Terms of Use

These Terms of Use (hereinafter: "Terms") set out the legally binding conditions under which the classifieds services (hereinafter: "Service") provided through the website Goads.co.uk (hereinafter: "Website", "we", or "us") are made available to you (hereinafter: "User" or "you").

I. General Provisions, Eligibility & Amendments

By accessing, browsing, or registering on the Website, you agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and our Cookie Policy. The Services are strictly available only to individuals who are at least 18 years of age and hold full legal capacity, or to legally registered business entities.

Amendments: We reserve the right to amend these Terms at any time to reflect changes in UK law or our business operations. Significant changes will be communicated via a prominent notice on the Website. Your continued use of the Service following such notification constitutes your acceptance of the amended Terms.

II. Our Role, Consumer Protection & Business Sellers

Platform-Only Role: Goads.co.uk acts exclusively as an online venue to connect buyers and sellers. We are not a party to any transaction, nor do we offer escrow services, shipping, or transaction guarantees.

Trader vs. Private Seller: Under UK consumer law, business sellers ("Traders") must clearly identify themselves as such in their listings. If you are a consumer purchasing from a Trader, you are protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. However, consumer-to-consumer (C2C) transactions are subject to the principle of "Caveat Emptor" (Buyer Beware), and statutory consumer rights (like the right to return) do not automatically apply.

III. Online Safety Act, Moderation & Complaints

In strict compliance with the UK Online Safety Act 2023, we operate mechanisms to keep our platform free from illegal content, grooming, and scams.

• Moderation: We employ a combination of automated (AI) moderation tools and manual human review to detect and prevent policy violations. Our automated systems are designed to detect suspicious or prohibited activity to maintain platform safety.
• Reporting & Response Time: Users can report suspicious accounts or illegal content using the "Report Ad" button. We will review and act upon critical safety reports within 48 hours.
• Appeals & Escalation: If your content is removed or your account restricted, you may appeal the decision via our support interface. If you remain dissatisfied with how a safety complaint was handled, UK residents may escalate the matter to Ofcom.

IV. Anti-Scam & Fraud Prevention

For your safety, we strongly advise you to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Never send money upfront before inspecting an item in person.
• Be extremely cautious of users attempting to move communication off-platform (e.g., to WhatsApp, Telegram, or private email). Communicating outside Goads.co.uk removes our ability to investigate disputes.
• To the maximum extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for financial losses resulting from scams. Suspected fraud may be reported to Action Fraud and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

V. Intellectual Property, User Content & Takedowns

Our Intellectual Property: All original content, logos, branding, design, and software on Goads.co.uk are the exclusive property of the Website operators and are protected by UK and international copyright laws. Data scraping, automated crawling, or unauthorized commercial use of our database is strictly prohibited.

User Content License: You retain ownership of the content you upload. By posting, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, and transferable license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content across our Website and marketing channels.

Notice and Takedown (IP Infringement): If you believe that any content on our Website infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with a formal notice via our support email. Your notice must include sufficient details to identify the infringing content (e.g., specific URL links) and verifiable proof of your ownership of the rights. We will investigate and remove validly infringing content expeditiously.

VI. Prohibited Items

You must not list items that violate UK laws. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Weapons, firearms, and prohibited bladed articles (e.g., zombie knives, flick knives) under the Offensive Weapons Act;
• Illegal drugs, prescription medicines, and drug paraphernalia;
• Counterfeit goods or items infringing on intellectual property rights;
• Stolen property, hazardous materials, human remains, or protected animal species;
• Unregulated financial schemes, gambling, or adult/sexual services.

VII. Fees, Payments & Refunds

While basic use of the Service may be free, we may charge fees for premium features. All fees are clearly stated at checkout and include UK VAT where applicable.

Refund Policy: If your advertisement is removed or your account is suspended due to a violation of these Terms, you will not be entitled to a refund for any paid services, except where explicitly required by UK law.

VIII. Account Suspension & Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or permanently ban your account without prior notice for repeated violations of these Terms, suspicious/fraudulent activity, or non-payment of fees. Upon termination, you lose access to the Service, and we may delete your active ads without notice.

IX. No Warranty & Limitation of Liability

"As Is" Basis: The Service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the availability, accuracy, reliability, or security of the Website. We do not guarantee that the Website will be bug-free or uninterrupted.

To the maximum extent permitted by English law, Goads.co.uk excludes all liability for indirect, consequential, or economic loss arising from your use of the platform. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless against any claims or legal fees resulting from your breach of these Terms. Nothing limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence.

X. Data Protection, Cookies & Retention

We process your personal data strictly in line with the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) regarding cookie usage.

Data Retention: If an account is deleted, we may retain certain transactional and behavioral data for up to 6 years to comply with UK legal and tax obligations, or to assist law enforcement. For full details on how we handle your data and use cookies, please see our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

XI. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Both parties agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. Consumers may also seek assistance from Citizens Advice or report issues to Trading Standards.