This article will cover:
- Avoiding suspension
- How to reinstate your suspended account
- How to file an appeal for a closed or permanently suspended shop
- How to contact Etsy support
Etsy as an online eCommerce platform has had many turbulent changes over the past few years, many of which have seemed to isolate its sellers. One of the more frustrating elements of selling on Etsy is their tendency to suspend or permanently ban sellers who they see as violating their policies and guidelines without further investigation.
Here are some of the ways you can avoid getting banned or suspended:
- Resolve issues yourself-
Some sellers may ask buyers who are reporting issues to open a case with etsy rather than deal with it themselves. The buyer has 48 hours after messaging the seller before they can open a case. This window is where you, as the seller, need to fix any problems they’ve reported and stop them opening a case at all costs; for example, damaged items or items not matching the description. Too many cases opened by sellers will damage your store and lead to permanent suspension.
- Don’t ship late
Etsy wants you to help them look as good as possible, as a seller on etsy they see you as representatives of their brand. By shipping late, late deliveries and subpar customer service, Etsy will begin to flag your store and this will not help your case during an appeal.
- Don’t Pester Etsy
It may seem like the most proactive approach during a case, appeal or ban to constantly contact Etsy asking for an answer to your case, however, Etsy will automatically put all new messages at the bottom of their queue. No matter if it’s following up something from a month ago. Although this can be frustrating, they expect you to wait for a response from them before you can move forward.
The hard truth:
“Submitting an appeal doesn’t guarantee reinstatement of your account privileges. The appeal only ensures that a qualified specialist will conduct a review of your account history and information to determine the status of your account.
What happens if an appeal is unsuccessful?
If a specialist determines that your account will remain permanently closed, there will be no further consideration of reinstatement.” -Etsy
How to reinstate your suspended account:
Etsy suspends accounts when they have reason to believe their policies have been violated, when shops have an overdue bill, and when shops haven’t submitted information or completed steps that are required so that Etsy can comply with security measures and/or applicable laws.
How do I know if my account is temporarily or permanently suspended?
If you’re temporarily suspended, messaging from Etsy will explain how to resolve the issue.
If your account is permanently suspended, the email from Etsy will say “permanently suspended” in the subject line and body. You can appeal a permanent suspension once you resolve the issues that lead to the suspension.
How to resolve common reasons for suspension
You may be able to resolve some common temporary suspensions on your own. If you’re unsure why you were suspended, check to see if any of the below apply to you. Depending on the reason for the suspension, you might be automatically reinstated.
- Overdue bill
If your shop was suspended for an overdue billing balance, you’ll just need to pay the bill. Paying your Amount due should quickly, automatically reinstate your account.
- Missing taxpayer ID in shop
Etsy requires sellers in the US to have a taxpayer ID on file when they meet a certain sales threshold so we can comply with tax laws.
- Missing bank account in shop
Sellers outside the US must add their bank account soon after their first sale so that we can deposit earnings from sales.
Once you begin updating your bank account, you have a time limit to complete the verification.
- Problems with identification verification
When setting up a shop, Etsy will ask for information to verify your identity. If they have trouble verifying your identity, they may ask for more info, your account may be suspended until we can verify your information. Check for an email from Etsy and learn about verifying your information for Etsy Payments.
- Repeat policy violations
Your account may be suspended if you repeatedly violate Etsy policies after warnings from Etsy. Check your email for a message from Etsy on next steps.
How to File an Appeal for a Permanently Suspended Account
You have the opportunity to appeal a permanent account suspension.
When should I file an appeal?
File an appeal if your account has been permanently suspended by Etsy and you’ve resolved the issues that lead to the suspension.
When shouldn’t I file an appeal?
If your account is just temporarily suspended, this can be resolved by the above methods. If you received an email from Etsy that mentioned your account is suspended and asked you to reply back to that email when the problem is resolved, your account is only temporarily suspended. The best way to communicate with Etsy is to reply back to that email.
If a listing was removed by Etsy, but your account is still active, you won’t be able to file an appeal. Instead, search for an email from Etsy explaining why it was removed.
How do I file an appeal?
- First be sure you thoroughly understand Etsy’s House Rules.
- If you’re a seller, make sure you don’t have any listings that violate their Prohibited Items Policy, Handmade Policy, or Intellectual Property Policy.
- Resolve all outstanding account issues, including resolving open cases and paying any outstanding balances.
File an appeal
- Open the Appeals Centre and sign in to your suspended Etsy account.
- Choose the reason for your appeal. If selecting Other, enter a reason.
- Add any actions you’ve taken to address the issues that caused the suspension.
- Add how your practices will change if you regain account access.
- Add any documents to support the appeal.
- Choose Submit Appeal.
Before submitting, be sure you’ve entered all the information as you intend. Be transparent and forthcoming about the issue that caused the suspension and your actions to resolve it, like refraining from listing items that violate Etsy’s policies. Demonstrate that you understand the policies and know how to meet them going forward.
What happens after I file my appeal?
A specialist will review your appeal and your account history, and reply with a final decision over email. Due to the complex nature of these investigations, it can take up to two weeks to receive a decision.
Submitting an appeal doesn’t guarantee reinstatement of your account privileges. The appeal only ensures that a qualified specialist will conduct a review of your account history and information to determine the status of your account.
What happens if my appeal is unsuccessful?
“If a specialist determines that your account will remain permanently closed, there will be no further consideration of reinstatement. This decision is final.”
You can contact Etsy about an appeal here.
