Terms & Conditions

Welcome to Coral Auctions. Please read these terms carefully before using our platform.

Section 1 – Introduction

These Terms and Conditions govern your use of the Coral Auctions website (“the Platform”). By using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these terms.

The terms Coral Auctions, Coral-Auctions.co.uk, and Coral Auctions UK are used interchangeably throughout the platform and communications. They all refer to the same entity and official website.

Section 2 – About the Platform

Coral Auctions is an online marketplace that allows users to offer, sell and buy coral and fish in the UK. Coral Auctions is not involved in the actual transaction between buyers and sellers. The contract for the sale is directly between buyer and seller. Coral Auctions is not a party to the transaction and is not a traditional auctioneer. Coral Auctions does not have possession of anything listed or sold through Coral Auctions.

Except for certain checks, including those designed to verify that listings do not include illegal content, Coral Auctions does not review users’ listings or content. While we may help facilitate the resolution of disputes through various programmes, Coral Auctions has no control over, and, unless expressly provided, does not guarantee the existence, quality, safety or legality of, items advertised; the truth or accuracy of users’ content, listings or reviews; the ability of sellers to sell items; the ability of buyers to pay for items; or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction or return an item.

Section 3 – Using Coral Auctions

In connection with using or accessing Coral Auctions, you agree that you will not:

General Misuse & Illegal Activity:

  • Breach or circumvent any laws, third-party rights, or our systems or policies
  • Upload illegal content or use the platform to facilitate or commit any criminal offence
  • Sell counterfeit items or infringe any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
  • Post false, inaccurate, misleading, defamatory, or illegal content

Platform Integrity & Fair Use:

  • Manipulate the price of any item or interfere with other users’ listings
  • Take any action that undermines the reviews or ratings systems
  • Fail to comply with applicable laws relating to pricing and promotion
  • Post items in inappropriate categories

Transaction Conduct:

  • Fail to pay for items you have purchased, unless you have a valid reason as set out in an Coral Auctions policy, for example, where the seller has materially changed the item’s description after you bid, a clear typographical error is made, or you cannot contact the seller;
  • Fail to deliver items you have sold unless you have a valid reason as set out in an Coral Auctions policy, for example the buyer fails to comply with the terms posted in your listing, or you cannot contact the buyer;

Account & Access Misuse:

  • Use Coral Auctions if you are not able to form legally binding contracts (for example if you are under 18), or are temporarily or indefinitely suspended from using Coral Auctions or are a person with whom transactions are prohibited under economic or trade sanctions;
  • Transfer your account (including reviews) or username without our consent
  • Share your login credentials with third parties without authorisation. If you require that authorised third parties (employees, agents, etc.) have access to your account, please contact us directly

Spam, Data & Communications:

  • Send spam, unsolicited communications, or engage in chain letters or pyramid schemes
  • Use other users’ contact information for any purpose outside a specific transaction without consent
  • Harvest or collect user data (including email addresses) without permission

Technical Misuse:

  • Distribute viruses or any other technologies that may harm Coral Auctions, or the interests or property of Coral Auctions users
  • use any robot, spider, scraper, data mining tools, data gathering and extraction tools, or other automated means to access Coral Auctions for any purpose;
  • Interfere with the operation or impose unreasonable load on our infrastructure
  • Circumvent any technical or security measures
  • Bypass our robot exclusion headers, interfere with the working of Coral Auctions or impose an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure
  • Export or re-export any Coral Auctions application or tools except in compliance with the export control laws of any relevant jurisdictions and in accordance with posted rules and restrictions;

Platform Content & Intellectual Property:

  • Copy, reproduce, reverse engineer, or commercially exploit Coral Auctions content or systems
  • Infringe the copyright, trademark, patent, moral, database or other intellectual property rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) that belong to or are licensed to Coral Auctions. Some, but not all, actions that may be infringement are reproducing, performing, displaying, distributing, copying, reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, or preparing derivative works from content that belongs to Coral Auctions or someone else;

If we believe you are violating any of our policies, you may be subject to a range of actions, including limits on your buying and selling privileges, restrictions on listings and account features, suspension of your account, application of fees for the introduction of seller to buyer, and recovery of expenses for policy monitoring and enforcement.

