Vinted Pro Sellers Face Legal Battles Over Frozen Funds
Professional sellers are taking legal action after verification failures lock thousands in Vinted wallets.
1Professional Sellers Face Lockouts
Mali Osmelak, a professional seller on Vinted, initiated legal action to recover nearly £6,000 trapped in her account. After upgrading to a Vinted Pro account in 2024, she encountered persistent verification failures. Despite providing required business documentation, she remained trapped in a cycle of automated responses, preventing her from accessing earned sales revenue.
2Systemic Verification Hurdles
Vinted mandates verification checks for professional sellers to comply with regulatory requirements. While the company claims 98% of transactions proceed smoothly, multiple users report identical issues. Sellers like Azri Mukthar claim their documents, including Companies House certificates, are repeatedly rejected by the platform’s automated systems without providing clear instructions for resolution.
3Legal Escalation and Judgments
After eight weeks of blocked access, Osmelak filed a small claims court case against Vinted and its payment processor, Mangopay. Following the filing, her account was verified within three days. She pursued a default judgment for court fees and interest, resulting in a £1,207.50 order, which the companies are now seeking to set aside.
4Payment Processor Involvement
Mangopay previously managed Vinted sellers' wallets and processed transactions. When users faced withdrawal issues, they were often directed back to Vinted for support. Mangopay maintains that it is bound by professional secrecy and data protection obligations, preventing it from commenting on specific account disputes or legal matters involving its platform clients.
5Widespread User Frustration
The issue extends beyond individual cases, with dozens of users reporting similar difficulties accessing funds held in Vinted wallets. Azri Mukthar, who has been unable to withdraw £2,500 for over a year, claims his documentation was declined 15 times. Consequently, he has ceased selling on the platform and is now considering formal legal action.
6Vinted’s Official Stance
Vinted attributes these verification failures to discrepancies between user documents and account names. The company states it is actively working to assist affected sellers with updates. However, Vinted has declined to comment on the specific legal actions taken by Osmelak or the broader concerns regarding its automated support systems and account restriction policies.
7The Cost of Disputes
Taking legal action against a digital marketplace involves significant financial risk and administrative burden. Osmelak spent £455 in court fees to initiate her claim. Despite the stress and the ongoing legal battle, she remains committed to fighting the case, arguing that the platform's current verification system is fundamentally broken for professional business users.
8Future Implications for Sellers
This situation highlights the risks professional sellers face when relying on marketplace-integrated payment systems. As Vinted continues to grow its user base in the UK, the effectiveness of its support infrastructure remains under scrutiny. Sellers are now increasingly looking toward legal remedies when automated resolution processes fail to address their financial access issues.
Original article: BBC News — Vinted Pro Sellers Face Legal Battles Over Frozen Funds