusion, clearly nobody can say it happened for sure.

In any event it matters not, all accounts will be MP in the not too distant future and their processes are becoming clearer. It seems an ID check/soft credit check, is likely. Move forward knowing this.

[agent006140]

Before MP,Ebay has Paypal to do credit check.
Paypal does not always do credit check,but it can.
There is an US seller who sells on Ebay using Paypal,it turns out that he used to own a brick and mortar store and had a merchant account to accept credit card,his store folded and he must have defaulted on his debt and his merchant account has negative balance,Paypal shut down his Paypal account.
see Paypal has access to all those merchant accounts ,it can see how many merchant accounts you have applied and how many chargebacks you have received etc

[Pandoras_box]

Originally Posted by Hank

Here's the problem, this thread was about credit checks. A poster then 'confirmed' that is had always happened on all accounts. I suggested this was no true.
Now the same poster has said they have always done identity checks, something completely different from what was initial posted,

Here's an excerpt of eBay's current User Privacy Notice:
"Personal data from other sources..."
"Data from credit agencies or bureaus (, e.g. credit reports/checks, identity confirmation,...)"

Credit inquiry, credit check, identity check, soft check, hard inquiries, hard pulls, hard checks, etc. are usually interchanged in discussions all over the internet even on eBay forum. While these may connotate similar meanings, they do have a thread in common: They (usually) refer to accessing some or all of the information on your credit report.

In most cases, your "credit report" is being accessed for one information or another. So even if it is called an identity check, for example, they'd still access your "credit report" but only look at your names, address, and DOB, but nothing about your financial section.

I don't think you lack the cognitive ability to understand what folks mean when they interchange one of the phrases above. However, I believe that you're in awe of quibbling and dissenting, and you tend to use semantics as an inroad.
Aren't there other ways you can make folks know you're smart that isn't counter-productive?

Originally Posted by Hank

and as far as I am aware, still untrue

If a tree falls in the forest and Hank is blissfully unaware, did it really fall?

Originally Posted by Hank

- it's why its discussed at length on all ebay related forum without a definitive answer.
There is clearly confusion

No there isn't, but there appears to be delusion on your part.

The following threads are complaints of sellers and buyers who had their credit report searched by eBay. Some were searched at the time they opened their accounts, others when they listed, etc:

PHP Code:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Archive-Membership-Account/Why-has-Ebay-done-4-credit-checks-on-me-in-the-last-MONTH/td-p/5638875
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4814713/ebay-identification-check
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5719410/multiple-searches-over-50-from-gb-group-ebay
https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Archive-Selling-on-eBay/Ebay-has-made-a-credit-file-inquiry-on-me/td-p/4185432
https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Member-To-Member-Support/UNSURE-why-credit-inquiry-was-done-GB-GROUP-EBAY/qaq-p/4705136
https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Archive-Seller-Central/Ebay-GB-have-made-a-credit-inquiry-on-me/td-p/4185454
https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Member-To-Member-Support/Equifax-Credit/qaq-p/4629286


Here on aspkin
https://www.aspkin.com/forums/183752-post8.html
https://www.aspkin.com/forums/763520-post5.html
https://www.aspkin.com/forums/ebay-suspensions/124997-suspended-filing-bankruptcy.html 


Originally Posted by Hank

clearly nobody can say it happened for sure.

What's clear is that a little knowledge (when wielded) is a dangerous thing.

This forum is loaded with a wealth of knowledge. As a new member, you'd be better off immersing yourself in it.

Misinforming other members, especially on matters that have been established as far back as 10 years ago, is likely to invite a response.

[Pandoras_box]

Originally Posted by degsey69

I posted the self same thing on the thread link below and was castigated by some who did not know what they were talking about and spread misinformation, yes eBay will do a soft credit check on your details when you sign up for MP, they would be stupid not to, they use other data bases in the US to determine the identity such as drivers license numbers.

https://www.aspkin.com/forums/ebay-d...ur-credit.html

Exactly, there are some members on this forum who have also seen these checks on their credit report. One post was made 10 years ago.
When I signed up to eBay about a decade ago, they checked my report. I know because I was signed up to multiple credit agencies for many years due to identity theft.

Sometimes, they'd do a check when I listed items.
As regards PayPal they would and continue to do checks with large withdrawals, and these would show up as "Identity Check to comply with Anti Money Laundering Regulations" I have no credit facility with eBay / PayPal but they do these checks.

These are soft checks, meaning they would not be seen by lenders or reduce your score - but I don't think that is what is being contended.

What's in contention here is: do they check our credit report? I'd say absolutely.

On another note, there are loads of third-party brokers. These folks are the sickest of the sick.
They purchase your data from the big credit referencing agencies then constantly update it with information gleaned from the internet or other sources. This helps to paint a clear picture than the CRAs.

eBay makes it clear on the TOS that they purchase info from these third-parties.

I'm not sure, but I suspect they won't skip over the standard CRAs in the first place.

[grantcate]

We protect your personal information by taking technical and administrative security measures to minimize the risks of data loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, and alteration. Some of the protections we use are firewalls, data encryption, physical access control to our data centers, and authorized access control to information. I don't even have to do this check because I work with Mortgage Broker Essex. This broker has provided me with his services and helped me with the next steps, so there is no problem with that.