If you are a seller and you offer or reference your contact information or ask for the buyer’s contact information in the context of buying or selling outside of Coral Auctions, you will be liable for all final value fees in consideration for the introduction to a buyer for that item on the Coral Auctions site, even if the item does not sell. You may also face permanent suspension from Coral Auctions.

Additionally, we reserve the right to vary or terminate all or part of Coral Auctions and/or not provide all or part of Coral Auctions to anyone for any reason and/or period of time, at our discretion.

Section 4 – Abusing Coral Auctions

Without limiting other remedies, we may limit, suspend, or terminate your user account(s) and access to Coral Auctions, restrict or prohibit access to, and your activities on Coral Auctions, cancel bids, remove or demote or otherwise restrict the visibility of listings, delay or remove hosted content, remove any special status associated with the account, reduce or eliminate any discounts, and take technical and legal steps to keep you from using Coral Auctions if:

  • we think that you are creating problems or possible legal liabilities for us, our users, suppliers or other third parties;
  • we think that such restrictions will improve the security of the Coral Auctions community or reduce our or another Coral Auctions user’s exposure to financial liabilities;
  • we think that you are infringing the rights of third parties;
  • we think that you are acting inconsistently with the letter or spirit of these Terms & Conditions or our policies or abuse our employees or users;
  • despite our reasonable endeavours, we are unable to verify or authenticate any information you provide to us
  • you circumvent, or seek to circumvent, any fees that may be payable when using Coral Auctions
  • you fail to make, or it is evident that you are unable to make, full payment of any fees due to Coral Auctions by your payment due date; or
  • we think that this is necessary in order to protect other users from illegal content being posted or listed on the Coral Auctions site.

We may offer a process allowing users to report claimed violations for us to consider and handle through one or more of these options, all in our sole discretion.

When a buyer or seller issue arises we may consider the user’s performance history and the specific circumstances in applying our policies. We may choose to be more lenient with policy enforcement, and to do the right thing for both buyers and sellers.

Section 5 – User Accounts & Seller Approval

To access certain features of Coral Auctions (such as bidding or listing), you must register for an account. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate and up-to-date information
  • Maintain the security of your login credentials
  • Be responsible for all activity conducted through your account
  • and keep your login details secure.

Vendors are responsible for all content they upload, including product listings and images.

We reserve the right to suspend, restrict or delete accounts that:

  • Violate these terms or applicable laws
  • Provide false or misleading information
  • Remain unconfirmed or inactive for extended periods

5.1 Seller Approval & Eligibility

All users wishing to sell on the Platform must first apply for and receive approval as a registered vendor. No user may list, advertise, or sell any items without prior authorisation from the platform.

To become an approved vendor, applicants must:

  • Submit a complete vendor application via the Platform
  • Provide accurate and up-to-date personal and/or business information
  • Agree to comply with all platform Terms & Conditions, policies, and applicable laws

We reserve the right to request additional information or documentation as part of the approval process.

As part of our approval process, we may:

  • Verify the identity of the applicant
  • Request proof of address or business registration
  • Request evidence of experience, qualifications, or suitability to sell specific product categories (e.g. live fish, coral, or live food)
  • Request documentation demonstrating legal sourcing or compliance where required

Failure to provide requested information may result in rejection of the application.

5.2 Vendor Approval & Ongoing Compliance

Approval as a vendor is granted at our sole discretion. We reserve the right to:

  • Approve or reject any application without providing a reason
  • Impose conditions or restrictions on a vendor’s account
  • Limit the categories of products a vendor is permitted to sell in

Approved vendors must:

  • Continue to comply with all Terms & Conditions and platform policies
  • Ensure all listings remain accurate, lawful, and compliant
  • Promptly update any changes to their personal or business information

Failure to maintain compliance may result in suspension or removal of selling privileges. Approval to sell on the platform does not guarantee continued access.

We reserve the right to suspend or permanently revoke vendor access where:

  • A vendor breaches any Terms & Conditions or policies
  • There is suspected illegal activity or regulatory non-compliance
  • There are repeated customer complaints or welfare concerns
  • The vendor provides false or misleading information

We may withdraw selling privileges at any time where it is necessary to protect:

  • Buyers
  • Animal welfare
  • Legal and regulatory compliance
  • The reputation and integrity of the platform

Section 6 – Fish, Coral, Live Food & Animal Welfare

6.1 Legal Compliance

All vendors listing fish, coral or any live aquatic organisms or animals on the Platform must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to:

  • UK animal welfare legislation, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006
  • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  • CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations where applicable
  • Any local authority or licensing requirements

Vendors are solely responsible for ensuring that any livestock listed for sale can be legally sold, owned, and transported within the United Kingdom.

