What to Do if Your Etsy Account is Suspended

It is not uncommon for individuals to believe that they could never be banned from Etsy as a shopper. However, it is indeed possible. For sellers, the probability may be slightly higher, but it can still come as a surprise. It is important to understand that Etsy has a strict policy in place, and will suspend accounts if any rules are violated, regardless of whether you are a buyer or a seller.

If you do find yourself in this situation, it is important to take appropriate action to try and resolve the issue.

First, breathe. The number one common scenario we see for Etsy sellers is that someone just opened their Etsy account and Etsy accidentally suspended them. Maybe their business name and bank account name did not match and it flagged Etsy’s fraud detection system. Usually, these cases get resolved and shops are reinstated within a few weeks.

In this blog post, we will discuss what to do if your Etsy account is suspended, and provide guidance on how to resolve the issue and get back to selling or shopping on the platform.

Can Etsy Suspend My Account?

It is important to understand that since Etsy is a private company, it holds to right to suspend user accounts that they feel are in violation of its guidelines.

As agreed upon when you became an Etsy Member- whether you are a seller or shopper- you also agreed to Etsy’s terms of service which includes all of Etsy’s policies such as the right to suspend your account.

Why Does Etsy Suspend Accounts?

It should be noted that Etsy has an extensive list of policies that can take some time to fully review. The policies cover a wide range of topics for both buyers and sellers and can be found in the legal section of Etsy’s website. We recommend taking the time to read and understand the policies to ensure compliance and avoid account suspension.

One reason Etsy suspends buyer accounts is that the buyer uses discriminatory or hateful speech.

It is not okay to discriminate against people based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. You can be temporarily suspended from Etsy or banned permanently if you do.

Etsy can suspend seller accounts for many reasons such as copyright infringement, trademark violation, or someone simple as not passing their fraud detection screening when opening your account.

Why Does Etsy Keep Suspending my Account?

While both Etsy buyers and Etsy sellers must adhere to Ety’s anti-discrimination and hate speech policy, Etsy sellers have additional rules that they need to follow.

As an Etsy seller, you are not allowed to resell someone else’s handmade items. If Etsy thinks this is what you’re doing, it will suspend your account.

You also can’t sell prohibited items like alcohol or drug paraphernalia, weapons, pornography, etc.

Etsy sellers can also be banned for infringing on trademarks, violating copyright laws, or not paying their bills for fees.

Some new Etsy sellers will find that their Etsy account is suspended when they first open their shop, which can be very frustrating! Usually, their accounts get reinstated once the seller reaches out to Etsy and resolves the issue.

Will Etsy Tell Me Why My Account was Suspended?

Usually, when your Etsy account is suspended, you will receive an email from Etsy telling you the reason for the suspension.

Etsy will also tell you whether the suspension is permanent or temporary.

If it is for an infraction that you can fix—i.e., you didn’t pay your fees—then you must fix the issue in order for Etsy to reinstate your account.

If there is another reason that Etsy suspended your account, you will have to wait the designated amount of time before you can reinstate your account.

What if my Etsy Account is Suspended but I Did Not Receive an Email?

Occasionally, your Etsy account might be suspended and you do not receive an email explanation from Etsy, or you might receive a notice about your suspension but Etsy does not provide an explanation and there is no way to respond to their notification.

If the above happens to you, or you don’t understand why your account was suspended, you should contact Etsy Support, using their contact support page, for more details.

Once you’re on the page and you’re not sure where to go, start with Submit a Request page. It talks about some of the ways you can reopen a suspended account or appeal the permanent closure of your account.

It’s always a good idea to keep things polite and respectful when you’re communicating with Etsy. These are real people who have the power to decide the fate of your shop, so it’s important to be courteous in all of your interactions.

If you’re looking for a positive outcome, it can’t hurt to be kind and helpful in your emails and messages. By keeping things friendly, you may be more likely to get the help and support you need to get your shop back up and running.

Why is My Etsy Account Suspended for No Reason?

Occasionally, an Etsy account will be suspended for what seems like no reason. Sometimes this is because your account looks like it’s associated with another suspended or permanently banned account.

This happens a lot with people who share Wi-Fi with several other people or use VPNs. According to the site Nembol, this can also occur if you’re logging into your shop in a public place or at your workplace and someone else is logged in under the same IP address.

Nembol says a shared IP address might “trigger Etsy’s banning algorithm.”

Other new sellers might find that they did not pass Etsy’s fraud detection. Perhaps your bank account name and business account name do not match or something simple like that. These cases are usually resolved quickly but they are frustrating!

It can really slow your momentum when a new shop is suspended.

What Should I Do if my Etsy Account is Suspended?

Obviously, you’ll want to get your account reinstated as quickly as possible, but sometimes it can take a while for it to happen.

