Terms of service

1. Who we are

KIV ("we", "us") operates a peer-to-peer marketplace where members ("you") can list, buy, and sell secondhand items. By creating an account or using KIV, you agree to these terms.

KIV is operated by Amandeep Kaur, trading as KIV, registered address 96 Jameson Street, WV6 0NS. You can contact us at supportkivapp.uk@gmail.com.

2. What KIV is (and isn't)

KIV is a venue that connects buyers and sellers — we are not a party to the sale itself. The contract for each item is between the buyer and the seller. We don't own, inspect, or guarantee the condition, authenticity, safety, or legality of any listed item beyond the automated checks described below.

Payment for orders is collected by KIV through Stripe and paid out to sellers separately once an order is confirmed complete. This doesn't make KIV the seller of the item — it's a payment-processing convenience, not a change of ownership.

This payment arrangement is not a legal escrow service. We hold funds temporarily as part of running the marketplace, in the manner described in section 7, but KIV is not a licensed escrow provider and doesn't offer the legal protections of one.

3. Account eligibility

You must be 18 or older to use KIV. You must provide accurate information, use your own account, and keep your login credentials secure — you're responsible for all activity under your account.

4. Private and business sellers

KIV is built for individuals selling their own secondhand belongings (private sellers). Private sellers aren't automatically subject to the same statutory cancellation and distance-selling rules that apply to registered businesses, but must still describe items honestly and accurately.

If you're selling as a business — regularly, for profit, or as part of a trade or profession, rather than clearing out your own belongings — you must identify this clearly to buyers (for example, in your listing or profile description) and comply with the consumer-protection laws that apply to business sellers, including providing accurate information about statutory cancellation rights where they apply. You must not falsely present a business sale as a private one.

KIV may ask you for more information if we reasonably believe your account is operating as a business seller.

5. Listing rules

Listings must be accurate: describe the item's real condition, disclose known defects or damage, and use photos of the actual item you're selling.

Prohibited items include (but aren't limited to): weapons and ammunition, illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, stolen goods, counterfeit or replica branded goods, recalled or unsafe products, and anything else illegal to sell in the UK. Listings are automatically screened before publishing, but passing that screen doesn't guarantee an item is permitted — we can remove any listing that breaks these rules.

You're responsible for any tax, customs, or regulatory obligations that apply to items you sell, and for ensuring you actually own or have the legal right to sell each item you list.

By uploading photos, descriptions, or other content to a listing, you grant KIV a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use that content to operate, display, and promote the marketplace. You confirm you have the right to upload it.

6. Buying and payment

The total price shown at checkout (item price, shipping, and Buyer Protection fee) is what you'll be charged — we won't add mandatory charges after you've agreed to pay. When you buy an item, you authorise KIV to charge your payment method (via Stripe) for that total.

Accepted offers are binding: once a seller accepts your offer, you're agreeing to complete the purchase at that price.

7. Delayed payouts and Buyer Protection

Funds you pay are held by KIV until the order is confirmed complete, then paid out to the seller less applicable fees. Confirmation happens either when you confirm receipt, or automatically 2 days after the carrier reports the item delivered, whichever comes first — so report a problem before that window closes if you want to stop an automatic release.

Buyer Protection is intended to help where an item never arrives, is materially different from its description, arrives damaged in a way not disclosed in the listing, or turns out to be counterfeit. It doesn't cover simply changing your mind about a private-seller purchase, minor wear consistent with the listed condition, or damage you caused.

We may delay, withhold, or reverse a payout where reasonably necessary to investigate a reported problem, suspected fraud, or a payment dispute, or to comply with a legal obligation — we won't do this to strip away a buyer's or seller's legal rights.

Where a legal right to cancel applies (see section 4), that right isn't removed by Buyer Protection or by anything in these terms.

8. Reporting a problem and disputes

If something's wrong with an order, contact the seller first through KIV messaging to try to resolve it directly. If you can't reach a resolution, contact us at supportkivapp.uk@gmail.com with your order details, photos, and a description of the issue.

We'll review the case and may request more information from either party, ask you to return the item, or withhold/refund payment at our discretion while we investigate. We don't guarantee a refund in every case — KIV facilitates disputes, it doesn't insure every transaction.

Please don't dispose of, alter, or damage an item that's the subject of an open dispute.

9. Selling and payouts

As a seller, you confirm you have the legal right to sell each item you list, and that it's safe and complies with applicable product-safety laws. You're responsible for shipping items promptly and accurately once an order is placed, and for cooperating with us if a safety or authenticity concern is raised about something you've listed.

You're responsible for your own tax obligations relating to your sales. If your sales pass certain thresholds, UK law requires us to collect information from you — including your name, address, date of birth, and National Insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference — and report your sales activity to HMRC annually. We'll only ever ask for this by email, never over KIV's messaging system.

10. Chargebacks and payment disputes

A chargeback is a payment dispute raised through your bank or card provider rather than through KIV. If a chargeback happens, we may share relevant order information with Stripe to contest or resolve it, delay or reverse a payout connected to that order, and ask you for information. This doesn't affect your right to raise a genuine payment dispute with your bank.

11. Reviews and ratings

Reviews and ratings must reflect a genuine transaction experience. You must not post fake reviews, review your own listings, offer or accept payment for a review, or use reviews to harass another user. We can remove reviews that break these rules.

12. AI features

The AI item scanner, AI-powered search, and automated listing checks are provided as a convenience and a safety screen — their output (category, condition, price estimates, moderation decisions) can be wrong, and you're responsible for reviewing and correcting listing details before publishing. Don't rely solely on an AI-generated description or price estimate when deciding whether to buy something.

13. Suspension and termination

We can suspend or remove any listing, or suspend or terminate any account, that we reasonably believe breaks these terms, breaks the law, or puts other members at risk. Where practical, we'll tell you why.

You can stop using KIV and request account deletion at any time.

14. Liability

KIV is provided "as is". To the extent permitted by law, we're not liable for losses arising from transactions between members, from inaccurate listings, or from service interruptions. Nothing in these terms limits liability that can't legally be limited (for example, for fraud or death or personal injury caused by our negligence).

15. Changes to these terms

If we make material changes to these terms, we'll let you know before they take effect. Continuing to use KIV after a change means you accept the updated terms.

16. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

17. Contact

Questions about these terms, or complaints, can be sent to supportkivapp.uk@gmail.com.