6.2 – Prohibited Listings

The following are strictly prohibited:

  • The sale of any species that are illegal to own, sell, import or export
  • The sale of protected or endangered species without required permits and documentation
  • Wild-caught specimens where collection or sale breaches environmental or conservation laws
  • Invasive non-native species restricted under UK law
  • Any livestock obtained through illegal, unethical, or environmentally harmful practices

The Platform reserves the right to remove any listing suspected of breaching these rules without notice.

6.3 – Vendor Responsibility

By listing fish, coral, or live organisms for sale, vendors agree that:

  • All livestock is accurately identified (species, origin, and care requirements where relevant)
  • Listings are honest and not misleading, including size, condition, and characteristics
  • Fish and coral listings comply with the platform’s WYSIWYG requirement (the exact item shown must be supplied)
  • Livestock is healthy, disease-free, and fit for sale at the time of dispatch
  • They will not misrepresent captive-bred fish as wild-caught (or vice versa)

6.4 – Animal Welfare & Ethical Standards

Vendors must:

  • Vendors must ensure that fish are kept and handled in accordance with high welfare standards at all times
  • Ensure all fish are housed, handled, and transported in a manner that minimises stress and risk of harm
  • Package and transport animals in a way that minimises stress and risk of harm
  • Only dispatch livestock that are in suitable condition for transport
  • Avoid selling fish that are too young, injured, or otherwise unfit

Coral Auctions operates a zero-tolerance policy on animal cruelty, neglect, or unethical practices

6.5 Shipping & Transport

Vendors are responsible for:

  • Using appropriate, species-specific packaging, including insulation, oxygenation, and temperature control where required
  • Selecting legally compliant couriers authorised to transport live animals

Live fish transport requires appropriate authorisation (e.g. DEFRA/APHA-approved carriers such as APC Overnight or DX Express). Standard couriers (including Royal Mail, Evri, Yodel, and similar services) must not be used. Failure to use appropriate courier services may result in:

  • Immediate removal from the platform
  • Cancellation of orders
  • Suspension or permanent ban

Buyers must ensure they are available to receive deliveries on the first delivery attempt to minimise stress to the animal.

6.6 Buyer Responsibility

By purchasing live animals, buyers confirm that:

  • They understand the care requirements of the species purchased
  • Their aquarium setup is appropriate (including tank size, water parameters, compatibility, etc.)
  • They are legally permitted to own the species

Coral Auctions is not responsible for losses resulting from:

  • Inadequate care
  • Improper acclimation
  • Unsuitable aquarium conditions.

6.7 Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy

Sellers must clearly state their DOA policy within each listing. Buyers must provide clear photographic or video evidence within the timeframe specified by the seller Failure to follow the seller’s DOA reporting requirements may void eligibility for a refund or replacement. Coral Auctions

6.8 Live Food

Live food may be listed where it is intended for animal consumption. All live food must:

  • Be legal to sell, possess, and distribute in the UK
  • Comply with the same legal and welfare standards outlined in this section

6.9 Platform Position

Coral Auctions acts solely as a marketplace and is not a party to transactions between buyers and sellers. We do not:

  • Guarantee the health, condition, or legality of any listed animals
  • Handle or transport livestock
  • Accept responsibility for losses during shipping or after delivery
  • Verify full seller compliance with all applicable laws

All responsibility lies with the seller and buyer involved in the transaction.

6.10 Enforcement & Account Action

We reserve the right to:

  • Remove listings
  • Suspend or permanently ban seller accounts
  • Report illegal activity to relevant authorities

Where we suspect illegal wildlife trade or animal welfare violations, we may cooperate with enforcement agencies.

Section 7 – Listings & Auctions

Sellers are responsible for ensuring that all listings are:

  • Accurate, complete and not misleading
  • Lawful and compliant with all applicable regulations
  • Representative of the item being sold

Coral Auctions is not a direct seller; we provide the Platform to connect sellers and buyers. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any auction or listing content.

