FAQ | | | HELP WITH POSTING AN AD | | How do I post an ad? | | How do I Edit, Repost or Delete my ad? | | How long does my ad stay on the site? | | How do I post a paid job ad? | | What methods of payment do you accept? | | How can I get a VAT receipt for a job posting I submitted? | | I have edited my ad and reposted it, but when I look at it online, the changes have not been made. Have I done something wrong? | | I want to post multiple job ads on Gumtree. How do I set up an account? | | I have posted an ad, but have yet to receive a confirmation email. How long do I have to wait? | | It has been more than 4 hours since I posted my ad and I cannot see it online. | | I have just posted or reposted an ad but cannot see it online! | | I see that I can hide my email address when I post an advert. How does this work so I still receive responses? | | I have seen ads with photos and I like it! How do I include an image in my ad? | | I have uploaded an image with my ad, but when I look at it online, the image is not appearing. Have I done something wrong? | | I am having a problem attaching my image/CV/document file when replying to a Gumtree ad? | | The Map location on my ad is incorrect – why is this? | | When I try to submit my ad, I keep getting told that the price is wrong – why is this? | | I cannot activate my ad? | | I am trying to post my flatshare offered ad in more than one of the categories, but the ads are not appearing online, why? | | Can I post on all regional Gumtrees? | | Can I put a link in my posting to an ad on another site? | | I tried submitting a posting advertising my Football tickets for sale, but it was removed. Why is this? | | I tried submitting a posting advertising my Train tickets for sale, but it was removed. Why is this? | | | HELP WITH MY EXISTING AD | | I have reposted my ad but cannot find it ANYWHERE on the site! | | I have posted my add in the wrong category – can I change the location? | | I have forgotten the password for my ad, how can I find it? | | When I attempt to repost my ad and type in my password, it says it is incorrect, but I know it is correct. | | I can see my ad but am not getting much response. | | My ad has disappeared. | | Why was my posting deleted? | | I cannot find the advert I placed earlier on in the year! | | | WHAT KIND OF ADS DO YOU ACCEPT | | What kind of flatshare postings do you accept? | | What kind of Flats/Houses to rent postings do you accept? | | What kind of Accommodation WANTED postings do you accept? | | What kind of “For Sale” postings do you accept? | | What kind of “Freebies” ads do you accept? | | What kind of Friend/Partners/Dating postings do you accept? | | What kind of Casual Relationships postings do you accept? | | What kind of Community postings do you accept? | | What kind of Business services postings do you accept? | | What kind of job postings do you accept? | | | HELP WITH ADS I SEE ON GUMTREE | | How do I answer an ad? There are no contact details | | I am having trouble sending an attachment to an advertiser through your email web form. | | I saw an advert that I don’t think should be online as it doesn’t follow your guidelines. How can I let you know that it should be removed? | | | HELP WITH REPORTING AN AD/FEEDBACK | | I had a great experience on Gumtree, what should I do? | | I have a great Gumtree story I would like to tell the whole world about. Do you have a press office? | | I saw an advert that I don’t think should be online as it doesn’t follow your guidelines. How can I let you know that it should be removed? | | I think the ad is illegal, how do I report a scam? | | Can you remove an illegal ad? | I saw an ad that is great and should be in the "Gumtastic" category - how do I nominate the ad?
| | | HELP WITH “FOR SALE” | | What kind of “For Sale” postings do you accept? | | Should I watch out for anything in the “For Sale” categories? | | The advertiser wants me to send cash up front - what should I do? | | I’ve sent the advertiser my money but he has not sent the goods. | | What should I watch for when selling my item? | | | | | HELP WITH GUMTREE'S "BUMP UP" SERVICE | | What is Gumtree's "Bump Up" Service? | | How do I bump up my ad? | | | GENERAL HELP/LEGAL | | I have been sent the password for my advert. I did not request this, so why have I got it!? | | I have received an email that I think may be a scam. How can I tell if it is dodgy or not? | | Can you give me some more information and examples of scams that exist on the internet these days? | | What measures are in place on Gumtree to help protect users from illegal scams? | | I don’t have regular access to the internet. Is there any way I can receive ads from Gumtree via email? | | I keep getting daily emails from postings@gumtree.com | | I have never posted an ad on Gumtree, but I am receiving phone calls/emails?? | | My details have been used in an ad and I'm getting calls I don't want. | | I think the ad is illegal, how do I report a scam? | | Can you remove an illegal ad? | | Do you have any advice on using the Dating sections of Gumtree? | | I think the goods advertised in a posting may be stolen. | | An item stolen from me has appeared on Gumtree. | | Can you give me legal advice? | | How do I get a Gumtree in my city? | | THE LAST RESORT! | | |
| |
|
| | |
HELP WITH POSTING AN AD | |
How do I post an ad?
Posting an ad on Gumtree is quick and easy. Simply visit our home page and click on "post an ad" - it's located on the left-hand side of the page. Then:
* Choose the area and category where you would like your ad to appear
* Fill out all of the details of your ad in the posting form (Please be as descriptive as possible, and you can also include a photo in your ad!).
