Key facts
- Mali Osmelak says she generated almost £6,000 in Vinted sales before her account was restricted over verification.
- Osmelak obtained a default judgment of £1,207.50 in June after neither Vinted nor Mangopay responded to her claim.
- Vinted said Osmelak's check failed because her documents did not match the name on her account.
- Mangopay said it is bound by professional secrecy and data protection obligations and cannot comment on individual cases.
- Azri Mukthar says a Companies House certificate requested by Vinted was declined 15 times.
- Vinted said Mukthar's check could not be completed because he did not provide all required documents.
Mali Osmelak began selling second-hand gymwear on Vinted in 2024 and set up a limited company as demand grew. In March she signed up for a Vinted Pro account, designed for business sellers handling high volumes, and generated almost £6,000 in sales within weeks. When she tried to withdraw the money, she found her account restricted and was told she needed to complete a verification process.
Osmelak says she flagged an error Vinted had made with her name, but the verification kept failing and she was stuck in a cycle of automated responses. She also contacted Mangopay, the payments company that at the time operated Vinted sellers' wallets and processed transactions on the platform, and was directed back to Vinted.
After eight weeks without access to the money, Osmelak took both companies to the small claims court, spending £455 in court fees. Three days after the claim was filed, she says the account was verified and she could withdraw the funds. She pressed ahead with the case to recover her fees, costs and interest, and in June obtained a default judgment after neither company responded, with the court ordering them to pay £1,207.50. She says she has not received the money, and has been informed that Vinted and Mangopay have applied to have the judgment set aside, with a hearing scheduled for December.
Vinted said Osmelak's check was not successful because her documents did not match the name on her Vinted account, and that it has since helped her update it and her account is now verified. The company did not respond to the BBC's questions about the legal action. Mangopay said it is bound to professional secrecy and data protection obligations and cannot comment on individual cases or share details about specific accounts, transactions or legal matters.
Sportswear seller Azri Mukthar told the BBC he has been trying to withdraw almost £2,500 for over a year. He says he submitted the documentation Vinted requested and was approved as a Pro seller, but when he tried to withdraw his earnings he was told his verification was pending. He says a Companies House certificate Vinted requested was declined 15 times, and he has now stopped selling on the platform and intends to start legal action. Vinted said Mukthar's check could not be completed because he did not provide all the required documents, and that its support team is in touch with him.
Vinted says sellers may be asked to complete verification checks to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and that 98% of transactions are completed smoothly without help from its support team. The marketplace has 17 million users in the UK and does not charge sellers a fee for listing.