By creating a listing, you agree that:

  • you are responsible for the accuracy, content and legality of the item listed;
  • your listing may not be immediately searchable by keyword or category for up to 24 hours. Coral Auctions does not guarantee exact listing durations;
  • unless otherwise specified by law, you are responsible for all taxes (including but not limited to the tax amount itself, as well as any penalties, fines, charges, or late payment interest) related to your sales on the Coral Auctions site, where applicable, and you agree to use Coral Auctions in accordance with the UK tax laws. To the extent possible under English law, you shall pay to us as a debt on demand all costs incurred by us, including but not limited to tax, penalties and interest, levied by any competent tax authority due to your failure to provide a valid VAT registration number and/or your failure to pay any such taxes, penalties or interest;
  • you are legally allowed to sell live livestock and comply with any local or international regulations (including CITES if applicable)
  • content that violates any of Coral Auctions policies may be modified, obfuscated or deleted at Coral Auctions discretion;
  • we may revise product data associated with listings to supplement, remove, or correct information;
  • meta-tags and URL links that are included in a listing will be removed or altered so as to not affect third-party search engine results;
  • Coral Auctions may advertise the site and provide other third parties with access to your listings and content for this purpose. This includes, for example, the display of listings and content of users;
  • artificial intelligence-based tools may be used by Coral Auctions – the availability and accuracy of these tools and content are not guaranteed;

7.1 Content Moderation & Platform Controls

We will perform checks on listings to ensure they comply with our Prohibited Items Policy. While we use limited AI and automated tools to assist in identifying potential issues – such as inappropriate keywords, images, or non-compliant content – these systems are supplementary and not relied upon exclusively. Listings may be flagged for manual review by Coral Auctions investigators or, in rare cases, automatically blocked. We also carry out regular manual reviews of existing content to uphold site standards.

If content is determined to be illegal, non-compliant or otherwise to violate Coral Auctions policy, it is blocked or removed. If requested, the user will be notified with an explanation as to why. Coral Auctions has also developed robust measures to help stop bad actors and deter repeat policy violations, with penalties up to, and including, permanent suspension.

Our safeguards are also designed to minimise the length of time for which illegal content is present on the Coral Auctions site. This includes terrorism content, child sexual exploitation and abuse content and other illegal content.

We will swiftly take down content where we are alerted to or become aware of the presence of any content on the Coral Auctions site which we believe to be in breach of our policies (including illegal content prohibited by our policies). Content may be taken down automatically if our algorithm flags the content as being illegal; where content is flagged for review by an Coral Auctions investigator we will prioritise review of content that is likely to be of most harm to users.

You can report content on the Coral Auctions site which you consider to be illegal by contacting us on info@coral-auctions.co.uk.

7.2 WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Policy

All coral and livestock listings on this Platform must be sold strictly on a WYSIWYG basis. This means that the exact item shown in the listing images and/or videos must be the precise item that the buyer will receive.

The sale of “representative”, “example”, or “similar” corals/fish is strictly prohibited on this platform. Listings described as:

  • “WYSIWYG-style”
  • “Example colony”
  • “Frag of similar size/colour”
  • Or any variation implying substitution

are not permitted and may be removed without notice.

Sellers must ensure that:

  • Each listing corresponds to a single, specific coral or fish
  • Images and/or videos show the actual item for sale
  • The item dispatched is identical to the one shown in the listing

Failure to comply may result in listing removal, order cancellation, and/or suspension of selling privileges.

All images and videos must:

  • Accurately represent the coral’s or fish’s colour, size, and condition
  • Be clear and taken under appropriate lighting conditions

Where blue lighting, filters, or post-editing are used, sellers are strongly encouraged to include additional images under white or neutral.

7.3 Bidding

Coral Auctions uses a proxy bidding system to make the bidding process fair and efficient for all users.

When placing a bid, you are entering the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item. The system will then automatically place the lowest possible bid on your behalf to maintain your winning position, up to your maximum bid amount. This means you may win an item for less than your maximum bid if no other users place higher competing bids. If another user places a higher bid, you will be notified and given the opportunity to increase your maximum bid.

Important Notes:

  • All bids placed via proxy bidding are binding
  • Once your maximum bid is reached and exceeded by another user, your bid will no longer be active unless you manually raise it again
  • Proxy bidding is enabled for all auctions by default and cannot be disabled on individual listings

By participating in an auction, you acknowledge and accept the use of proxy bidding on the Coral Auctions platform.

Usernames on Coral Auctions are not automatically masked or anonymised when bidding. We recommend updating your account to use a display name that does not reveal your real name if you are concerned with your name being displayed. You can do this within your account settings.