* Then follow the prompts to submit the ad.
Once submitted, there will be a delay of about 3-4 hours before the ad will appear online, so please be patient. It may be quicker during week days, but may take longer during the weekend or in the evenings.
After submitting your ad, you will be sent a confirmation email which will contain your reference number and password. Keep this email, because you can use these details later to edit, repost or delete your ad.
back to top
| |
| |
How do I Edit, Repost or Delete my ad?
Simply click the 'Edit/Delete an Ad' button on the left hand side of the home page and follow the prompts. You will need your Posting Reference Number and Password to get into your ad, and then you can edit, repost or delete your ad completely. After a short delay, amended ads will be updated, reposted ads will appear in the current days listings, and deleted ads will be removed from the site.
If you've lost or forgotten your password you can click the 'Email me the password’ button, and we will send it to you.
back to top
| |
| | |
How long does my ad stay on the site?
The duration of an ad differs depending on the category in which it appears and may be affected by a number of other factors.
In general, the duration of an ad is as follows:
Accommodation ads – up to 30 days
Employment ads – up to 60 days
Community ads – up to 90 days
Friends/dating ads – up to 45 days
For sale ads – up to 45 days
Events/Gigs ads – up to the date of the event.
The duration of an ad will be shorter than this maximum if:
• you choose to remove your ad from the site; or
• we exercise our right to remove your ad from the site. In accordance with our terms and conditions and job posting policies, we may remove an ad, without providing you with a refund, if the ad breaches our posting policies and/or our terms and conditions or we believe the ad is inappropriate; or
• an error in the service results in your ad being deleted. This would be beyond our control and we would not provide you with a refund. As per our terms and conditions, we don’t warrant that the service will be uninterrupted or error-free or that defects in the service will be corrected.
back to top
| |
| | |
How do I post a paid job ad?
Posting a job ad on Gumtree requires a payment to be made.
Posting job ads is the same as posting any other ad on Gumtree, however at the end of the posting process, you are asked to choose between payment methods. A credit card payment is the most common payment method and after entering your details the transaction is made securely by a third party secure site.
Once submitted, there will be a delay of about 3-4 hours before the ad will appear online, so please be patient. It may be quicker during week days, but may take longer during the weekend or in the evenings.
Upon submitting your posting online, you will be sent a confirmation email which will contain your reference number and password. Keep this email, because you can use these details later to return to this same form and edit, repost or delete the ad if required.
We also offer an account system for frequent users (more than 6 ads per month).
back to top
| |
| | |
What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept the following credit/debit cards and PayPal:
In most cases, you will enter your payment information at the end of the posting process, and your account will be charged immediately.
If you have a Gumtree account to post your jobs, we will send you an invoice at the end of the calendar month for the postings that you have made.
**A note about security:
Our online credit card payment forms are powered by the SecureTrading payment system which means that your credit card details are fully encrypted using the most sophisticated e-payment software. Our systems relay your credit card information (using the same encryption method) to SecureTrading, which charges your account. We do not keep any of your credit card or PayPal information on our servers.
back to top
| |
| | |
How can I get a VAT receipt for a job posting I submitted?
: If you have posted a job ad by card or by PayPal, then we will email you a VAT receipt to the address provided in the private contact information field at the time of posting. If you are using AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo or other generic email addresses, you may need to adjust your spam filters to accept emails from postings@gumtree.com.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have edited my ad and reposted it, but when I look at it online, the changes have not been made. Have I done something wrong?
After you edit an ad, there is always a slight delay before these changes are reflected in your ad. This delay could be up to a couple of hours so please be patient. If you follow the instructions in this FAQ on how to amend an ad, the changes will be made in time. Check back on your ad a bit later and you should see the changes live.
back to top
| |
| | |
I want to post multiple job ads on Gumtree.com How do I set up an account?
If you are a high volume job ad poster, we offer an account to allow you to post ads more quickly and easily at a discounted rate. This account is only available to companies posting more than 6 paid ads per month. For more information on a Gumtree account and rates, click here
back to top
| |
| | |
I have posted an ad, but have yet to receive a confirmation email. How long do I have to wait?
After posting an ad, you should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you are using an AOL, Hotmail or another generic email account and you are waiting for either a VAT receipt after posting a job ad, or an activation email after posting a personal ad, please check your junkmail folder as these emails are sometimes directed here.
back to top
| |
|
|
| | |
It has been more than 4 hours since I posted my ad and I cannot see it online.
There will always be a slight delay after posting your ad before it will appear online, so please be patient. If your ad has not appeared after this delay, it is possible that it has been removed from the site due to it not complying with our posting policies or guidelines. Please check for emails from ‘postings@Gumtree.com’ to read any messages from us about this (these emails sometimes get directed to “Trash” or “Junkmail”, so check these folders), and to be safe, double check our policies here.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have just posted or reposted an ad but cannot see it online!
