Collection: Age Verification
Last updated: 4th December 2025
1. Purpose of This Policy
TheSwordStall Ltd (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to responsible retailing and full compliance with UK legislation relating to the sale of age-restricted items. This policy explains how we verify age, why verification is required, and what steps we take before dispatching orders.
As we supply replica decorative swords and traditionally hand-forged katana, many items on our website are legally restricted to customers aged 18 years or older.
This policy applies to all purchases made through www.TheSwordStall.co.uk.
2. Legal Requirements
Under UK law, certain items—such as curved swords over 50cm and edged items—can only be sold to adults aged 18+. Traditional hand-forged, clay-tempered katana qualify for a legal exemption when genuinely hand-crafted, but still must not be sold to minors.
We have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to ensure that customers purchasing restricted items are 18 or over.
3. Age Restriction – 18+ Only
To purchase any age-restricted product from TheSwordStall, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Provide accurate personal information during checkout
- Complete any age-verification checks we require before dispatch
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who cannot satisfactorily prove their age.
4. When We Carry Out Age Verification
We may verify age:
- When an order contains any replica sword, knife, dagger, or bladed product
- When an order contains a traditional hand-forged katana
- When details on an order appear incomplete, inconsistent, or suspicious
- When required by our payment processor or delivery partners
- When we consider it necessary for customer or public safety
Even if a customer has passed age verification previously, we may request verification again for new orders.
5. How We Verify Age
We use a combination of automated systems and manual checks to verify age. Verification may be completed by:
A. Automatic age-verification tools
We may use third-party digital age-verification providers to confirm your date of birth using anonymised data sources (e.g., credit reference agencies, electoral registers, mobile phone providers). This process does not affect your credit score.
B. ID Request (Manual verification)
If automatic verification is unsuccessful or not available, we may request a photo of one of the following:
- Passport
- UK driving licence
- Government-issued photo ID
- National identity card
We may also request a selfie for anti-fraud matching.
C. Delivery-stage checks
Certain couriers may require age-verified delivery, where proof of age is shown upon receipt.
6. Failure to Verify Age
If we are unable to verify that you are 18 or over:
- Your order will be placed on hold, and
- You will be contacted to provide acceptable proof of age
If you cannot provide valid ID, or if verification fails, we will:
- Cancel the order, and
- Refund your payment (minus any fees that cannot be recovered)
Repeated failed verification attempts may result in account restriction.
7. Data Protection & Privacy
We treat all personal information with the highest level of care and in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
- ID is used solely for age verification
- Verification data is kept secure and confidential
- We retain any collected ID only for the minimum time necessary
- We never sell or share verification data with third parties except for approved verification partners
Full details of how we handle your data can be found in our Privacy Policy.
8. Fraud Prevention & Security
We reserve the right to:
- Request further proof of identity
- Cancel an order if fraudulent activity is suspected
- Report attempted illegal purchases to relevant authorities
This protects both our customers and the general public.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions about our Age Verification Policy, you can contact us at:
TheSwordStall Ltd
Email: help@TheSwordStall.co.uk
Customer Support Hours: Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm