Why is eBay holding my money?

Why is eBay holding my money after the buyer has paid?

Payment and payout are two steps. eBay’s getting-paid page says you can post once the buyer’s payment is confirmed. The money in your balance follows a later clock.

From 6 August 2025, a private seller with a strong sales history is typically paid within 24 hours of the buyer’s payment. If you do not meet that test, funds typically become available 2 days after delivery. A hold makes either wait longer.

Open the order in eBay. The date on that order beats a general rule.

eBay’s getting-paid help page says that from 6 August 2025, private sellers with a strong sales history receive funds typically within 24 hours of the buyer’s payment. Otherwise, funds typically become available in the eBay balance 2 days after delivery. A hold can make either wait longer. For local collection, funds are available within 24 hours after you enter the buyer’s 6-digit code, or after the buyer scans the QR code. Source

What is the 24-hour test?

eBay lists two conditions.

You need at least 10 completed sales, totalling £150 or more, in the last 5 years. A sale with a refund, return, chargeback, cancellation or case is not counted. For Simple Delivery, only the item price goes into the £150.

You also need no more than 2 open requests, cases or transaction defects in the last 12 months. eBay counts a defect if you cancelled because the item was out of stock or sold elsewhere, or if eBay found you responsible in a case.

If you miss either line, ignore the 24-hour sentence. You are on the delivery clock.

eBay’s getting-paid help page says the faster timing needs at least 10 completed sales with a combined total of £150 or more in the last 5 years, counting only sales with no refund, return, chargeback, cancellation or case. It also needs no more than 2 open requests, cases or transaction defects in the last 12 months. For Simple Delivery, only the item price is included in the £150. The page also says some orders with a subtotal of £750 or less, excluding postage, fees and taxes, can be available straight away if the buyer leaves positive feedback after delivery confirmation, and that untracked orders, or tracked orders with no delivery confirmation, are available 14 calendar days from the order date. Source

What changes the date besides the sales test?

Local collection is its own rule on this page: within 24 hours after you enter the buyer’s 6-digit code, or after the buyer scans the QR code. The collection help page says “usually within 48 hours”. Both sentences are on eBay. Use your order.

Some orders with a subtotal of £750 or less, excluding postage, fees and taxes, can be released straight away if the buyer leaves positive feedback after delivery confirmation. Untracked orders, or tracked orders with no delivery confirmation, are available 14 calendar days from the order date. Orders of £10 or less, on the same exclusions, can also release on positive feedback.

None of those shortcuts apply while a hold is in place.

eBay’s getting-paid help page says the faster timing needs at least 10 completed sales with a combined total of £150 or more in the last 5 years, counting only sales with no refund, return, chargeback, cancellation or case. It also needs no more than 2 open requests, cases or transaction defects in the last 12 months. For Simple Delivery, only the item price is included in the £150. The page also says some orders with a subtotal of £750 or less, excluding postage, fees and taxes, can be available straight away if the buyer leaves positive feedback after delivery confirmation, and that untracked orders, or tracked orders with no delivery confirmation, are available 14 calendar days from the order date. Source

eBay’s getting-paid help page says local-collection funds are available within 24 hours after you enter the 6-digit confirmation code the buyer received by email, or after the buyer scans the QR code. Source

eBay’s collection help page says that after you confirm the buyer’s code, the order status becomes Collected and your funds will usually be available within 48 hours. Source

Why else does eBay put funds on hold?

eBay’s hold page lists an open case or dispute, a buyer who reports a problem, a restricted or suspended account, money you owe eBay, and a new or infrequent business seller.

A payout hold can also be a mismatch in your registration details, a compliance check, unusual activity (more claims, a sudden change in selling, late deliveries, or negative feedback), or a payment method eBay cannot charge.

You can still buy a postage label with pending or on-hold funds. If the account is restricted, eBay says it will notify you and may ask for more information. That path is the restricted-account guide, not this payout clock.

eBay’s payments-on-hold page says it may hold funds if there is an open case or dispute, the buyer reports a problem, the account is restricted or suspended, you owe eBay money, or you are a new or infrequent business seller. Payout holds include a registration discrepancy, a compliance hold, unusual selling activity such as more claims, a sudden change, late deliveries or negative feedback, and a payment method eBay cannot charge. It says you can use pending or on-hold funds to buy postage labels. If the account is restricted, eBay says it will notify you and may ask for more information. Source

What is different about a payout on SilentSale®?

Read the pending line on the eBay order before you chase a bank payment. A bank can add its own delay after eBay sends the money.

On SilentSale®, Stripe processes the payment and holds the funds until the order is complete. Buyer and seller each contribute £0.30 + 3% of the item price to SilentCover® (£0.60 each on a £10 item), a discretionary protection service. On tracked Shipping you have 72 hours after delivery to report an issue. That is still a wait, and it is a stated one. This page does not say one payout is safer.

Read selling fees compared, how you get paid and SilentSale® and eBay. A locked account is covered in eBay account restricted. A missing parcel is covered in item not received.

Stripe processes payments and holds funds until the order completes.

For Shipping, report problems within 72 hours after confirmed delivery, or the collection scan for a locker or parcel-shop order. Confirming receipt closes the window early, so inspect first.