7.4 Editing Listings After Bids Have Been Placed

Sellers are advised to review their auction listings carefully before publishing. However, if a seller needs to make edits after a bid has already been placed, the following rules apply:

  • Transparency: Any edits made to a listing after a bid has been placed must be clearly necessary (e.g. correcting an obvious mistake) and must not mislead or significantly alter the nature of the listing
  • Impact on Buyers: If a listing is edited after a bid has been placed, affected bidders have the right to request removal of their bid if they no longer wish to proceed based on the revised information.
  • Requesting Bid Removal:
    • Buyers must contact Coral Auctions within 12 hours of the edit being made.
    • Requests should be sent to info@coral-auctions.co.uk with the subject line “Bid Removal Request”, and must include the listing link and a short explanation.
  • Seller Responsibility: Frequent or unnecessary changes after bidding has started may lead to a warning or restriction of selling privileges. Sellers who knowingly alter listings in a misleading way may be removed from the platform.

7.4 Shill Bidding and Manipulative Conduct

Shill bidding is strictly prohibited.

For the purposes of these Terms, shill bidding includes, but is not limited to, any bid or series of bids placed with the intent to artificially increase the price of an auction, manipulate bidding activity, or create a misleading impression of genuine demand.

This includes bids placed by:

  • The seller of the item;
  • Any person acting on behalf of the seller;
  • Any account associated with the seller, including through shared IP addresses, devices, and/or other identifying information;
  • Any third party acting in coordination with the seller or another bidder

Users must not engage in any activity intended to:

  • Inflate the price of an auction without the genuine intention to purchase the item;
  • Discourage or deter legitimate bidders;
  • Manipulate auction outcomes or platform metrics

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to investigate bidding activity and determine whether shill bidding or other manipulative conduct has occurred.

Where shill bidding is suspected or confirmed, we may take one or more of the following actions without prior notice:

  • Cancel or remove bids;
  • Void or invalidate an auction;
  • Restrict, suspend, or permanently terminate user accounts;
  • Withhold or forfeit fees, commissions, or other amounts due;
  • Restrict future selling or bidding privileges

Our decision regarding shill bidding shall be final.

We may monitor, analyse, and retain data relating to bidding behaviour, including IP addresses, device information, account activity, and transaction history, for the purposes of fraud prevention, platform integrity, and compliance with these Terms.

Repeated failure to complete payment following successful bids may be treated as evidence of manipulative or bad-faith bidding behaviour and may result in enforcement action under this section.

Section 8 – Buying, Payment & Buyer Responsibilities

8.1 Purchase Commitments

When buying an item on Coral Auctions, you agree that:

  • you are responsible for reviewing the full item listing before placing a bid or committing to purchase;
  • you enter into a legally binding contract to purchase an item when you commit to buy an item, or if you have the winning bid (or your bid is otherwise accepted);
  • All transactions must be completed through approved payment methods available on the Platform

8.2 Payment Terms & Non-Payment

Winning bidders must complete payment within 48 hours of the auction ending, unless a different timeframe is agreed directly with the seller. Failure to pay may result in:

  • order cancellation
  • account suspension or removal
  • Permanent removal from the platform in cases of repeated non-payment

We may restrict bidding privileges for users with a history of non-payment.

8.3 Buyer Requested Cancellations

Buyers who have won an auction but no longer wish to proceed with the purchase must contact the seller directly to request a cancellation. Coral Auctions does not facilitate auction cancellations and it is at the seller’s discretion whether to grant your request. Coral Auctions does not guarantee or enforce buyer-initiated cancellations.

8.4 Buyer Responsibilities

By purchasing through the platform, buyers confirm that:

  • They intend to complete the transaction in good faith
  • They are financially able to complete the purchase
  • They will comply with any additional terms stated in the listing

Failure to meet these responsibilities may be treated as a breach of these Terms.

8.5 – Information Shared Between Buyers and Sellers

To facilitate the order fulfilment and delivery of auction items, limited information is shared between buyers and sellers after a successful purchase is completed.

When a buyer wins an auction, the seller will receive:

  • The buyer’s full name
  • Delivery address
  • Contact email address
  • Contact phone number (if provided during checkout)

This information is provided solely for the purpose of fulfilling the order and must not be used for any other purpose, including marketing or unsolicited communication.