There will always be a slight delay before your ad appears online after being posted/reposted so please be patient.
A good way to locate your ad is to type the email/phone number that appears in your ad into the “Search” box at the top of the page. Also, make sure you are in the right category when searching e.g: “flat/house share”, or “flat/house rent”.
The listings are constantly being updated with new material, so please be patient if you cannot see your ad straight away.
back to top
| |
| | |
I see that I can hide my email address when I post an advert. How does this work so I still receive responses?
When submitting a posting, you are asked to provide your email address. We give you the option of remaining anonymous by hiding the email address in your ad. People then contact you via an online email form which is forwarded to your email.
We've provided three options for you under this field:
1. Your email address appears in your posting just as you have typed it–(ensure the “Hide my contact email address” button IS NOT ticked).
2. We anonymize your email address. We relay responses to your actual email address–(ensure the “Hide my contact email address” button IS ticked).
3. No email address is shown at all - you'll need to provide contact information in the "Phone number" field.
Selecting options 2 or 3 will ensure your actual email address will not appear, but only option 2 allows you to receive emails.
If you are posting in the “friends/partners” categories the “Hide my email address” button is automatically ticked as a default (see #2 above).
back to top
| |
| | |
I have seen ads with photos and I like it! How do I include an image in my ad?
You can add a maximum of 3 images to your Gumtree ad – to do this;
* At the bottom of the posting description page, there is a button labelled “Add/edit images” – click on that button to proceed.
* To add a photo, press the “browse” button to search your computer for the relevant image.
* Once an image is chosen (and the location of the image appears in the white box), click the “UPLOAD” button. This is very important!
* Once the upload is complete (this may take a short time), you should be able to view this image on this page.
* You can repeat the process to add more images (remembering to click “upload” each time), or click “preview your ad” to continue.
PLEASE NOTE: Once an ad is submitted with an image, you may not be able to view the image in your ad immediately, as it takes longer for the images to appear than the text. This is normal behaviour so please be patient and check your ad again after an hour or so – your image should then appear.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have uploaded an image with my ad, but when I look at it online, the image is not appearing. Have I done something wrong?
When you add an image to your ad, it sometimes takes longer for the image to upload than the text. This is completely normal as there is always a slight delay before these images appear in your ad. This delay could be up to a couple of hours so please be patient. If you follow the instructions in this FAQ on how to add images to your ad, they will appear shortly. Check back on your ad a bit later and you should see the images appearing live.
back to top
| |
| | |
I am having a problem attaching my image/CV/document file when replying to a Gumtree ad?
Please check what file extension you are trying to attach and send. We only allow the following files:
* pictures: bmp, jpg, gif
* documents (CVs, letters): doc, txt, pdf, rtf
back to top
| |
| | |
The Map location on my ad is incorrect – why is this?
If you wish to include a location map with your ad, you are asked to enter your full postcode in the field provided. If the postcode you enter is not complete (i.e. SW4 instead of SW4 9HQ), then it will not display the correct location on the map. Please ensure that the full postcode is entered into this field if you wish to have the correct map displayed.
back to top
| |
| | |
When I try to submit my ad, I keep getting told that the price is wrong – why is this?
When you enter the price into the price field of your ad please ensure that you do not enter either a space, a comma or a “£" sign in the price field along with the numbers. This field only recognises numerical characters (numbers) so if anything else is entered it will interpret it as being incorrect and will therefore not accept it. If you wish the price £450 to appear, simply type in the following: 450
The "£" will then be added automatically.
back to top
| |
| | |
I cannot activate my ad?
You need to activate your advert for some categories, like dating. Look out for an email from postings@Gumtree. You need to click on the activating link, which looks like this:
www.asdfkjashdkljasdhjkl.Gumtree
In hotmail you will need to copy and paste the full link into your browser (If this link is longer than one line, you will need to paste both “halves” of the link into the browser). You will get a message confirming that the advert has been activated. Your ad will appear online approx 3-4 hours later.
back to top
| |
| | |
I am trying to post my flatshare offered ad in more than one of the categories, but the ads are not appearing online, why?
If ads are indiscriminately posted in multiple, irrelevant categories, they will be removed.
Rooms are categorized by the size of bed they contain, not by their size, which is why we ask you the size of the bed, not the size of the room, in the posting process. If your room contains a single bed, then it belongs in "single rooms" ONLY. If it contains a double bed, then it belongs in "Double rooms" ONLY. Double bed = double room - Single bed = single room. It doesn't matter how many people you wish to have in the room, as you can state this in the actual ad (There is a box you can tick should the room be available to couples).
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being continually moved/deleted.
back to top
| |
| | |
Can I post on all regional Gumtrees?
Normally, no. You should post to the site closest the specific geographic location of where you are located. Ads will only be accepted that are geographically specific and locally relevant. If someone is looking for accommodation or a job in Manchester, for example, they would visit Manchester Gumtree This local community approach is what Gumtree is all about.
back to top
| |
| | |
Can I put a link in my posting to an ad on another site?
