1.1. Thank you for using ScoutSwap. ScoutSwap operates a website available via https://www.scoutswap.co.uk (the 'Website', 'Site') that facilitates users discovering, discussing, and trading Scouting badges ('patches'), neckers ('scarves', 'neckies'), and other Scouting memorabilia ('Scouting Items') ('ScoutSwap Service', 'Service').

1.2. The ScoutSwap Service is provided by ScoutSwap C.I.C., a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales under company number 16957029, with registered office at 61a Bridge Street, Kington, United Kingdom, HR5 3DJ ('ScoutSwap', 'we', 'our' or 'us').

1.3. Non-Affiliation and Trademark Disclaimer: ScoutSwap is an independent, volunteer-led community platform. ScoutSwap C.I.C. is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially associated with The Scout Association (UK), the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), Girlguiding, Boy Scouts of America (Scouting America), or any other national or international Scouting organization. All Scouting-related trademarks, logos, emblem designs, and names belong strictly to their respective owners.

1.4. Direct Swaps: A 'direct swap' is the exchange of Scouting Items directly between two users without payment of purchase prices or commercial profit, where both users agree to send their items within a reasonable timeframe. ScoutSwap operates solely as an introductory communication and swap verification platform. We are not an auctioneer, retailer, or party to any swap agreement between users. Each user is solely responsible for fulfilling their swap obligations.

2.1. ScoutSwap is a Community Interest Company run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. We rely on community donations, grants, and non-intrusive sponsorships or advertisements to maintain server infrastructure and develop the Service.

2.2. ScoutSwap maintainers can be contacted by email at: [email protected].

3.1. Your privacy and safeguarding are essential to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which details how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

3.2. Incorporated Policies: Your use of the Service is also governed by our Trading Rules and our Safeguarding Policy, each of which is incorporated by reference into these Terms. By agreeing to these Terms, you also agree to comply with all incorporated policies.

3.3. Order of Precedence: If there is any direct inconsistency between these Terms of Service and any other policy or guidance on the Site, these Terms of Service shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency, except where mandatory statutory safeguarding rules apply.

4.1. The ScoutSwap Service enables registered users to catalog their collections, browse Scouting Items, and arrange bilateral trades with other collectors and Scouts globally.

4.2. ScoutSwap does not take physical possession or custody of any Scouting Items, does not inspect or appraise items in person, and does not provide postal or delivery services. Physical trades and postal exchanges occur entirely between users.

4.3. When using any features of the Service, you must comply with these Terms, our Trading Rules, and our Rules of Acceptable Use.

You must be at least 13 years old to use ScoutSwap. Users aged 13 to 17 require parental or guardian consent and supervision. Keep your login details secure.

5.1. Registration: Certain features of the Service require you to register an account by choosing a username and password (your 'Account'). You must provide complete and accurate information, including a valid email address and your true date of birth.

5.2. Minors (Ages 13 to 17): You must be thirteen (13) years of age or older to register. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17, you confirm that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf. Parents and legal guardians permitting minors to use the Service are responsible for supervising the minor's activity, including safeguarding their personal information and supervising the sharing of postal addresses for trade fulfillment.

5.3. Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities that occur under your Account. If you suspect unauthorized use or a security breach, notify us immediately at [email protected].

5.4. Single Account Policy: You may only register and use a single personal Account. You must not create accounts using false identities or automated tools, nor transfer, sell, or rent your Account to any other party. Parents or legal guardians may assist or supervise accounts held by minors under their care.

You are granted a personal, non-commercial right to use ScoutSwap for hobby trading in accordance with our rules.

6.1. Intellectual Property in the Service: All software, design, logos, graphics, text, and materials comprising the ScoutSwap Service (excluding user-submitted listings) are owned by or licensed to ScoutSwap C.I.C. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service solely for personal, non-commercial trading in accordance with these Terms.

6.2. Restrictions: Unless expressly permitted by law or authorized in writing by ScoutSwap, you agree:

6.3. All copyright, database rights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights in the Service remain vested in ScoutSwap C.I.C. or our licensors.

