Facebook Marketplace Won't Release Seller's Funds

by: etectra

Never accept Facebook payments for anything on Facebook Marketplace.

Facebook Marketplace has NO CUSTOMER SERVICE.

All the buyer has to do to get their money back is file claim with their bank, payment process or credit card. This claim can be based on anything they want to make up. These third parties will decide the outcome of the claim and not Facebook.

A tracking number does not prove the buyer got the item they purchased or that it was in the shape advertised. It only proves the buyer got a package. The buyer can file a claim with their credit card claiming the package had something else in it. They claim the item was broken.

I only accept Zelle for FaceBook Marketplace items that are shipped. Zelle is free bank to bank transfer service available through thousands of banks. You assign a email address to your Zelle account within your bank account and have the buyer send the payment to that email address. It cannot be reversed since its a ACH transfer. Only ship after you confirmed the money is in your bank account. When you receive a email stating that you have payment via Zelle do not go to your bank via any of the links in the email since the email could be fake. Always login to your bank via URL that you've bookmarked in your browser.

All non shipped items should require the buyer to come to your home and pay cash only. Have them count the cash out to make sure its all there. Some will hand you a wad of cash that will be short a bill or two as they are not counting on you counting it. Use a counterfeit pen on all the cash.

Create a plain text file TOS (Terms of Service) template for your Facebook Marketplace listing and copy and paste this on the end of each listing at the bottom of the description so customers will known exactly what to expect.

I use GarageSale to list my eBay items and to also store my Facebook listings. I created a AppleScript that automatically copies a listing description and my Facebook TOS to my computer's clipboard so I can simply paste it into the Facebook Marketplace listing form.

by: etectra

I forgot to mention that you should use PirateShip for Facebook Marketplace shipping labels.

by: Shanna

Contact your state's Commissioner of Banks, or similar office. Money transfers are regulated at the state level, and most require funds to be released within a time frame, usually 5-14 days. Facebook will quickly release your funds once the state contacts them, as they do not want to lose their license for an entire state.  

by: Hobbiton

This is strange as when selling on FaceBook Marketplace we always accept bank transfers. Give the buyer your bank details and they pay you instantly. Our banks all use name matching so that buyers can check our actual name matches our long-time FaceBook account 's name so they know that it's safe. Don't see why Meta would want to be involved in it as there are no fees involved.

by: Nonesuch

I can certainly testify to FBM having no customer service.  My issue is that I am not able to ship and used FB payments because FB keeps asking for my TIN / SSN so “PayPal can verify my identity.”  I guess because I am over the dollar threshold where FB has to generate a 1099 form or whatever to the IRS.  When I try to enter the TIN , FB keeps giving me an error message, regardless of whether I enter it through their app, or on a laptop.  Thing is, FB already has my TIN, even if the bot keeps asking for it.  When I raised the issue with FB I got a reply that they would look into it, then, like OP, crickets. No response to any follow-up.  FB just can’t be bothered.  I’ve since just put in my listings that I’ll take payment by PayPal or Venmo,  I don’t trust Zelle, too much fraud and you’re not really protected.  

by: FloridaMan

Stop selling on Facebook. Seriously. Just don't do it. There's 100 reasons not to use Facebook, but all politics and social stuff aside, it just doesn't make good business sense to sell there. It's a hotbed of fraud with asinine rules that favor the scammers. And worse, there's no human element. Good luck with "support".

Get your own website, drive traffic to it, and sell on your own terms.

by: Faceless Reseller

On FM I don’t promote shipping but will. For payment I only accept USP Service Money Orders or if over $600 bank wire. I’ve found these 2 services to eliminate all scammers as on FM the scammers are a dime a dozen