The buyer does not receive any of the seller’s personal information, other than store name and email address to facilitate delivery, and except where applicable for arranging collections. In such cases, sellers may voluntarily provide a collection address or contact number for coordination.

Both parties are expected to keep this information private and secure, and to use it only in accordance with Coral Auctions’ policies and relevant data protection laws.

Section 9 – Seller Payouts, Fees & Restricted Funds

9.1 Seller Payouts

All payments and pay-outs on Coral Auctions are processed securely via Stripe.

Sellers must ensure their Stripe account is:

  • Correctly set up
  • Fully verified
  • Capable of receiving payouts

Payouts will be released:

  • Typically 3 business days after successful payment
  • Initial payouts may take 7–14 days depending on Stripe account status

Payments may appear under “Coral Auctions”, “Stripe”, or a related descriptor

9.2 – Payout Delays & Reviews

To maintain platform quality, buyer confidence and a consistent and reliable experience for buyers across the platform, Coral Auctions may delay or temporarily withhold payouts where necessary.

This may occur where:

  • A seller issues multiple refunds within a short period
  • There are concerns regarding order fulfilment, listing accuracy, or buyer experience
  • An account is under review for performance or compliance

As a guideline:

  • Sellers issuing 3 or more refunds within a 30-day period may receive a warning notification advising that their account is approaching the refund threshold
  • At 4 or more refunds, payouts may be delayed pending review

This review may include (but is not limited to) an assessment of:

  • Order fulfilment practices
  • Accuracy of product listings
  • Communication with buyers
  • Overall account activity
  • Any other factors deemed relevant to marketplace performance

Coral Auctions will make reasonable efforts to complete any such review promptly. During this time, payouts may be held until the review is concluded.

Coral Auctions reserves the right to:

  • Lift payout restrictions where no ongoing concerns are identified
  • Extend payout delays where further monitoring is required
  • Take additional action where necessary, including account suspension, in cases of repeated or serious issues

Sellers may contact support if they believe a review has been triggered in error.

9.3 Restricted Funds

We may temporarily restrict or hold funds where necessary to protect users and the platform. This is to ensure a safe and fair experience for both buyers and sellers and to allow time for dispute resolution or investigation.

This may include situations involving:

  • Disputes or complaints
  • Suspected policy violations
  • High-risk or unusual transaction activity
  • Chargebacks, multiple refunds or payment reversals

Restricted funds will remain unavailable until:

  • The issue is resolved
  • A review is completed

Funds may be released, partially refunded, or otherwise adjusted depending on the outcome.

Examples of common holds:

  • A coral is delivered damaged and the buyer raises a concern – funds may be restricted until evidence is reviewed and a resolution is reached.
  • A new seller receives their first order – funds may be held until Royal Mail tracking shows delivery or the buyer confirms receipt.
  • A seller is reported for violating shipping guidelines – funds from the sale in question may be held while the matter is investigated

9.4 Fees & Charges

We may change our fees, or introduce new fees from time to time by posting the changes on the Coral Auctions site or via email to all active user accounts 15 days in advance. You may close your account without penalty within 30 days of such notice being given.

You are liable for any applicable fees arising out of all sales made using some or all of Coral Auctions, even if sales terms are finalised or payment is made outside of Coral Auctions. In addition, if you are a seller and you offer or reference your contact information or ask for a buyer’s contact information, you may be liable to pay a final value fee in consideration for the introduction to a buyer for that item on the Coral Auctions site, even if the item does not actually sell.

If your payment method fails or your account is overdue, we may collect fees owed by charging other payment methods on file and retaining collection agencies or legal counsel.

You authorise Coral Auctions to automatically charge your chosen payment method in accordance with these Terms & Conditions and the applicable billing agreement(s) you agree to when setting up or changing your payment method, for future charges and fees incurred in relation to Coral Auctions. This includes, but is not limited to, amounts owed for Coral Auctions fees. Coral Auctions will notify you of these charges. If payments or amounts owed to Coral Auctions cannot be completed through the payment method on file for any reason, you are still required to pay Coral Auctions for all unpaid amounts and Coral Auctions reserves the right to seek reimbursement through other means plus any additional costs incurred by Coral Auctions in seeking reimbursement. You can change your payment method in My Account at any time.

9.5 Commission Fees

Coral Auctions charges a commission on all successful sales.