All content you post must be accurate, belong to you, and respect others' privacy. Private trade photos and postal addresses are never used for marketing.

7.1. Public Content: For any badge photos, item descriptions, tags, and public text you post on the Service ('Public Content'), you retain ownership. You grant ScoutSwap a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, adapt, and distribute your Public Content solely for operating, maintaining, and promoting the Service. This license terminates within a reasonable operational period after you delete the content or your Account.

7.2. Private Media & Postal Information: Any photos of packaging, shipping labels, personal postal addresses, trade chat communications, or age-verification photos submitted during a trade or verification check ('Private Media') are strictly confidential. Private Media is processed solely for trade verification, fraud prevention, and youth safeguarding. ScoutSwap will NEVER use your Private Media, postal addresses, or private trade images for promotional or marketing purposes.

7.3. Third-Party Rights: You confirm that you hold all necessary rights and permissions for any photos or descriptions you upload, and that your content does not infringe the copyright, trademark, privacy, or intellectual property rights of any third party.

7.4. Content Moderation & Safety: To maintain youth safety and prevent fraud, ScoutSwap reserves the right (exercised via volunteer moderators and automated systems) to review listings, trade submissions, and reported messages. We may remove, edit, or reject any content that violates these Terms or our Safeguarding Policy, or take appropriate action in our discretion.

7.5. Nature of User Content: You acknowledge that content posted on the Service originates from third-party users. While we enforce strict community standards, ScoutSwap cannot guarantee the accuracy, quality, or authenticity of user listings. Your use of the Service and reliance on user listings is at your own risk.

When using ScoutSwap, you must respect our community rules. In particular, you must NEVER: (i) bypass security or age checks; (ii) use ScoutSwap for commercial sales or profit; (iii) fail to send agreed trade items ('scamming'); or (iv) post harmful, abusive, sexually explicit, or unlawful content.

8.1. These Rules of Acceptable Use apply to all users of the ScoutSwap Service.

8.2. Prohibited Conduct: You agree that you will NOT:

8.3. Sanctions: A breach of these Rules of Acceptable Use constitutes a serious breach of these Terms. We may immediately issue warnings, suspend or permanently terminate your Account, block IP addresses, remove listings, and, where appropriate, notify national Scouting bodies and law enforcement authorities.

The quickest way to report problematic listings or behavior is via the 'Report' buttons across the Website.

9.1. Infringement Notices: If you believe any content on the Service infringes your copyright, trademark, privacy, or other rights, or violates our Rules of Acceptable Use, you may submit an Infringement Notice to [email protected] containing: (i) your full name and contact details; (ii) identification of the protected work or right claimed to be infringed; (iii) a link or specific location of the infringing content; and (iv) a statement that you believe in good faith that the use is unauthorized and that your statements are true.

9.2. Action & Appeals: We review all notices promptly and will remove or restrict access to infringing material where appropriate. If your content or account was moderated or suspended in error, you may submit an appeal to [email protected] providing your reasons.

You can close your account at any time by contacting [email protected].

10.1. Voluntary Closure: If you no longer wish to use the Service or do not agree to updated Terms, you must cease using the Service. You may request permanent deletion of your Account and associated personal data by emailing [email protected].

10.2. Inactive Accounts & Data Retention: To comply with data minimization and UK GDPR principles, ScoutSwap reserves the right to archive or permanently delete accounts that have remained inactive for an extended period (typically exceeding 24 consecutive months), after providing reasonable advance notice to the registered email address.

10.3. Termination by ScoutSwap: We may terminate or suspend your access immediately without prior notice if you breach these Terms, our Trading Rules, our Safeguarding Policy, or if required by law.

10.4. Effect of Termination: Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases. We will handle your remaining data in accordance with our Privacy Policy data retention schedules.

ScoutSwap is provided on an 'as is' basis. We are a volunteer-run platform connecting collectors; physical trades and postal exchanges occur at your own risk.

11.1. Availability: We strive to maintain high service availability, but the ScoutSwap Service is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or entirely secure from unauthorized interference.