Your process for reinstating the account will depend on why your account was suspended in the first place. We will list some of the most common reasons and resolutions for those reasons.

However, even while your account is suspended, there are things you can and cannot do, especially as a seller.

What Can You Do While Your Etsy Seller Account is Suspended?

When your Etsy seller account is suspended, you will not be allowed to make any sales. However, you will be responsible for fulfilling commitments already made.

Etsy will still allow you to access your account, read messages, and issue refunds. You can also fill the orders already submitted while you’re waiting for Etsy to reinstate your account.

What Can’t You Do While Your Etsy Seller Account is Suspended?

That said, that’s about all you can do.

Etsy will not allow you to make any new sales. Your shop and its items will be removed from Etsy searches. You will not be able to receive new orders, and you cannot list new products while you wait. You also can’t edit the listings you already have on the site.

Interestingly, Etsy will not allow you to cancel existing orders during your suspension, so your best course of action is to fill those orders while you wait. That’s a good business practice, too, because you still want to ensure your customers receive the best service, even if you’re experiencing issues with Etsy.

How to Reopen a Suspended Etsy Account

As stated earlier, reopening your suspended Etsy account will depend on why your account was suspended in the first place.

Etsy Account Suspended Due to Overdue Balance

If your account was suspended due to an overdue balance, you will need to pay it. Once you’ve paid in full, in most cases, your account will be reinstated immediately.

There may be some wait time if you’re in the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.

There are also ways to prevent future suspensions of your Etsy account due to a lack of payment.

Make sure that you’re enrolled in auto-billing. That will guarantee that your bills are paid on time every month.

If you’re already enrolled in auto-billing, make sure you have the correct card on file and fix any errors, if necessary.

Etsy Suspended Account Right After Opening

An Etsy post in the help forum looks at some of the other reasons a new Etsy shop account might be suspended, including an issue with ID or bank verification. Even using the same credit card information as another account can trigger the fraud department to suspend your Etsy store.

You might also have your account suspended if you do not clearly disclose any other Etsy shops you might have opened.

How Long Does it Take for Etsy to Unsuspend Your Account?

After you have filed your appeal, it is out of your hands. The Etsy specialist will look at your account history (i.e., how many times your account has been suspended in the past, your time on Etsy, etc.) and will offer a final decision over email.

Etsy’s site says it can take up to two weeks to receive a final decision. However, with recent events, there are reports that the appeals process can take longer than two weeks.

Of course, even if you follow all of the rules, you’re not guaranteed to have your account privileges reinstated.

There’s still the chance that your account will be permanently suspended.

Can You Get Banned from Etsy?

The answer is yes; you can get banned from Etsy. If your appeal does not work, then Etsy will not reinstate your account. You will no longer be allowed to sell or buy through that Etsy account.

According to the Etsy website, the decisions of the appeal are final. The site says, “There will be no further consideration of reinstatement.”

We have seen new shop owners have their shops reinstated within 2 weeks but this is not a rule just an observation.

How to Suspend your Etsy Shop

Suspending your Etsy shop is different than Etsy suspending your shop. Suspending your shop is a decision that you make, whereas having your shop suspended is a decision that Etsy makes.

Etsy will not penalize you if you want to suspend your Etsy shop. In fact, it has a whole process that will allow you to take time away from your Etsy shop, called vacation mode.

Vacation Mode allows you to put your Etsy shop on hold while you go on vacation or simply take time away for another reason.

Etsy doesn’t ask questions; it simply asks you to fill any pending orders before leaving.

How to Reopen an Account You Closed

The process of reopening an Etsy account that you closed yourself is a lot easier.

To reopen your Etsy account, click “Reopen Account” on this page in the Etsy help center. Etsy will ask you to enter the email address associated with the account.

Once you’ve entered the email associated with the Etsy account, Etsy will email the account with a link to reopen your account. Click the link, and Etsy will navigate you to a page that will officially reopen your account.

This will not work if you permanently closed or deleted your account. That’s why Etsy suggests that you temporarily close your shop or simply don’t use your Etsy account.

When you temporarily close your shop, you still have the option of reopening it whenever you want. If you permanently close the shop, then it cannot be undone. Once the shop is permanently closed, it’s done, and the email associated with the shop cannot be used again.

Be extra sure you want to permanently close the shop before you take action.

Conclusion

Receiving a suspension notice from Etsy can be a frustrating experience, but it’s important to stay calm and take action to resolve the issue. By reviewing the policies, resolving any outstanding issues, and filing a detailed and respectful appeal, you’ll have the best chance of getting your account reinstated.

Remember to keep an open mind and be transparent throughout the process, as this can help build trust with Etsy’s support team. Ultimately, with patience and persistence, you can get back to selling on Etsy and continue to build your business.

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