Our standard fee is:

  • 7% of the final sale price, plus
  • £0.75 per item sold

This fee is automatically deducted from the total amount paid by the buyer before the remaining balance is released to the seller. Payouts are processed via Stripe, and sellers will receive the net amount after fees.

By listing items on Coral Auctions, sellers agree to these commission terms.

We reserve the right to review and update our fee structure; any changes will be communicated in advance via email or through the website.

Section 10 – Disputes & Refunds

10.1 Disputes Between Buyers & Sellers

Coral Auctions acts solely as a marketplace and is not a party to transactions between buyers and sellers, nor is responsible for resolving disputes between the buyer and seller.

If an issue arises, buyers must:

  • Contact the seller directly in the first instance
  • Attempt to resolve the matter in good faith

Coral Auctions will not intervene unless the buyer has made a reasonable attempt to resolve the issue directly with the seller.

10.2 Platform Assistance

We may, at our discretion, review and assist in resolving disputes. However we do not guarantee any outcome and any decision made by Coral Auctions is final.

When reviewing disputes, we may consider:

  • Compliance with these Terms
  • Compliance with shipping and handling requirements
  • Evidence provided by both parties

In cases where Coral Auctions becomes involved, related funds may be temporarily held while the matter is reviewed.

10.3 Refunds

Refunds are governed by:

  • The seller’s stated policies (including DOA where applicable)
  • Compliance with the platform’s shipping and handling requirements

Buyers must:

  • Follow all reporting requirements set out by the seller
  • Provide appropriate evidence within the required timeframe

Failure to follow these requirements may result in a refund being declined.

10.4 Raising a Dispute

To request Coral Auctions’ assistance, users must contact info@coral-auctions.co.uk

Requests must include:

  • Full name
  • Order reference number
  • A clear description of the issue

We may be unable to assist where sufficient information is not provided.

Section 11 – Reviews & Feedback

Reviews play an important role in maintaining trust and transparency on Coral Auctions.

11.1 Eligibility & Standards

Only buyers who have completed a successful transaction through the Platform may leave a review.

All reviews must:

  • Reflect genuine, first-hand experiences
  • Be accurate, fair, and not misleading
  • Relate directly to the transaction

The following are strictly prohibited:

  • False, exaggerated, or misleading reviews
  • Offensive language, threats, or personal attacks
  • Irrelevant or abusive content

11.2 Platform Moderation

Coral Auctions reserves the right to:

  • Review, remove, or restrict any review that breaches these Terms
  • Take action against users who misuse the review system

This includes (but is not limited to):

  • Fake or coordinated reviews
  • “Review bombing”
  • Attempts to manipulate ratings or feedback

11.3 Reporting Reviews

If you believe a review is false, defamatory, or otherwise in breach of these Terms, you may report it by contacting: info@coral-auctions.co.uk

Please include:

  • The reviewer’s username
  • A link to the relevant listing or review
  • A brief explanation of the issue

We will investigate and may remove the review or take further action where appropriate.

11.4 Misuse of the Review System

Users found to be abusing the review system may be subject to action, including:

  • Removal of reviews
  • Account restrictions
  • Suspension or permanent removal from the platform

Section 12 – Prohibited Items

Coral Auctions is a specialist marketplace for the sale of coral, fish, and closely related aquatic products. The following items and activities are strictly prohibited on the Platform.

12.1 Illegal & Restricted Items

The sale or listing of the following is not permitted:

  • Any coral, fish, or aquatic species that are illegal to own, sell, import, or export within the United Kingdom
  • Protected or endangered species without the appropriate permits or documentation, including those regulated under CITES
  • Invasive or restricted non-native species prohibited under UK law
  • Any livestock obtained through illegal, unethical, or environmentally harmful practices

12.2 Animal Welfare Violations

Listings that breach acceptable animal welfare standards are strictly prohibited, including:

  • Animals that are unhealthy, injured, or unfit for sale
  • Animals that have been improperly handled, housed, or transported
  • Any content that promotes or reflects animal cruelty or neglect

12.3 Misleading or Non-Compliant Listings

The following are not permitted:

  • Listings that misrepresent the item being sold
  • Listings that do not comply with the platform’s WYSIWYG requirements
  • Listings designed to mislead buyers in relation to condition, origin, or value

12.4 Unrelated or Restricted Products

Coral Auctions is dedicated to aquatic-related products only.