11.2. Platform Role & Trade Disclaimers: ScoutSwap is not a party to user swaps. ScoutSwap disclaims and excludes all liability for any user-to-user disputes, breach of trade agreements, items lost or damaged in transit, postal delays, customs seizures, or misleading representations made by other users. Users must resolve trade fulfillment issues directly with each other in accordance with our Trading Rules.

11.3. Statutory Consumer Rights: Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for: (i) death or personal injury caused by our negligence; (ii) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (iii) any other liability that cannot be legally limited or excluded under applicable consumer law, including the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015.

11.4. Limitation of Liability: Subject to section 11.3 and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ScoutSwap C.I.C., its directors, and volunteers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, loss of items, or loss of data. Our total aggregate liability arising out of or related to your use of the Service shall not exceed the greater of £50 or the total amount paid by you to us in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

These terms are anchored in English law while preserving the mandatory statutory consumer rights of international users.

12.1. Informal Dispute Resolution: Before initiating any formal legal claim, you and ScoutSwap agree to attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute informally. You agree to email [email protected] with a detailed description of your grievance, your username, and your proposed resolution. ScoutSwap will have thirty (30) days from receipt to investigate and attempt an amicable resolution.

12.2. Governing Law: These Terms of Service, their subject matter, and their formation (including any non-contractual disputes or claims) are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

12.3. Mandatory Local Consumer Protections: If you access the Service as a consumer resident outside of England and Wales (including in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, or elsewhere globally), you will benefit from any mandatory statutory consumer protections of the law of your country or state of habitual residence. Nothing in these Terms deprives you of your right to rely on such mandatory local statutory provisions.

12.4. International Jurisdiction & Venue: (a) Except where prohibited by mandatory local consumer protection law, both you and ScoutSwap agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or claim arising from these Terms. (b) If you are a consumer residing outside England and Wales, you may also bring proceedings in the competent courts of your country or state of habitual residence. (c) ScoutSwap reserves the right to bring enforcement proceedings against you in your country of residence or any other competent court for breach of intellectual property rights, unauthorized system tampering, or fraud.

12.5. International Trades, Customs & Import Duties: Users acknowledge that swaps between users in different countries constitute international mail. When sending Scouting Items internationally, users are solely responsible for: (i) complying with all applicable postal, export, and import regulations in both sender and destination jurisdictions; (ii) accurately completing required customs declarations (such as CN22 or CN23 forms); and (iii) paying any import duties, customs tariffs, VAT, or postal handling charges levied upon arrival. ScoutSwap accepts zero liability for packages delayed, taxed, returned, or confiscated by customs or postal authorities.

12.6. Sanctions Compliance: You represent and warrant that you are not located in, or accessing the Service from, any country or territory subject to comprehensive UK, UN, EU, or US trade sanctions.

13.1. Changes to the Service: We continually improve the Service. We may add, alter, suspend, or discontinue features or portions of the Service from time to time. Where practicable, we will give advance notice of material changes affecting user accounts.

13.2. Changes to the Terms: We may update these Terms to reflect changes in the law, regulatory guidance, or new platform features. The most current version will always be published on this page. For material updates, we will provide reasonable advance notice via a site banner or email to registered users. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of updated Terms confirms your acceptance.

14.1. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless ScoutSwap C.I.C., its directors, officers, and volunteers from and against any third-party claims, liabilities, losses, and reasonable legal costs arising out of: (i) your breach of these Terms, the Trading Rules, or the Safeguarding Policy; (ii) your infringement of third-party intellectual property or privacy rights; or (iii) any fraudulent or unlawful conduct committed through your Account.

15.1. Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

15.2. Third-Party Rights: Except as expressly stated, a person who is not a party to these Terms has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any provision of these Terms.

15.3. No Waiver: Our failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that or any other right.

15.4. Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Trading Rules, and Safeguarding Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and ScoutSwap C.I.C. concerning your use of the Service.

16.1. If you have any questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms, please contact us at: [email protected].

16.2. User Feedback: We welcome ideas and suggestions to improve ScoutSwap. If you submit feedback, you grant ScoutSwap a perpetual, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use and implement your suggestions without compensation or restriction.