UK eBay Stealth Account Upgraded to Business

Yesgeneral · #1 07-05-2023

Hi,
I have some old private stealth eBay accounts and all of them work well. But in this week, eBay sent me a message and required me to upgrade my account to business in 21 days,or the accounts will be restricted. So what should I do?

Thanks!

Hank · #2 07-05-2023

Upgrade to business or it's selling privileges will stop. There is no alternative.

rsot · #3 07-05-2023

And get backup accounts going OP - are all your accounts affected by this request to upgrade?

degsey69 · #4 07-05-2023

Yes upgrade to business account you have nothing to lose.

Yesgeneral · #5 07-06-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by degsey69

Yes upgrade to business account you have nothing to lose.

Yes,but it requires more information. But my accounts are stealth ones.

james_112233 · #6 07-06-2023

Change to real details. Did that myself and still running sweet. If youre managing the account well and have no issues they won't suspend for pre-managed payment violations from what I can see. Plus too many competitors to eBay now they don't want to lose decent sellers.

Hank · #7 07-06-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by james_112233

Change to real details. Did that myself and still running sweet. If youre managing the account well and have no issues they won't suspend for pre-managed payment violations from what I can see. Plus too many competitors to eBay now they don't want to lose decent sellers.

Not going to work in this case, they have absolutely no option buy to comply.

stammer · #8 07-06-2023

you already submited id for your stealth?

rsot · #9 07-06-2023

what did you decide to do yesgeneral?

murdered_by_ebay · #10 07-06-2023

you can upgrade to sole trader , it is almost the same as private seller

Hank · #11 07-06-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

you can upgrade to sole trader , it is almost the same as private seller

Hardly 'almost the same as a private seller', How would they get, for example, a UTR or US equivalent, particularly if they're based abroad as their flag suggests.

Yesgeneral · #12 07-06-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

you can upgrade to sole trader , it is almost the same as private seller

Thanks for your advise. Will I need to change the information with my real ID and apply for a sole trader? But I have several steal accounts and all are waiting for upgrading.

Yesgeneral · #13 07-06-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by stammer

you already submited id for your stealth?

I am still searching for a best way to deal with it as I have several stealth accounts.

murdered_by_ebay · #14 07-06-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank

Hardly 'almost the same as a private seller', How would they get, for example, a UTR or US equivalent, particularly if they're based abroad as their flag suggests.

in the UK they do not ask for much additional info

JamesNorth101 · #15 07-07-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yesgeneral

Hi,
I have some old private stealth eBay accounts and all of them work well. But in this week, eBay sent me a message and required me to upgrade my account to business in 21 days,or the accounts will be restricted. So what should I do?

Thanks!

Upgrade it to a sole trader business account

Best option here or the account will just get limited

Hank · #16 07-07-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by murdered_by_ebay

in the UK they do not ask for much additional info

But crucially the do ask for info which is checked, like UTR.

Then there's the change in account dynamics, mandatory returns, addresses displayed etc. It's not as simply as you're implying to convert a private seller account t a stealth account and you aught to know that.

On the assumption they are based abroad and managed to get UTR (Limited Company option is out according to your earlier posts) then they will need to register for VAT. AFAIK bogus UTR's wont work.

IMO, a foreigner converting a UK private account to a stealth business ain't happening. My plan would be to start more private ones if that's worked before.

Nimble · #17 07-09-2023

In the UK they don't require any further info to convert to sole trader business account, you just have to select returns accepted that's it.

For Limited company, they will ask for the details of the company address, telephone number and company number. They will also need director details, name, d.o.b, address telephone (can be same as company) and that's it, they don't need a UTR or VAT number or any other info.

Hank · #18 07-09-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimble

In the UK they don't require any further info to convert to sole trader business account, you just have to select returns accepted that's it.

They will require a UTR and unless OP has a UK address they will also be expected to register for VAT.

Nimble · #19 07-09-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank

They will require a UTR and unless OP has a UK address they will also be expected to register for VAT.

You couldn't be more wrong, ebay UK does not require a UTR for business account nor does it require a VAT number until you hit the VAT threshold, the company registration address needs to be UK as that's the only address they try to verify, I know this because I've called in to their trust and safety team multiple times.

Hank · #20 07-09-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimble

You couldn't be more wrong, ebay UK does not require a UTR for business account nor does it require a VAT number until you hit the VAT threshold, the company registration address needs to be UK as that's the only address they try to verify, I know this because I've called in to their trust and safety team multiple times.

Assuming OP is a NETP, it is now a legal requirement and ebay have confirmed they will enforce it. Amazon have been doing so for years now.

It will be an offence for all selling platforms not to do so from next year.

Nimble · #21 07-09-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank

Assuming OP is a NETP, it is now a legal requirement and ebay have confirmed they will enforce it. Amazon have been doing so for years now.

It will be an offence for all selling platforms not to do so from next year.

Register a company to the accountants office, job done, and now have an established address in the UK, currently ebay don't ask for UTR or VAT reference number for business accounts that is fact.

OP is based in Hong Kong from what I gather, so might be different requirements for His respective country's ebay.

Hank · #22 07-09-2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimble

Register a company to the accountants office, job done, and now have an established address in the UK, currently ebay don't ask for UTR or VAT reference number for business accounts that is fact.

Nobody is doubting that, I've done it myself. But as I said earlier it is set to change, particularly for non-citizens, when the 'voluntary' arrangement Amazon were forced to adopt become legislation. I suspect this simplistic approach might not work for OP. It is a fact that to trade in the UK NETP's require a UTR and must be VAT registered and ebay will be expected to enforce that very soon if they're not already doing so. Indeed, murdered_by_ebay had said on here that those trying to do it by the seemingly legal route of Limited Companies are auto-banned by ebay. Seems they simply don't want to deal with non-residents trading from fabricated/accommodation addresses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimble

OP is based in Hong Kong from what I gather, so might be different requirements for His respective country's ebay.

He's not selling on his home ebay, they've already said it's ebay UK.

In any event, his question was what to do, the answer is they have no option but to comply.

Only time will tell how it plays out for them and how much manipulation of addresses etc will be required to keep the account(s) alive.

It's going to get much more awkward for residents to stealth soon, never mind non-residents. Time to start looking forwards as some of us are already doing, not backward to dated policies.