Why Do We Need To Verify Your Age?
It’s a legal requirement. Since 2015, it has been illegal to sell vaping products to anyone under the age of 18. While our physical stores follow the standard Challenge 25 protocol, shopping online is a bit different since we can’t verify your age in person. To stay compliant with the law, we use a secure digital age verification process for all customers.
How Does Our Age Verification Work?
When you place your order at ELQD ECIGS, we verify your name, date of birth, and billing address via our third-party partner, Age Checked Ltd. This system matches your information against official records, such as the electoral register and credit files, to securely confirm your age.
While most of our customers are verified seamlessly in the background with no input required, a digital check may occasionally be unsuccessful. This usually happens if:
- You used a nickname (e.g., “Tom” instead of your full legal name, “Thomas”).
- You recently moved house and haven’t updated the electoral register or your credit providers.
- You recently changed your name (through marriage or other means) and official records haven’t caught up.
Once verified, your order is approved and dispatched. If this automatic step fails, you will have the option to verify your age via other methods, such as a secure ID scan.
What Happens if I Fail the Automated Check?
If we are unable to verify you using the automated Age Checked software, we do have a manual backup option. We will send you an email asking you to provide a photo of a government-issued ID so we can verify your age – similar to being asked for ID in a physical shop.
Once we confirm you are over 18, your account will be marked as Age Verified, meaning you won’t have to repeat the process for future orders.
Why is Age Verification Important?
Vaping is designed exclusively for adult smokers seeking a significantly reduced-risk alternative to combustible tobacco. It is not intended for non-smokers or children. According to Public Health England, vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking, and our goal is to help smokers make that switch – not to introduce nicotine to a new generation.
We are committed to responsible retailing. To us, age verification isn’t just a legal hoop; it’s the right thing to do.
Does Age Verification Cost Me Anything?
No. We do not charge for age verification checks. ELQD ECIGS covers all costs associated with verifying your age to ensure your shopping experience is as smooth as possible.