Normally, no. On Gumtree, we have endeavored to provide you with all the necessary tools and functionality to enable you to construct a successful posting. Remember, you can use as much space as you like in your ad, it goes online shortly after being submitted, you can amend it whenever you wish and you can even include photos, so there is no need to direct people elsewhere.
If you have something for sale, a job offer or even a place to rent you have the freedom to post it on any site you wish, however we would appreciate it if you could assist us by not including links to these other sites.
back to top
| |
| | |
I tried submitting a posting advertising my Football tickets for sale, but it was removed. Why is this?
It is illegal to resell any tickets to professional football matches occurring in England and Wales or involving English or Welsh teams playing outside England or Wales.
Please contact the FA, or the relevant Football club directly for information on exchange options available to you.
back to top
| |
| | |
I tried submitting a posting advertising my Train tickets for sale, but it was removed. Why is this?
It is illegal to resell any rail tickets in the UK (including Eurostar tickets), unless you are an official distributor. We therefore do not allow any postings advertising the sale of these tickets.
Please contact the relevant rail carriers directly for information on exchange options available to you.
back to top
| |
| | |
HELP WITH MY EXISTING AD | |
I have reposted my ad but cannot find it ANYWHERE on the site!
When an ad is reposted, it is completely removed from it’s location on the site and then after a brief delay is relocated in the current days listings. So, for a short period of time after you repost the ad, you will not be able to find it at all on the site. Please be patient as your ad should appear online again shortly after reposting.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have posted my add in the wrong category – can I change the location?
If you have posted your ad in the wrong category, please use the “edit/delete ad” button to delete your ad, and then post a new ad in the correct category. The location of an ad cannot be changed after it has been posted.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have forgotten the password for my ad, how can I find it?
To retrieve your password if you have forgotten it, simply click on the “edit/delete ad” button on the left side of the home page, enter the reference number of your ad, and click the “Email me the password” button. Your password will then be emailed to you within a few hours.
back to top
| |
| | |
When I attempt to repost my ad and type in my password, it says it is incorrect, but I know it is correct.
Please make sure that when you enter the details that you don’t inadvertently include a space along with the correct characters. This usually happens if you copy and paste the details from an email, rather than typing the details in individually. Also, please be aware that passwords are all case sensitive so ensure the case of the letter matches the originally entered password.
back to top
| |
| | |
I can see my ad but am not getting much response.
There may be a couple of reasons why you can see your ad, but you aren't getting much response: * Your ad could be in the wrong category, in which case we can move it to the correct category for you. Please contact us and let us know.
* It could have moved down the listings pages, in which case it's worth re-posting under today's date.
* You may have entered your contact details incorrectly. Please amend your ad accordingly and repost. If you are unconvinced that any of the above is the problem, then try our “Tips on posting ads” section for help on making a better ad.
back to top
| |
| | |
My ad has disappeared.
After a certain period of time, your ad will have expired and removed from the site.
Also, each time you amend or repost your advert, it will disappear offline for 3-4 hours while the server refreshes the page.
Postings that are determined to fall outside our posting guidelines are also subject to deletion by our staff.
Our monitoring system has all the imperfections of a democratic system. If you are confident that your ad adheres to the guidelines set out and the spirit of Gumtree, please feel free to email us and tell us about it!
back to top
| |
| | |
Why was my posting deleted?
Ads that are reported to us and/or fall outside our postings policies/terms and conditions may be removed from the site. This system has all the imperfections of a democratic system. If you are confident your posting adheres to our guidelines completely and is in the spirit of Gumtree, please feel free to repost it.
* Gumtree reserves the right to remove any postings that we feel are not relevant, or of value to the Gumtree community with or without notice. Should you object to any of our terms or conditions, any guidelines, or any subsequent modifications thereto or become dissatisfied with Gumtree in any way, your only recourse is to immediately discontinue use of Gumtree.
back to top
| |
| | |
I cannot find the advert I placed earlier on in the year!
Your posting will have been deleted from the site if it’s been more than 2 months since you last amended it. We recommend that you create a new ad and submit that online.
back to top
| |
| | |
WHAT KIND OF ADS DO YOU ACCEPT | |
What kind of flatshare postings do you accept?
All of the “Flatshare” sections are for individual community members advertising their accommodation vacancies and is not for commercial advertisement or promotion. Professional landlords or agents may ONLY use the “Commercial landlords/agents offerings” section. Rule of thumb; if you live in the house yourself and wish to let a room within, you can advertise in “Flatshare offered”. If you do not actually live in the house, then these sections are not for you.
Rooms are categorized by the size of bed they contain, not by their size, which is why we ask you the size of the bed, not the size of the room, in the posting process. If your room contains a single bed, then it belongs in "single rooms" ONLY. If it contains a double bed, then it belongs in "Double rooms" ONLY. Double bed = double room - Single bed = single room. It doesn't matter how many people you wish to have in the room, as you can state this in the actual ad (There is a box you can tick should the room be available to couples).
