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Amazon Killed My Business Over a “Related Account” Flag – Even After Legal Affidavit! What Now?
Hello Amazon Seller Community,
I am looking for guidance regarding my seller account suspension due to a related account violation. Despite submitting multiple appeals, clarifications, and a notarized affidavit, my account remains deactivated, and Amazon continues to reject my appeals with generic responses.
Case Details:
Store Name: Pike Sellers
Suspension Date: June 15, 2023
Amazon flagged my account as related to another seller (my uncle, Mr. Manoj), due to a previously shared business address . Despite these similarities, our businesses have always been independent, with separate:
- Suppliers
- Finances
- Inventory
- Business operations
Clear Differences Between Our Businesses:
My business and my uncle’s business are entirely separate, operating under different LLCs, brand registries, and product lines. My company has its own legally registered LLC, distinct from his, with no financial or operational overlap. Additionally, my brand registry is completely separate, and the products I sell are entirely different from what my uncle offers. Our business models, suppliers, and market approaches are unique, and there is no direct or indirect connection between our operations beyond a past address association. Amazon’s automated system has incorrectly linked us based on surface-level similarities, rather than actual business relationships.
Actions Taken:
To address Amazon’s concerns, I have removed all potentially common information from my account, ensuring no links remain between my business and any other seller. I submitted detailed appeals explaining my business’s independence, along with a notarized affidavit confirming that my account is entirely separate. Additionally, I updated my business address to remove any past association, discontinued the use of any shared service providers, and made sure that my account is accessed only from secure, dedicated devices and networks. Despite these efforts, my appeals continue to be rejected without a clear reason.
I appreciate any advice or insights from sellers who have faced and overcome similar challenges. I need guidance on the next best steps.
Looking forward to your support and suggestions.
Thank you.
0 replies
Seller_rI7BZIczK8iAC
Amazon will not accept any explanations, affidavits or whatever.
"Related accounts" itself is no problem. To be "related" it's enough to use the same wifi. The problem arises when ONE of both accounts get suspended. So, your ONLY possibility is to fix and reactivate the other account.
Seller_jGYvvDih7umzg
I've heard of seller accounts being flagged because they've been using the same IP address as another seller. Were you guys using the same internet provider?
Atlas_Amazon
Hello @Seller_ngqjiP5a83DDf
Thank you for the information provided regarding the recent issues you have encountered with your account. I understand our team has found an association between your account and your uncles account. I know this situation may be difficult to navigate, so I do want to get you additional support on how to proceed.
If there was shared details between the two accounts, then you would be considered as having been associated. While removing the information shared is a step that can be taken, it will not be enough on its own to resolve the situation. You would need to compile an explanation that includes details on when you and the other account first became associated to one another, this should be submitted alongside a timeline of when you were associated and when it would have ended.
Please be aware that if you were still associated to one another at the time of the issue occurring, you may be unable to resolve the issue with an appeal as our team may require the original account resolving its restrictions for you to move forward. Once you can confirm the resolution on the original account, you should have the option to submit an appeal on your account to have it reviewed.
If your uncle is unable to resolve their issues and you are unable to provide a sufficient explanation, I will not be able to guarantee a resolution. I encourage you to continue to refer to this thread if you do have any additional information that you would like to share on this situation.
Best,
Atlas
Seller_4mAoRBZwZ3kPi
@Seller_ngqjiP5a83DDf hey man.
I totally understand your concern. Please listen to me carefully, this may save your account, I have been there.
Even if you state that you and your uncle are two separate businesses, sharing the same business address even only for minutes makes you technically partners. (I am not saying that you are partners, but you are being considered by Amazon as partners).
So follow this path, file a partnership agreement and a partnership termination agreement documents. Make sure that the partnership start document shows a date when you guys were sharing the same address, and the termination letter shows a date when you broke this address connection. Notarize these documents (will only cost you around 20-40 bucks).
Try to find financial transfer receipt between you and your uncle (or your business and uncle's business), between the days when you guys were using the same address. I'm not talking about a specific transfer, it can be any kind of money transfer between these 2 banks. For example, even if you sent your uncle a dinner money between these dates, that is acceptable. We are just trying to prove the financial connection between you guys, so it can be anything, even if it looks like stupid.
Remember, agreements and a money transfer receipt, these are the only things you need. You will choose the option of ''the other account belongs to my ex business partner'' or something, I do not remember what exactly it was. Remember, even if you guys are not partners in real life, you are considered as partners in Amazon world just because of this, so act like it rather than complaining about it.
Before you submit these documents, check every but every single page and button on your and your uncle's Amazon account for similarities. If you find any single same information, it could be anything, address, phone number, wifi, mac address, shipping or return address, emails or passwords, change them immediately and modify your agreements' dates accordingly.
Remember, even if you bring the most powerful attorney, it won't fix your issue. This is your only solution.
While doing these, communicate with your uncle about what his problem is. Support him to fix his issue, because if he fixes, you will be automatically reinstated. Then close this account and open another one to get rid of this connection. Otherwise your connection will stay there forever.
Go step by step, take a deep breath, try to understand my explanations. Go slow but steady.
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