Seller Guide
Seven things an honest gold buyer will always do — and what should make you walk away
Most gold buyers are legitimate. A small number are not. Here is how to tell the difference before you send a single piece.
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
The gold buying industry is regulated in the UK — buyers must be registered with their local authority under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and comply with anti-money-laundering requirements. Registration alone does not guarantee fairness, but its absence is an immediate red flag.
Honest buyers share certain behaviours: 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.
The most reliable proxy for honesty is time in business and volume of independent reviews. A buyer with 40 years' trading history and 1,000+ Trustpilot reviews has an established reputation to protect. A buyer with a slick 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 post a fully insured, tracked Royal Mail freepost envelope. No cost, no commitment required.
Send Your Items
Use our supplied packaging and post your items. They are covered by our insurance from the moment you drop them at the post office.
Receive Your Offer
A firm, itemised offer arrives within 24 hours. Every piece is weighed, XRF-tested for purity, and priced against the live spot price.
Get Paid
Accept and receive a same-day bank transfer. Decline and we return every item free of charge — no questions asked.
Common questions
Questions we hear most
Is British Gold Exchange registered under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act?
Yes. We hold the required registration and comply fully with anti-money-laundering regulations. We are required to 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'll ask for a copy of a photo ID and a proof of address. For smaller amounts, we record your details as required by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act.
What if I've already sent my items to a buyer I'm 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. All reviews are independently verified and we have no control over what is posted. We respond to every review — positive and negative.
Get Started
Sell with a buyer that has over 40 years to protect
Our reputation is built on transparency, fair pricing and free returns. Request your free pack and see for yourself — no obligation to sell.