If ads are indiscriminately posted in multiple, irrelevant categories, they will be removed.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of Flats/Houses to rent postings do you accept?
The “Flats/Houses offered” sections of Gumtree are for advertising entire flats or houses to rent. Private home owners, Landlords and Professional agents are all welcome to use this area, however Professional Landlords and Agents must identify themselves as such by ticking the “Are you acting as an agent” box in the ad submission process.In the posting form, we have specific fields for Price and Location. Please do not put locations or prices in the titles of postings. In location field please just put the suburb, not the street address.
Please ensure that each posting ONLY advertises one property.
As with all categories, we offer you the ability to include as much information in your ad as you like, as well as being able to include photos, so we suggest you be as descriptive as possible to increase the chances of your ad being successful.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of Accommodation WANTED postings do you accept?
The 'london flats/houses for rent wanted' section is not for commercial advertisement or promotion, but for individual community members advertising their need for accommodation. We do not accept ads from commercial entities in these sections.
Please feel free to post your ad in the "Property services" section instead.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of “For Sale” postings do you accept?
The “For sale” categories have been designed for private sellers and buyers ONLY. If you are a commercial retailer or conducting a business through your postings then please use the business services section.
Gumtree is not an auction site and we therefore request that ALL “For sale” ads contain a definitive price for the item. It is for this reason that we do not allow ads with links to auction sites or ads stating “highest offer accepted”. Remember, you can use as much space as you like and you can even include a photo, so there is no need to direct people elsewhere
Tickets for sporting or music events at prices above or below face values must state the face value. We do not support ticket touts or scalpers and ads not containing the face vale of the ticket will be removed.
We do not allow postings advertising the sale of ANYTHING illegal including the following:
* Drugs
* Weapons
* Football tickets
* Eurostar or Rail tickets
* Obscene, erotic items/material
* Cigarettes or tobacco products
* Gumtree reserves the right to remove any postings that we feel are not relevant, or of value to the Gumtree community, with or without notice.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of “Freebies” ads do you accept?
We accept ads from individuals who are genuinely and legitimately giving their items away to other community members.
* We don’t accept commercial or private offers of services.
* We don’t accept ads where people want something in return for their item, monetary or otherwise.
* We don’t accept ads where people request payment for the item.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of Friend/Partners/Dating postings do you accept?
The “Friends/Partners” sections, including “Dating” are for individual community members ONLY – not for commercial entities, events or dating groups advertising their services. If you fall under this description, feel free to use the business services section.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of Casual Relationships postings do you accept?
**This section is strictly for people OVER 18 years of age**
The “Casual relationships” sections are for individual community members ONLY – not for commercial entities, events or dating groups advertising their services. If you fall under this description, feel free to use the business services section.
We do not allow postings advertising the promotion of anything illegal or inappropriate, including:
* Prostitution
* Adult movie recruitment
* Massage services
We note ALL IP addresses of people submitting ads to Gumtree (so there are footprints), and if you abuse this system we will take appropriate action.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of Community postings do you accept?
All of the “Community” sections are ONLY for postings from individual community members and is NOT for commercial advertisement or promotion.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of Business services postings do you accept?
The “Business Services” sections are for Businesses and commercial entities to submit postings advertising their services. These sections are not for recruitment ads.
Postings advertising Massage Services must include relevant qualifications and state that they are not offering a sexual service, and we do not accept postings using hotmail or yahoo email accounts and/or mobile phone numbers. These advertisers must have a current business email address.
We do not allow Duplicate postings (multiple postings advertising the same company’s services over and over again). Duplicate postings are extremely annoying to both us and our users, as they bring no value to the categories in which they appear. Please post no more than one posting per day advertising your services. The repeated posting of multiple, duplicate ads may lead to a complete deletion of ALL of your ads.
Please follow these guidelines to avoid your ad being moved/deleted.
back to top
| |
| | |
What kind of job postings do you accept?
We ask that all job postings reflect an individual and specific role. **General/generic ads advertising more than one vacancy, or are simply advertising the services of the employer will not be accepted.**
Our policies also prohibit the following types of listings on our site:
Posting of any franchise, pyramid scheme, multi-level marketing, "club membership", distributorship or sales representative agency arrangement or other business opportunity which requires an up front or periodic payment, requires recruitment of other members, sub-distributors or sub-agents, or pays commissions only (except for postings that make clear that the available job pays commission only and clearly describes the product or service that the job seeker would be selling, in which case such postings may be permissible). We do not allow the advertising of “Work from home” opportunities/businesses.
We also do not accept postings that contain links to other websites that offer the user job posting facilities. We do not accept job postings that indicate an intention to discriminate on the grounds of race, sex, marriage or age. We do not accept postings that advertise for models (either male or female) using hotmail or yahoo email accounts and/or mobile phone numbers. These advertisers must have a current business email address and we do not accept adverts for escort work.
