ID Verify establishes an eBay member’s proof of identity, helping both buyers and sellers trust each other. In the ID Verify process, a third-party company (Equifax in the U.S.) works with eBay to confirm members’ identity by cross-checking their contact information using consumer and business databases.

Note: Becoming PayPal Verified requires a different process than becoming ID Verified. Becoming ID Verified offers eBay members additional benefits. You can be both PayPal Verified and ID Verified. However, one process does not replace the other.

The ID Verify icon is displayed in a user’s member profile and shows that they have successfully completed the ID Verification process.

Note: If you were required to fax additional information, it may take several days for your ID Verify icon to appear.

Advantages of becoming ID Verified

When you become ID Verified, you can:

• Provide proof of identity without putting your credit card on file.

• Become a seller

• Open an eBay Store

• List with Buy It Now or the Best Offer option

• List using the Multiple Item or Fixed Price format

• Buy items priced over $15,000 with Buy It Now

• Bid above $15,000

• Bid on eBay Live Auctions

• Access and sell on eBay's Mature Audiences category

Requirements, limitations and fees

For ID Verify you must:

• Be a resident of the United States or U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and Guam).

• Provide your home address, not your company’s address.

• Pay a $5.00 application fee.

  • When you have successfully passed the ID Verify process, the fee is charged to your eBay account. This is a one-time charge.

  • If you do not complete the process or if you do not successfully pass the ID Verify process, you are not charged.

• Enter information such as your name and date of birth. You will also need to identify certain installment and credit accounts, and their associated monthly payments. The ID Verification process is not a credit check, the credit information is for identification purposes. Your personal information is cross-checked against consumer and business databases for consistency. When your information is successfully verified, you will receive an ID Verify icon in your member profile.

• Wait 30 days after you become ID Verified to change your contact information. After the 30-day period, you can change your contact information. However, your ID Verify icon and status will be removed. To restore your ID Verify status you need to complete the verification process again, including the payment of the $5.00 application fee.
  Note: Changing your user ID will not require your account to be re-verified and will not incur an additional charge.

If you do not pass - Verify the information you entered is correct. The information may not have matched due to a clerical error. Not passing ID Verify will not affect your credit rating and you will not be charged the $5.00 application fee.

Why ID Verify is safe

• Your privacy is important. The information you provide eBay and Equifax is used for verification purposes only. The ID Verify process is not a credit check and has no effect on your credit rating.

• The transfer of your information is protected by a secure 128-bit encrypted SSL connection.

• eBay stores only your contact information and date of birth. eBay does not store the information you provide during the ID Verify process such as driver's license numbers.

• Equifax does not update the information that you provide through eBay, but only compares it against existing information in their files to verify your identity.

• Equifax cannot add information into their database that recognizes you as an eBay member or that you went through the ID Verify process (except for auditing purposes, as required by law). Also, they cannot make any notation in their database that the information provided was confirmed (or not) with the information in their databases.

• Though the ID Verify process is not a credit check, you are asked questions involving your credit information. Only you should know the answers to questions about your credit. Therefore, asking credit questions is a security measure that protects you from someone else attempting to get verified with your information.

Differences in the ID Verify programs

• Not all countries have the same ID Verify programs. Though the same icon is used, the ID Verify Program for eBay.com differs from the program offered on eBay Germany.

• The U.S. program verifies the identity of a member through Equifax, while the German program verifies members through Deutsche Post, which is only available to German residents.

• Equifax cross-checks the user data with an existing database while Deutsche Post checks the ID, transmits the personal data to a form and sends this form with the member's signature to eBay.

• Identity Policies Overview

If you're looking for more help or have a question to ask, please contact us.