Venmo/Zelle Payment Dispute — Etsy holding funds for 45 days

I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.

Etsy holding funds for 45 days. I've been dealing with this for about 6 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

The amount being held/disputed is approximately $35,325. I have tried contacting their legal department 6 times with no resolution.

Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?

I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

Pro tip: always escalate. The frontline people can't do anything/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.