Please refer to our posting policies for more details.
back to top
| |
| | |
HELP WITH ADS I SEE ON Gumtree | |
How do I answer an ad? There are no contact details
If you cannot view an email address in an ad, the poster has chosen to hide this address. You can contact them using the link at the top of the ad where it says Click here to contact the poster. You will then be taken to a web email form where you can type in your response to the ad, which is then emailed directly to the poster.
back to top
| |
| | |
I am having trouble sending an attachment to an advertiser through your email web form.
If you are replying to an ad via the email web form, and are attaching a document, your file will need to be under 1MB in size. Only the following files can be attached:
* pictures: bmp, jpg, gif
* documents (CVs, letters): doc, txt, pdf, rtf
back to top
| |
| | |
I saw an advert that I don’t think should be online as it doesn’t follow your guidelines. How can I let you know that it should be removed?
We actively encourage all kinds of feedback, especially the sort that helps us keep the site free from “rubbish” ads, which is why we have a "Report this ad" button on every single ad. We employ a “self policing” system on the site so anyone can report an ad to us if they feel it doesn’t belong. By simply clicking on the “Report this posting for review by Gumtree admin” button, you can alert us to a specific ad so we can review it. If we feel it doesn’t belong, we will remove it.
Community moderation
Gumtree receives thousands of classified postings each week, and it is not possible to manually review them.
Fortunately, our reporting system empowers the community itself and enables them to successfully moderate Gumtree.
By using the “Report this posting” feature located at the bottom right hand corner of each post, you can take action if you feel a post breaks our terms of use, is miscategorised or for any reason does not belong.
Once reported, the ad is brought to our attention for review and if applicable, deletion. This system is a work-in-progress, and suffers some of the deficiencies of a democracy - for instance, up to 2% of postings removed due to reporting actually fall within our posting guidelines - but without it the site would quickly become unusable.
If you have ideas for improving it, please let us know.
Please note however - of the many emails we've received about unfair removal of ads, nearly 100% of the postings in question fell outside our terms of use.
Posts that are clearly within our terms of use may be reposted, reworded if necessary to deflect attention.
It's worth noting that posted diatribes against people flagging your post tend to be removed quite quickly.
back to top
| |
| | |
HELP WITH REPORTING AN AD/FEEDBACK | |
I had a great experience on Gumtree, what should I do?
TELL EVERYONE!!! Gumtree has grown to be the valuable resource it is because of your hard work, not ours. Word of mouth is the greatest marketing tool that exists and that is what has grown the site. So if you had a great time using Gumtree, tell your friends, family, colleagues, boss, ex-girlfriend, pets, etc (you get the idea) so they too can benefit from the site!
We look forward to seeing you and your mates up Gumtree soon!
back to top
| |
| | |
I have a Great Gumtree story I would like to tell the whole world about. Do you have a press office?
We love hearing all of your positive stories from using the site, so for all press enquiries please contact:
press@Gumtree.com
back to top
| |
| | |
I saw an advert that I don’t think should be online as it doesn’t follow your guidelines. How can I let you know that it should be removed?
If you feel an ad is illegal, please use the "Report this ad" button, located at the bottom right hand corner of the ad. This will alert us to its presence so we can remove it from the site. You also may want to contact the Police directly.
We are also always eager to hear of unscrupulous traders/advertisers attempting to operate in the community. If you have any information you feel would be important to us, please include it when you report the ad to us. This is extremely helpful to us in keeping the site “clean”.
back to top
| |
| | |
Can you remove an illegal ad?
Yes - please let us know by using the "Report this ad" button, located at the bottom right hand corner of the ad. When we can establish the legality of such a posting, we will certainly be able to remove the advert.
back to top
| |
| | |
I saw an ad that is great and should be in the "Gumtastic" category - how do I nominate the ad?
If you see a great ad on the site that you think is quirky, funny, wacky, etc and should be in our "Gumtastic" category, please let us know by clicking the "Report this ad for review by Gumtree admin" button and choosing the "Gumtastic" option. We will then review the ad and if it is indeed Gumtastic, we will move it there for all to see.
back to top
| |
| | |
HELP WITH “FOR SALE” | |
Should I watch out for anything in the “For Sale” categories?
Yes. There are unscrupulous people in all walks of life and the internet is no different. You must be on your guard, use common sense in all transactions and if in doubt, do not part with your money/goods. Remember, if it seems too be good to be true, it usually IS too good to be true. The purpose of the Gumtree “For Sale” categories is to encourage face-to-face, local, trading.
Importantly:
Be careful when meeting sellers at their home
Most private advertisers sell their goods from home. For personal ease and safety, always ensure you take someone with you.
If you're answering a home service ad, ask the advertiser to produce identity and proof of qualification before inviting them into your home.
Buyer beware!
Once you have bought an item from a private seller, you have no legal comeback if it turns out to be faulty. Therefore, check the goods thoroughly before handing over the money. If the seller still has the receipts, or a warranty, so much the better.
Keep records
If travel is involved in the transaction, always remember to write down the contact details of the people you are visiting, or the people who are visiting you. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to make the appointment, notify them in advance.
