Seller verification policy
What a seller has to prove, when, and what happens if a check does not pass.
Who has to verify
Every seller must complete identity verification before any payout. There is no threshold below which it is skipped.
A seller must be at least 18 years old. This is checked against the date of birth on the identity document, not only against what was typed into the form.
A business seller must additionally provide the registered company name, the registration number, and the full names of anyone owning 25% or more.
What we collect
From the seller directly:
- legal first and last name;
- date of birth;
- residential address and country;
- phone number;
- entity type, and for a business the registered name, number and beneficial owners;
- tax form type and the last four characters of the tax identification number.
From the identity document check itself we retain the name, date of birth and issuing country as read from the document, the document type, and the reason if a check did not pass.
We do not store the document number and we do not store an image of the document. Those remain with the verification provider.
We store only the last four characters of a tax identification number, together with a reference held by our tax provider.
Accepted documents
A passport, a national identity card, or a driving licence, depending on the issuing country.
The document must be current, must match the name and date of birth given at application, and must be issued by the country of residence given at application.
A mismatch between the document and the details given is the most common reason a check does not pass, and is usually a typing error rather than anything else.
Restricted countries and territories
We do not onboard sellers resident in:
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Cuba
- Iran
- Myanmar
- North Korea
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Syria
Ukraine is served, with the exception of the sanctioned territories. A seller applying from Ukraine is asked for their oblast, and applications from Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, and the non-government-controlled areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are declined.
This list is reviewed against sanctions programmes and payout-provider coverage, and may change. A country not on this list is not a guarantee that a payout can be delivered there.
Screening
Sanctions and politically-exposed-person screening is carried out as part of seller verification, and the result is recorded.
We may decline, restrict or close an account, and may withhold a payout, where we are legally required to or where screening raises a concern.
Screening is repeated where a seller's details change materially, and may be repeated periodically.
When a check does not pass
A seller whose check does not pass is told the reason where we are permitted to give it, and may correct their details and try again.
A seller may be permitted to list and sell while verification is pending, but may not receive a payout until verification is complete.
Where a check cannot be passed, any balance already earned is resolved under the payout policy: it is not forfeited, but it may be held until the position is resolved.
Repeated failed attempts, or attempts using documents belonging to another person, may result in the account being closed.
Re-verification
We may ask a seller to verify again where their identity details change, where a document expires, where a payout provider requires it, or where activity on the account warrants it.
Payouts may be paused until re-verification is complete.