Permitted:

  • Coral, fish, and live aquatic organisms
  • Aquarium equipment (e.g. tanks, pumps, frag racks)
  • Related accessories used in aquatic care

Not permitted:

  • Unrelated goods or general retail items
  • Any products outside the scope of the platform’s purpose

12.5 Platform Enforcement

We reserve the right to:

  • Remove any listing that breaches this section
  • Restrict or suspend user accounts
  • Permanently ban users for serious or repeated violations
  • Report illegal activity to relevant authorities where required

Section 13 – Marketing

By creating an account or providing your email address, you agree that Coral Auctions may send you communications relating to your use of the Platform.

These may include:

  • Notifications about new auctions or listings
  • Account-related updates
  • Important service or policy updates

Where you have opted in, we may also send promotional or marketing communications.

You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

Please note:

  • You may continue to receive essential service-related communications (such as account updates, order confirmations or transaction notifications), even if you opt out of marketing emails

All communications will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Section 14 – Limitation of Liability

We provide this marketplace “as is”. Coral Auctions is not liable for losses resulting from the use of this platform, including miscommunication, technical issues, or unfulfilled transactions.

We try to keep Coral Auctions and its site safe, secure, and functioning properly, but we cannot guarantee the continuous operation of or access to Coral Auctions. Bid updates and other notification functionality on Coral Auctions may not occur in real time. Such functionality is subject to delays beyond Coral Auctions control.

We (including our parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, agents and employees) shall not be liable to you in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise for any business losses, such as loss of data, profits, revenue, business, opportunity, goodwill, reputation or business interruption or for any losses which are not reasonably foreseeable by us arising, directly or indirectly from:

  • your use of or your inability to use our Services;
  • delays or disruptions to Coral Auctions
  • viruses or other malicious software obtained by accessing, or linking to, Coral Auctions
  • glitches, bugs, errors, or inaccuracies of any kind on Coral Auctions
  • damage to your hardware device from the use of any Coral Auctions service
  • the content, actions, or inactions of third parties, including items listed using Coral Auctions;
  • a suspension or other action taken with respect to your account or breach of the Abusing Coral Auctions section;
  • the duration or manner in which your listings appear in search results as set out in the Listings section; or
  • your need to modify practices, content, or behaviour or your loss of or inability to do business, as a result of changes to these Terms & Conditions or our policies.

You accept sole responsibility for the legality of your actions under laws applying to you and the legality of any items you list on any of our sites.

Although we use techniques that aim to verify the accuracy and truth of the information provided by our users, user verification on the internet is difficult. Coral Auctions cannot and does not confirm, and is not responsible for ensuring, the accuracy or truthfulness of users’ purported identities or the validity of the information which they provide to us or post on our sites.

Regardless of the previous paragraphs, if we are found to be liable, our liability to you or to any third party is limited to the greater of (a) any amounts due up to the price the item sold for on Coral Auctions and its original postage costs, (b) the amount of fees in dispute not to exceed the total fees which you paid to us in the 12 months prior to the action giving rise to the liability, or (c) £100.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions shall limit or exclude our liability for fraudulent misrepresentation, for death or personal injury resulting from our negligence or the negligence of our agents or employees, or for any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law.

Section 15 – Indemnity & Compensation

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Coral Auctions (including its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, and partners) from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

  • Your breach of these Terms & Conditions
  • Your use or misuse of the platform
  • Any content, listings, or information you submit or make available on the platform
  • Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
  • Your infringement of any third-party rights (including intellectual property or privacy rights)
  • Any transaction or dispute between you and another user

This includes any costs incurred by Coral Auctions in investigating, defending, or resolving such claims.

We reserve the right to assume the exclusive defence and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate fully with us.

Section 16 – Changes to Terms

Coral Auctions reserves the right to update or modify these Terms & Conditions at any time.

Where appropriate, we may notify users of material changes via:

  • Email, or
  • Notices on the Platform

Updated Terms will take effect from the date they are published, unless otherwise stated.

By continuing to use the Platform after any changes take effect, you agree to be bound by the updated Terms.

If you do not agree with any changes, you must stop using the Platform.

Section 17 – Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions or require support, you can contact Coral Auctions at:

Email: info@coral-auctions.co.uk

This email address may be used for:

  • General enquiries
  • Support requests
  • Reporting issues or policy violations
  • Formal notices relating to these Terms

We will aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.