If you'd like to read more about recent scams, please go to our For sale forums. Stay safe!
back to top
| |
| | |
The advertiser wants me to send cash up front - what should I do?
Don't do it.
Gumtree recommend that buyers NEVER send cash or cheques through the post, or place money directly into a seller's bank account, in advance or expectation of receiving goods.
We do not advise parting with your money/goods until the transfer of goods/cash is completed face to face.
Watch out for Western Union/Bid Pay – it is our belief that these forms of funds transfer are favoured by fraudsters. PayPal is much more secure.
back to top
| |
| | |
I’ve sent the advertiser my money but he has not sent the goods.
Unfortunately, we are unable to interfere in the private transactions between a buyer and a seller. However, if you can provide us with a letter of complaint, we will keep this on permanent file under the advertiser's records.
You may wish to contact your local citizens advice bureau or the Police, who will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take. The number for your local office can be found in the phone book.
back to top
| |
| | |
What should I watch for when selling my item?
Fraudsters try to get your attention by sending short emails asking for 'more information' about your item.
Often the English is very poor, and the emails usually don't make any sense!
Valuable items
For valuable items - such as a car - you could ask for either cash, or a bankers draft and offer a receipt as proof of purchase. In the case of bankers' drafts, it is wise to go to the bank together and watch it being drawn.
Overpayment scam
There are several different scams working but all are basically to do with overpayment for your goods.
One scam works when you are contacted by someone offering to pay for your item in full. They will say that they are living in a different country but that someone in England owes them money. They will offer to send you a cheque for far more money than the actual price and then ask you to send the difference with the goods.
Another one works when you the person who has agreed to buy your goods says a mistake has been made and instead of £100 the cheque has been made out for £1,000 and would you cash the cheque and send back the difference.
In both cases, the cheque will clear into your bank, only to be stopped/refused weeks later. At this point, the Banks/Building Societies will take the full cheque amount back out of your account. Not only will you have lost the goods, you will be out of pocket for the amount of their original cheque (£1,000) and the amount you passed on as the difference (£900).
If this happens to you, contact your local police and Trading Standards Officer.
back to top
| |
| | |
HELP WITH GUMTREE'S "BUMP UP" SERVICE | |
What is Gumtree's "Bump Up" Service?
There are so many ads on Gumtree and the most recent ones appear first, so your ad may quickly move down the listings and you may find you get fewer responses after the first few days. Gumtree's new "Bump Up" Service enables you to bump your ad back to the top of the listings. Your ad will then continue to move down the listings as other users post new ads or bump up their existing ads.
back to top
| |
| | |
How do I bump up my ad?
You can bump up your ad using either of the following two methods:
• You can call the following premium rate telephone number: 0907 787 2727. Calls to this number cost £1.50 per minute. [Calls from mobiles and some networks may be higher.] You will hear a series of recorded messages and you will be asked to key in your 7 digit ad reference number.
• You can text "GUMTREE" plus your 7 digit ad reference number to the following premium rate short code number: 82070. Texts to this number cost £1.50 per text [plus your usual text tariff].
See our "Bump Up" Service rules for full terms and conditions.
back to top
| |
| | |
GENERAL HELP/LEGAL | |
I have been sent the password for my advert. I did not request this, so why have I got it!?
Somebody else has keyed in one of your posting reference numbers to request the password to your ad. They may have done this accidentally, so do not worry. We’d only email the password to the contact given in the ad – no one else.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have received an email that I think may be a scam. How can I tell if it is dodgy or not?
There are many different types of email scams that exist, all sent by people attempting to defraud you. You should show caution in all instances, especially with people who;
* Are overseas
* Request payment via Western Union (or other online payment methods)
* Request that you send goods before you receive payment
* Claim to have a friend/agent who can pay you an amount greater than the value of your goods, then ask you to send them the difference.
An example of a fruadulent email is:
DEAR SIR.
THROUGH THE INTRNET I DISCOVERED THAT YOU WANT TO SELL solid wood dining suite IN THE AMOUNT OF GBP 800, IN WHICH I HAVE INTEREST ON IT. OUR PAYMENT IS BY BANK DRAFT. WHILE WE URGE YOU TO FURNISH US THE NAME, ADDRESS AND TEL. NO FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT. WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY.
There are scams that exist across the internet today, and we do our best to help our community by working with different commercial and Government departments to educate people on what to look out for.
Get Safe Online - is an online safety guide with top 10 safety tips – well worth checking out.
Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert Pages – is an information portal put together by the Metropolitan Police.
Our Forums also provide helpful information about current scams that you may encounter.
These will provide you with extensive information on the different scams that exist and how to recognise them and protect yourself.
back to top | |
| | |
Can you give me some more information and examples of scams that exist on the internet these days?
There are scams that exist across the internet today, and we do our best to help our community by working with different commercial and Government departments to educate people on what to look out for.
Get Safe Online - is an online safety guide with top 10 safety tips – well worth checking out.
Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert Pages – is an information portal put together by the Metropolitan Police.
Our Forums also provide helpful information about current scams that you may encounter.
These will provide you with extensive information on the different scams that exist and how to recognise them and protect yourself.
back to top
| |
| | |
What measures are in place on Gumtree to help protect users from illegal scams?
Gumtree works extremely hard at protecting our users. We are constantly changing and updating our tools to make life difficult for anyone attempting to scam someone through Gumtree. For example:
1. We have warning messages in many places across the site, with examples of common scams, etc.
2. We encourage and rely on the community to "report an ad" to us for review if it seems fraudulent, illegal, against Gumtree policy or inappropriate.
3. We give you the ability to anonymise and hide your email address in your ad, which cuts down on the potential for spammers to send you unwanted e-mails.
4. We enable the community to post information about scams on our Forums with examples of recent frauds. This is where people can educate themselves on the potential scams that are out there, and offer advice or feedback to help other users.
5. We have various policies in place and take various actions to make life difficult for spammers, scammers and other generally not nice people
We treat every instance of fraud or spam extremely seriously and do our very best to protect our users and make your visit to Gumtree, safe and enjoyable.
Please take every precaution when proceeding with any transaction in response to a posting on Gumtree. As a user, you have to be aware of potential scams out there and use your judgment before proceeding with any transactions. If you have any doubts, please let us know.
back to top
| |
| | |
I don’t have regular access to the internet. Is there any way I can receive ads from Gumtree via email?
You can subscribe to specific categories on Gumtree by clicking the “subscribe free” button on the left side of the homepage. If you then enter your email address and the categories of interest, we will send you a daily email containing all ads posted in that category on that day. You can unsubscribe just as easy by clicking the “unsubscribe” button.
back to top
| |
| | |
I keep getting daily emails from postings@gumtree.com
To unsubscribe from daily emails you have previously subscribed to, simply click the “UNSUBSCRIBE” button on the left side of the homepage and enter your email address. You will then be removed from all daily subscription emails. Please remember to unsubscribe on the same Gumtree site you made the subscription to.
back to top
| |
| | |
I have never posted an ad on Gumtree, but I am receiving phone calls/emails??
This occasionally happens when an advertiser mis-types a phone number/email address in their ad. This occurs mostly in newspapers when advertisers mis-quote their phone numbers when placing classified ads over the telephone and sometimes happens on the internet too. Please contact us via email and we will remove the ad immediately.
back to top
| |
| | |
My details have been used in an ad and I'm getting calls I don't want.
There could be several common reasons for this, including simply human error. This occasionally happens when an advertiser mis-types a phone number/email address in their ad. This occurs mostly in newspapers when advertisers mis-quote their phone numbers when placing classified ads over the telephone and sometimes happens on the internet too. Please contact us via email and we will remove the ad immediately.
back to top
| |
| | |
I think the ad is illegal, how do I report a scam?
If you feel an ad is illegal, you may want to contact the Police directly.
We are also always eager to hear of unscrupulous traders/advertisers attempting to operate in the community. If you have any information you feel would be important to us, please email us the details. This is extremely helpful to us in keeping the site “clean”.
back to top
| |
| | |
Do you have any advice on using the Dating sections of Gumtree?
For all personal encounters with people you are not familiar with, we stress that you MUST TAKE CARE!
If you do decide to meet someone through Gumtree, for your own personal peace of mind and safety, we suggest that you take someone along with you when you first meet the person. If you do not have a friend with you, then ensure that you tell someone exactly what you are doing, where you are going, when you are expected back, and give contact umbers, etc.
Once at your rendezvous, if you feel at all uncomfortable with the situation, then we suggest you politely excuse yourself and leave. Do not feel obliged at any time during the encounter to do anything you are uncomfortable with.
The friends/dating/casual categories are designed for individual people to meet others at a level that they are comfortable with. We promote safe practices and strongly advise people to use common sense and express due caution in every situation.
back to top
| |
| | |
I think the goods advertised in a posting may be stolen.
If you have reason to believe that items purchased on Gumtree were stolen, please contact your local Police. You'll find contact details for your area in the local phone book and the Police will be able to advise you on the correct course of action.
back to top
| |
| | |
An item stolen from me has appeared on Gumtree.
If you have reason to believe that items stolen from you have appeared on Gumtree, please contact your local Police. You'll find contact details for your area in the local phone book and the Police will be able to advise you on the correct course of action.
back to top
| |
| | |
Can you give me legal advice?
Unfortunately we are not able to give legal advice.
However, your local Citizen's Advice Bureau will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take. The number for your local office can be found in the phone book.
back to top
| |
| | |
How do I get a Gumtree in my city?
If you think that there should be a Gumtree in your city or region, please let us know by visiting the Gumtree Feedback Forum, and telling us about your area. We will review the suggestion and maybe launch a brand new regional Gumtree there!
back to top
| |
| | |
THE LAST RESORT!!!
Contact us
back to top | |
|  |
