Seller guide
Seven things an honest gold buyer will always do, and the signs to walk away
Most gold buyers are legitimate, but a small number are not. Here is how to tell the difference before you send anything.
Why British Gold Exchange
40+
Years in the precious metals business
£0
Cost to request your free insured postal pack
24h
Maximum time to receive your firm, itemised offer
100%
Of items returned free if you decline
Ready to get a valuation?
The short answer
An honest buyer is transparent, verifiable and puts everything in writing
Gold buying in the UK is subject to anti-money-laundering rules, and a reputable buyer will explain the identity checks they carry out. Compliance alone does not guarantee fair treatment, but a buyer who skips these checks should not be used.
Honest buyers have certain habits in common. They publish their rates before you send anything, they offer free returns without time pressure, they provide itemised written offers that show the calculation, and they have a verifiable independent review history with hundreds of transactions. Dishonest buyers obscure pricing, create urgency and make it difficult to get your items back.
Two of the most reliable signs of an honest buyer are time in business and the number of independent reviews. A buyer with 40 years' trading history and a long record of independent reviews has an established reputation to protect. A buyer with a polished website and 12 reviews on their own testimonials page does not.
What affects it
Seven things to check before you send anything
How it works
From first contact to payment
Request your free pack
We send you a free pack with a prepaid, tracked Royal Mail Special Delivery label, dispatched the next working day. There is no cost and no commitment.
Send your items
Pack your items in the packaging we supply and hand them in at a Post Office. They are insured up to £2,500 from that moment until they reach us.
Receive your offer
A firm, itemised offer arrives within 24 hours of your items reaching us. Every piece is weighed, XRF-tested for purity, and priced against the live spot price.
Get paid
Accept before 3pm on a working day for a same-day bank transfer. Decline and we return every item free of charge.
Common questions
Questions we hear most
What checks does British Gold Exchange carry out?
We comply fully with anti-money-laundering regulations. As part of these checks, we verify the identity of sellers for transactions above the relevant threshold.
What ID will I need to provide?
For transactions above £10,000 in value, UK anti-money-laundering regulations require us to verify your identity. We will ask for a copy of your photo ID and proof of address. For smaller amounts, we record your details as part of our anti-money-laundering checks.
What if I have already sent my items to a buyer I am unsure about?
Contact them by email immediately so there is a written record of your communication. Request a tracking update and a written statement of their insurance and returns policy. If they are unresponsive or evasive, contact Action Fraud.
Are there any upfront fees with a legitimate buyer?
No. Reputable postal gold buyers charge nothing upfront. The free pack, transit insurance and returns are all provided at the buyer's cost. Any buyer who charges you before assessing your items is not legitimate.
How can I verify your reviews?
Search 'British Gold Exchange' on Trustpilot or Google and read the reviews, including the critical ones. We have no control over what is posted.
Get started
Sell with a buyer that has over 40 years to protect
Our reputation rests on transparency, fair pricing and free returns. Request your free pack and judge for yourself, with no obligation to sell.