It is possible to select the wrong advert type or category. If you have accidentally published a paid advert with the wrong advert type or in the wrong category, the amount paid will not be lost: it will automatically be credited to your user account. You can then republish the advert with the correct selection and pay for it again.
This allows you to correct the mistake easily and place your offer where the right people are likely to look for it.
In which circumstances does the automatic credit apply?
The automatic credit described here applies to a paid advert that was accidentally assigned to the wrong advert type or category. Examples of advert types include ‘Marketplace’, ‘Services’, ‘Events’, ‘Lost’ and ‘Found’. Within a type, the category classifies your offer more precisely.
Correct categorisation is important because users only search within the currently selected advert type on the relevant search page. A ‘Marketplace’ advert will therefore not be found when searching within the ‘Services’ type.
How to correct this
Follow these steps to republish your advert correctly:
- First, check which advert type is actually right for your offer.
- Then select the most appropriate category within that advert type.
- Check the title, location, price or reward, and the other details.
- Then republish and pay for the advert again with the corrected selection.
Before making the payment again, take a moment to preview the advert. This will help you avoid making the same categorisation error a second time.
Credit to your user account and a refund to an external payment method
A credit to your user account is not automatically the same as a payout or refund to the payment method originally used. In the case described here, the amount is credited to your suchen.expert user account so that you can pay to publish the advert again with the correct advert type and category.
This rule does not provide a general assurance that every paid service, or any promotion already used, will be refunded to a bank account, card or other payment method. If your case is different, please have it reviewed individually before assuming that a refund will be issued.
Find the right classification more quickly
Ask yourself what a prospective customer on the platform would select first. If you are selling an item, ‘Marketplace’ is usually the right choice. If you are offering a service, ‘Services’ is generally the correct advert type. A scheduled event for visitors falls under ‘Events’. For lost or found items, select the appropriate type.
Then select the category that describes the content as precisely as possible. Clear categorisation not only helps with this correction but also improves the chance that your advert will appear in a relevant search.
Check briefly before republishing
To ensure the corrected advert is effective, the most important details should be immediately clear:
- The title describes exactly what the advert is about.
- The first photo shows the offer clearly and is up to date.
- The price or reward matches the details in the text.
- The location, date and handover or service conditions are correct.
- The description answers the typical questions a prospective customer may have.
After publication, you will find your offer under My Adverts. Check its status and public appearance there once more.
If the credit is not visible
First, reload the page and make sure that you are logged in with the same user account used to publish the paid advert. Have the advert ID, payment date and a brief description of the incorrect categorisation ready.
If the credit still cannot be identified, contact Support using the contact form. Do not send passwords or complete payment details. The information listed is generally sufficient to identify the case initially.
Please clarify other refund enquiries on a case-by-case basis
If the issue does not concern an incorrect advert type or category, the situation may need to be assessed differently. This applies, for example, to enquiries about promotion service packages, promotion periods that have already elapsed, or a deactivated advert. In the case of an active promotion, it is particularly important to note that its duration continues even if the advert is deactivated.
Read the guide to promotion services when an advert is deactivated, or describe the exact sequence of events to Support. This will help you receive an answer that truly fits your booking.
Start again with the correct selection
In the incorrect-classification case described, the automatic account credit allows you to republish your advert correctly. Choose the type and category carefully, check the preview and make sure that the content and classification match. This gives your offer the chance to reach the right users from the outset.
