Horeka publicly describes certain sellers as verified. This policy sets out exactly what we check before making that claim, so that customers know what it means and sellers know what is required. It forms part of the Seller Agreement.
1. Why this exists
A trust claim that cannot be substantiated is a misleading advertisement under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. We therefore publish our verification criteria in full and apply them consistently. If we cannot verify a seller against these criteria, we do not describe them as verified.
2. What we verify
Tier 1 — Identity and legal existence (mandatory for every seller)
Check
Document
Method
Legal identity of the business
Certificate of Incorporation, Partnership Deed, or proprietorship proof
Document review; MCA registry check for companies and LLPs
PAN
PAN card of the entity or proprietor
Validated against the Income Tax database
Authorised signatory identity
Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence
Document review; name match against PAN
Authority to bind the entity
Board resolution or authorisation letter
Document review
Tier 2 — Tax and financial standing (mandatory)
Check
Document
Method
GST registration
GSTIN certificate
Validated live against the GST portal; status must be Active
GST exemption, where claimed
Signed declaration of turnover below threshold
Declaration on record; re-confirmed annually
Bank account ownership
Cancelled cheque or bank statement
Penny-drop verification — name on the account must match the registered entity
Settlement is made only to a bank account in the seller’s own verified name. We do not settle to third-party accounts under any circumstances.
Tier 3 — Physical premises (mandatory for the Verified badge)
Check
Evidence
Principal place of business
Utility bill, rent agreement or property tax receipt, not older than 3 months
Premises actually exist and operate
Physical visit by a Horeka representative, or geotagged photographs of the storefront with the signage visible
Business is contactable
Verified mobile number (OTP) and email (link confirmation)
Stated service area
Pin codes confirmed as consistent with the verified premises location
Tier 4 — Category licences (mandatory where the category requires it)
Category
Required before listing
Electrical appliances
BIS Registration or ISI licence number for each model
Gas stoves
ISI licence under IS 4246
Pressure cookers
ISI licence under IS 2347
Food-contact articles
Food-grade certification; migration test reports for plastics
Pest control products
CIB&RC registration and insecticide sale licence
Cosmetics and personal care
Manufacturing or import licence under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020
Toys and children’s products
BIS certification under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020
Branded goods
Authorised distributor or reseller letter, or purchase invoices tracing to an authorised source
Tier 5 — Contractual acceptance (mandatory)
Written or click-wrap acceptance, with an audit record of timestamp, IP address and the version accepted, of the Seller Agreement, the Prohibited & Restricted Products Policy, the Code of Conduct in Section 5 below, and the Seller Data Protection Addendum.
3. What the Verified badge does and does not mean
It does mean
It does not mean
The business legally exists and we have verified its identity documents
That any particular product is of good quality
Its GSTIN is active and its PAN is valid
That Horeka has inspected or tested the seller’s stock
Its bank account is in its own verified name
That the seller will never make a mistake
Its premises physically exist and were confirmed
That Horeka endorses or guarantees the seller
It is contactable and accountable
That Horeka is a party to the sale, or liable for the goods
It has accepted binding obligations on product safety and returns
That every listing has been individually pre-approved
Verification is about accountability — it means that if something goes wrong there is a real, identifiable business responsible for it. See Marketplace Disclosure.
4. Onboarding process
Registration — the seller submits business details and documents.
Document review — 2–5 working days.
Digital verification — PAN, GSTIN and penny-drop checks.
Premises verification — visit or geotagged evidence.
Agreement acceptance — Seller Terms accepted and recorded.
Category enablement — restricted categories unlocked only on production of licences.
Catalogue review — the first batch of listings is reviewed before going live.
Go live.
Where onboarding is declined we give the reason in writing and the seller may re-apply once the deficiency is cured.
5. Seller Code of Conduct
Every seller commits to the following. Breach is grounds for enforcement under the Performance Policy.
Integrity
Sell only genuine goods to which you hold lawful title.
Describe goods accurately. Never overstate material, capacity, wattage, certification or brand.
Never display a false MRP or a reference price that was never genuine.
Honour the price and delivery promise displayed at the time of order.
Customers
Treat every customer with courtesy, and respond to queries within one working day.
Honour your published returns policy and the minimum standard in clause 7.2 of the Seller Agreement.
Never pressure a customer over a review, or offer an inducement for one.
Never use customer contact details for marketing without independent lawful consent.
Never include material in packaging that solicits off-platform trade.
Fair dealing
Do not post reviews on your own or a competitor’s listings.
Do not operate multiple accounts to evade enforcement or manipulate ranking.
Do not hijack another seller’s listing or misuse their content or images.
Do not gouge prices on essential goods during an emergency.
Compliance
Maintain every licence and certification for the categories you sell in, and produce them within 48 hours on request.
Issue a compliant tax invoice for every order.
Meet all tax, legal metrology, product safety and data protection obligations.
Notify Horeka within 24 hours of any product recall, safety notice or regulatory action affecting your goods.
6. Ongoing and re-verification
Annual re-verification of GSTIN status, licences and bank details for every active seller.
Event-triggered re-verification on a change of entity, address, bank account or authorised signatory; on a spike in complaints or returns; or on a credible report of counterfeit or unsafe goods.
Continuous monitoring of performance metrics under the Performance Policy.
Sellers must notify Horeka within 7 days of any material change. Failure to do so may result in suspension of the badge or of the account.
7. Withdrawal of verified status
We withdraw the Verified badge where a GSTIN lapses or is cancelled; documents are found to be forged or misrepresented; premises are found not to exist or not to be operated by the seller; a required licence expires; or the seller commits a material breach of the Code of Conduct.
Withdrawal is notified in writing with reasons, and may be appealed under the Performance Policy.
8. How we handle seller documents
Documents collected under this policy are personal data and business-confidential. We store them encrypted, restrict access to authorised onboarding and compliance personnel, retain them for the duration of the relationship plus 8 years as required by tax and company law, and never share them with other sellers or with customers. Disclosure is made only to a competent authority on lawful demand. See our Privacy Policy.
