RATCH COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Last updated: 20 May 2026 Ratch (“Ratch”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is a marketplace community built around independent sellers, buyers, creators, and small businesses. These Community Guidelines explain the standards of behaviour expected from all users of the Ratch platform (“Platform”). By using Ratch, you agree to follow these Guidelines, our Terms of Use, Seller Agreement, and all other applicable policies. Failure to comply may result in:

• content removal;
• account restrictions;
• suspension;
• permanent account termination;
• reporting to relevant authorities where appropriate.

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1. RESPECTFUL CONDUCT

Users must treat others respectfully and professionally. The following behaviour is prohibited:

• harassment;
• bullying;
• abusive language;
• discriminatory conduct;
• hate speech;
• threats;
• intimidation;
• stalking;
• targeted harassment.

Ratch does not tolerate behaviour that creates an unsafe or hostile environment.

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2. HONESTY AND AUTHENTICITY

Users must act honestly when using the Platform. You must not:

• impersonate another person or business;
• misrepresent products or services;
• use fake identities;
• create misleading listings;
• manipulate marketplace systems.

Seller profiles, product descriptions, and communications must be accurate and truthful.

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3. HANDMADE, ORIGINAL, AND CREATIVE PRODUCTS

Where products are described as:

• handmade;
• handcrafted;
• custom-made;
• original;
• vintage, those descriptions must be genuine and accurate.

Mass-produced products falsely marketed as handmade or original may be removed.

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4. PROHIBITED CONTENT

Users must not upload, post, distribute, or promote content that:

• is unlawful;
• infringes intellectual property rights;
• contains malware or harmful code;
• promotes violence or illegal activity;
• contains explicit or exploitative material prohibited by law;
• contains deceptive or fraudulent information;
• invades privacy rights.

Ratch may remove content without notice where concerns arise.

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5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RESPECT

Users must respect the intellectual property rights of others. You must not:

• copy artwork without permission;
• use copyrighted images unlawfully;
• sell counterfeit goods;
• infringe trade marks;
• reproduce protected designs without authorisation.

Repeated infringement may result in permanent account termination.

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6. REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

Reviews and feedback should be:

• honest;
• relevant;
• based on genuine experiences.

Users must not:

• post fake reviews;
• manipulate ratings;
• offer incentives for positive reviews;
• abuse review systems;
• retaliate against reviews.

Ratch may remove reviews that violate these Guidelines.

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7. COMMUNICATIONS

Users must communicate respectfully through:

• marketplace messages;
• customer support channels;
• reviews;
• comments;
• seller interactions.

The following are prohibited:

• spam;
• abusive conduct;
• threats;
• unsolicited promotions;
• phishing attempts;
• fraudulent communications.

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8. PLATFORM ABUSE

Users must not misuse the Platform or interfere with its operation. Prohibited activities include:

• hacking;
• scraping;
• automated abuse;
• account farming;
• fraudulent transactions;
• bypassing security measures;
• manipulating search or rankings;
• creating multiple deceptive accounts.

Ratch may investigate suspicious activity and restrict access where necessary.

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9. SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE

Sellers must ensure products:

• comply with applicable laws;
• are safe for consumers;
• match listing descriptions;
• comply with marketplace policies.

Unsafe, illegal, or prohibited products may be removed immediately.

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10. PRIVACY AND PERSONAL DATA

Users must respect the privacy of others. Personal data obtained through the Platform may only be used for legitimate marketplace purposes. Users must not:

• misuse customer data;
• disclose private information;
• harvest email addresses;
• conduct unauthorised marketing.

Sellers are responsible for complying with applicable data protection laws.

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11. FRAUD AND DECEPTIVE CONDUCT

The following activities are strictly prohibited:

• scams;
• fraudulent chargebacks;
• payment fraud;
• counterfeit sales;
• false claims;
• misleading advertising;
• identity fraud.

Ratch may suspend accounts immediately where fraud is suspected.

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12. REPORTING VIOLATIONS

Users may report:

• abusive behaviour;
• prohibited listings;
• fraud;
• intellectual property infringement;
• policy violations through the reporting tools or support channels provided on the Platform.

Ratch may investigate reports and take action at its discretion.

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13. ENFORCEMENT

Ratch may take action including:

• warnings;
• content removal;
• listing restrictions;
• temporary suspensions;
• permanent account termination;
• reporting unlawful activity to authorities.

Ratch reserves sole discretion in enforcing these Guidelines.

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14. PLATFORM CULTURE

Ratch aims to support:

• creativity;
• independent sellers;
• fair trading;
• respectful collaboration;
• transparent marketplace practices.

Users are encouraged to contribute positively to the marketplace community.

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15. CHANGES TO THESE GUIDELINES

Ratch may update these Community Guidelines at any time. Updated versions will be published on the Platform with a revised “Last updated” date. Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of updated Guidelines.

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16. CONTACT

Ratch info@ratch.uk