Acceptable Use Policy

1. Our Community Standards

We want Boxed Off to be a place where people feel safe to book services and where providers can build a sustainable business. That means:

• Honesty. Represent yourself, your services, and your experiences truthfully.
• Respect. Treat every person on the Platform with dignity, regardless of background.
• Reliability. Show up. Do what you said you would. Communicate promptly when plans change.
• Safety. Do not engage in any conduct that puts yourself or others at risk.
• Fairness. Do not game the Platform — reviews, search rankings, or referral credits.

2. Prohibited Conduct

Misrepresentation

• Creating a fake or misleading profile
• Impersonating another person, business, or brand
• Falsely claiming qualifications, licences, or certifications
• Using stock photos or AI-generated images as portfolio photos

Reviews and ratings

• Writing fake reviews (for yourself or a competitor)
• Offering incentives in exchange for positive reviews
• Coordinating with others to manipulate ratings
• Threatening, pressuring, or bribing consumers to change or withdraw a review

Off-platform activity

• Soliciting consumers to pay for services outside the Platform to avoid the commission
• Sharing personal contact details in order to arrange future bookings off-platform
• Receiving payment directly for a booking that was initiated through Boxed Off

Harassment and discrimination

• Harassing, abusing, threatening, or intimidating any user
• Discriminating against consumers on any protected characteristic (race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc.)
• Sending unsolicited messages or promotional content to other users
• Publishing personal information about another user without their consent

Fraud and security

• Using stolen or unauthorised payment methods
• Filing false or frivolous chargebacks
• Attempting to access another user's account
• Using automated tools to scrape or interfere with the Platform
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent a suspension or restriction

Illegal activity

• Offering services that are illegal in the Republic of Ireland
• Using the Platform in connection with money laundering, fraud, or any criminal activity
• Violating any applicable law or regulation

3. Consequences

Violations of this policy are taken seriously. Depending on the severity, frequency, and context, consequences may include:

• Warning: A formal notice for first-time or minor violations, with a reminder of the applicable policy.
• Content removal: We may remove reviews, messages, or profile content that violates this policy.
• Temporary suspension: Your account is suspended for a defined period. Active bookings may be cancelled.
• Permanent ban: Your account is permanently closed. Any funds held in escrow for uncompleted bookings are returned to consumers.
• Legal action: For serious cases (fraud, criminal conduct), we may refer the matter to An Garda Síochána or other authorities.

We use a combination of automated systems, user reports, and manual review to detect policy violations. We will always notify you of the action taken and the reason for it, unless disclosure would prejudice an ongoing investigation.

Appeals

If you believe an action against your account was taken in error, you may appeal by contacting trust@boxedoff.ie within 14 days. We will review your appeal and respond within 7 business days.

4. Reporting

If you encounter conduct that violates this policy, please report it through the Platform:

• Report a provider: Use the "Report this provider" link on any provider profile page.
• Report a review: Use the "Report" link on any review.
• Report a message: Contact us directly if you receive harassing or inappropriate messages.
• Email: trust@boxedoff.ie

All reports are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team. We aim to acknowledge reports within 24 hours and complete investigations within 5 business days. Reporter identities are kept confidential.

If you are in immediate danger, contact An Garda Síochána (emergency: 999 or 112).