Community Guidelines
Last updated: June 2025
HSC exists to connect buyers and sellers in a trusted, respectful marketplace. These guidelines set out what we expect from everyone on the platform. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or a permanent ban.
1. Be Honest
The single most important rule on HSC is honesty. Buyers and sellers are trusting each other with their time and money.
- Describe items, services, and properties accurately. Do not use misleading photos, hide defects, or misrepresent what you're selling.
- Do not use fake reviews or incentivise positive reviews.
- Do not impersonate other sellers, businesses, or public figures.
- Do not create multiple accounts to evade a ban or artificially inflate your ratings.
2. Treat Everyone With Respect
HSC is for everyone. Harassment, discrimination, and hate have no place here.
- Do not send abusive, threatening, or harassing messages to other users.
- Do not discriminate against buyers or sellers based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
- Do not leave retaliatory or defamatory reviews.
- Constructive criticism in reviews is fine. Targeted personal attacks are not.
3. Prohibited Items
The following items and services are never permitted on HSC, regardless of legality in your jurisdiction:
Weapons and dangerous goods
- Firearms, ammunition, and firearm components (including 3D-printed parts)
- Knives where sale or possession is restricted under UK law
- Explosives, flammable materials beyond household use
- Weapons of any kind intended for harm
Illegal goods and services
- Controlled drugs or substances
- Prescription medication without valid authorisation
- Stolen goods (knowingly or suspected)
- Goods infringing copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
- Counterfeit or replica goods presented as genuine
- Hacking services, malware, spyware, or stolen credentials
Financial and identity fraud
- Fake IDs, passports, or official documents
- Bank accounts, credit card details, or financial instruments
- Money laundering or moving of proceeds of crime
- Investment schemes, Ponzi schemes, or fraudulent financial products
Adult and harmful content
- Any content involving the sexual exploitation of minors — zero tolerance, reported to law enforcement immediately
- Adult content (HSC is not an adult platform)
- Content that promotes, glorifies, or facilitates self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide
Animals and wildlife
- Sale of live animals (other than through registered licensed breeders — see vertical rules)
- Endangered species, their parts, or products made from them
- Ivory, rhino horn, or CITES-restricted wildlife products
4. Vertical-Specific Rules
Shop
Items must be legally available for sale in the UK. Electrical goods must carry appropriate safety certifications (CE, UKCA). Food and supplements must comply with UK food safety regulations.
Motors
Vehicles must be road-legal or clearly marked as non-runner/SORN. Outstanding finance must be declared. Write-off categories (Cat A–D) must be disclosed. Clocking (odometer tampering) is a criminal offence and will result in a permanent ban and referral to Trading Standards.
Property
All property listings must be genuine. Deposit fraud (collecting deposits for properties you don't own or have no right to let) is a criminal offence. Rental listings must comply with the Tenant Fees Act 2019 — no prohibited fees (holding deposits are limited to 1 week's rent).
Jobs
Job listings must represent genuine roles. Listings designed to collect CVs or personal data without genuine hiring intent will be removed. All roles must comply with UK employment law, including minimum wage requirements. Job ads must not discriminate on protected characteristics.
Services
Services requiring professional licences or qualifications (gas safe engineers, electricians, solicitors, financial advisors, etc.) must include evidence of qualification. Misrepresenting qualifications is a serious offence and will result in immediate removal.
Digital
All digital goods must be original work or properly licensed for resale. NFTs, cryptocurrency, and financial instruments are not permitted. Software must not contain malware, spyware, or hidden data collection.
Events
Events must be genuine. Event organisers must deliver the event as described. Ticket touting (reselling at inflated prices) for regulated events (Live Nation/Ticketmaster) is restricted. Events promoting illegal activity are banned.
5. Spam and Manipulation
- Do not create duplicate or near-identical listings to game search results.
- Do not post the same listing in multiple categories where only one applies.
- Do not artificially inflate views or messages using bots or scripts.
- Do not use HSC's messaging system for unsolicited marketing.
6. Consequences of Violations
Violations of these guidelines may result in:
| Severity | Action |
|---|---|
| Minor (first offence) | Warning and listing removal |
| Moderate / repeated | Temporary account suspension (3–30 days) |
| Serious / fraud | Permanent ban, wallet frozen, referral to authorities |
| CSAM / serious crime | Immediate permanent ban, mandatory report to police and IWF |
You can appeal a suspension by contacting appeals@hscmarket.com. We aim to review appeals within 5 business days.
7. Reporting
If you see a listing or user that violates these guidelines, use the "Report" button on the listing or profile page. Reports are reviewed by our moderation team. We take every report seriously, though we may not be able to share the outcome of individual reports.
For urgent safety concerns, contact safety@hscmarket.com.