Strikes & Provider Accountability Policy

1.1 This policy explains how ARTIT records and responds to breaches by Opportunity Providers ("Providers"). It supports the Terms & Conditions (in particular clause 10) and exists to protect Creators and to keep the Platform fair and trustworthy. Words defined in the Terms have the same meaning here.

2.1 When a Provider breaches the Terms or an Opportunity's published rules, ARTIT may record a "strike" against that Provider. Strikes accumulate and lead to escalating consequences (section 4).

2.2 ARTIT applies this policy fairly and at its reasonable discretion, assessing each case on its own facts. There is no automatic, "one-size-fits-all" outcome — the same type of breach may be handled differently depending on the circumstances (section 7).

3.1 The following are examples of conduct that may lead to a strike (this list is not exhaustive):

• failing to award or deliver a Prize as described (Terms clause 10);
• failing to issue a refund the Provider owes within the refund deadline (Terms clause 9);
• publishing materially inaccurate or misleading Opportunity information;
• making material changes to a live Opportunity without ARTIT's approval (Terms clause 7.3);
• attempting an off-platform arrangement to avoid the Platform Fee (Terms clause 8.9);
• providing false or misleading verification information (Terms clause 5);
• harassment of, or misconduct toward, Creators or ARTIT staff; or
• other serious or repeated breaches of the Terms.

4.1 The following is the standard escalation. ARTIT may vary it depending on the severity of the breach (section 5).

• Strike 1 — formal warning. ARTIT notifies the Provider, explains the issue, and asks them to put it right within 14 days.
• Strike 2 — restriction. The Provider may lose the Verified badge and be temporarily suspended from publishing new Opportunities. Where money is owed to Creators, ARTIT may hold or withhold payouts (Terms clause 13.1).
• Strike 3 — removal. The Provider's account may be banned and the Provider and/or its Opportunities publicly delisted.

5.1 Some breaches are serious enough to justify moving straight to suspension, delisting or a ban, without prior strikes. These include, for example:

• fraud or dishonesty — including collecting Entry Fees and then not running the Opportunity, or advertising a Prize the Provider never intended or was never able to deliver;
• refusing, or repeatedly failing, to refund or pay money owed to Creators;
• false identity or verification information, or impersonating another person or organisation;
• putting Creators at risk, or harassment, threats or abuse;
• taking Creators off-platform to obtain their personal data or payments, or otherwise defrauding Creators;
• unlawful use, or using the Platform for a prohibited or sanctioned purpose (Terms clause 12.5); or
• serious or repeated breaches following previous strikes or warnings.

5.2 In these cases ARTIT may act immediately to protect Creators. Where appropriate, ARTIT will still explain its decision and offer a right of appeal (section 8). This list is not exhaustive, and whether a breach is "serious" is assessed on the facts (section 7).

6.1 Where a breach involves money owed to Creators (unpaid refunds or prizes), ARTIT's priority is that affected Creators are made whole. In addition to any strike, ARTIT may use the mechanisms in the Terms (clauses 9.4 and 13.1) — including initiating refunds from, or placing a hold on, the Provider's Stripe balance.

7.1 In deciding what action (if any) to take, ARTIT considers relevant factors, such as:

• the seriousness of the breach;
• the harm caused to Creators;
• whether it is a first occurrence or a repeated pattern;
• whether the Provider acted in good faith and cooperated; and
• how quickly the Provider put things right.

8.1 Before applying a serious measure, ARTIT will ordinarily notify the Provider, explain the reason, and give an opportunity to respond — except where immediate action is necessary (for example, to protect Creators).

8.2 A Provider may appeal a strike or measure by contacting contact@artit.net within 14 days, explaining why it should be reconsidered. ARTIT will review appeals fairly and may uphold, vary or remove the strike or measure.

9.1 A strike remains on a Provider's record for 12 months of good standing, after which it expires and no longer counts toward escalation. ARTIT may keep a longer internal record of strikes for its trust-and-safety purposes.

10.1 Loss of the Verified badge, suspension, delisting and bans are applied in line with the Terms (clauses 5.5, 10.3 and 13). A Verified badge or account may be restored once the underlying issue is resolved, at ARTIT's reasonable discretion.

11.1 ARTIT may update this policy periodically. The current version is always available on this page.