1. Definitions
In these Terms, unless the context requires otherwise:
- "Company", "we", "us", "our" means Charters Gold, trading from Avalon House, Unit 7A, Egham Business Village, Crabtree Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8RB.
- "Customer", "you", "your" means the natural person submitting items for valuation or otherwise using the Site.
- "Items" means any goods you submit for valuation, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, jewellery, gemstones, coins, bars, watches, designer handbags and any associated documentation, boxes or certificates.
- "Calculator" means the gold price calculator made available on the Site for indicative guide pricing only.
- "Offer" means a final, written valuation issued by us after inspection of your Items.
- "Working Day" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday in England.
2. Acceptance Of These Terms
By using any feature of the Site, submitting a valuation request, or sending Items to us, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms in full. If you do not agree, you must not use our services.
3. Eligibility
You warrant and represent that:
- You are at least eighteen (18) years of age and have full legal capacity to contract;
- You are the sole legal owner of the Items, or you are duly authorised by the legal owner to dispose of them;
- The Items are free from any third-party rights, liens, charges, claims or encumbrances;
- The Items have been lawfully obtained, are not stolen, counterfeit, or the proceeds of any unlawful conduct;
- You will provide accurate, complete and current information at all times, including for identification and anti-money laundering ("AML") purposes.
We reserve the right to refuse to deal with any person at our sole discretion and without having to give reasons.
4. The Calculator & Guide Prices
The Calculator and any indicative figures displayed on the Site, in correspondence, on social media or in advertising are indicative guide prices only. They do not constitute an offer, a contract, a representation, a warranty or any commitment by us to purchase at the indicated price.
Final Offers depend on physical inspection, testing, market conditions at the time of inspection, weight, purity, gemstone quality, brand provenance, condition, documentation and any other factor we consider relevant. Guide prices may differ materially from the final Offer.
5. Valuation Process
5.1 Submission
You may submit Items by (i) requesting a private appointment, (ii) posting Items to us, or (iii) such other method as we agree in writing. By submitting Items, you confirm the warranties in clause 3 and agree to provide all information requested by us.
5.2 Postal Submissions - At Your Own Risk
Where you choose to post Items to us, you do so entirely at your own risk. You are solely responsible for ensuring adequate insurance, secure packaging and a tracked, signed-for delivery method. We accept no responsibility for loss, theft, damage or delay during transit prior to confirmed receipt by us. We strongly recommend Royal Mail Special Delivery or an equivalent insured courier service.
5.3 Inspection
Upon receipt, Items will be inspected, weighed, tested for purity (which may include non-destructive XRF, acid testing or other industry-standard methods), authenticated where applicable, and valued by our specialists. We reserve the right to engage independent third-party experts at our discretion.
5.4 Issuing The Offer
We will communicate the Offer to you by email, telephone or such other method as you have selected. Offers are valid for twenty-four (24) hours from the time of issue unless otherwise stated in writing. Offers not accepted within the validity period lapse automatically and we are under no obligation to extend or re-issue them.
6. Identity Verification & Anti-Money Laundering
We are required by law to verify the identity of our customers in certain circumstances. You agree to provide valid government-issued photo identification, proof of address and any further information we reasonably require. If you fail or refuse to provide such information, we may, at our absolute discretion:
- Decline to issue an Offer;
- Decline to make payment;
- Retain the Items pending compliance;
- Report the matter to the National Crime Agency or other competent authority.
Where we make a report under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or related legislation, we are prohibited by law from notifying you of that report.
7. Acceptance Of Offer & Payment
Acceptance of an Offer forms a binding contract for the sale of the Items to us at the Offer price. Upon acceptance, title and risk in the Items passes to us subject to receipt of cleared funds by you.
Payment will be made by bank transfer to an account in your name, or by such other lawful method as agreed in writing. We do not pay third parties. Payment is typically released within one (1) Working Day of Offer acceptance and successful completion of identity verification, but timing is not guaranteed. We are not liable for any delays caused by banks, payment processors, identity providers or events beyond our reasonable control.
8. Decline Of Offer & Returns
If you do not accept our Offer within the validity period, or if you actively decline it, we will return the Items to you, subject to the following:
- Return delivery will be by tracked, insured method at our cost up to a maximum declared value of £1,000. Where Items exceed this value, any additional insurance is at your cost and your discretion. By submitting Items above this value by post, you accept the limit of liability set out in this Policy.
- We may require completion of identity verification before returning Items, in line with our AML obligations.
- We reserve the right to charge reasonable administrative fees, testing costs and return shipping where Items were materially misdescribed by you or where we have incurred third-party expert costs.
9. Our Rights
We reserve the right, at our sole and absolute discretion:
- To decline to issue an Offer in respect of any Item, without giving reasons;
- To withdraw, amend or re-issue an Offer at any time prior to acceptance;
- To suspend or terminate access to the Site or our services without notice;
- To detain Items where we have reasonable cause to suspect they may be stolen, counterfeit or otherwise unlawful, and to report the matter to police, regulators or other authorities;
- To refuse cash payments above any threshold required by law or our internal policy.
10. Customer Warranties & Indemnity
You warrant and represent that all statements made by you, all documents provided, and all Items submitted are true, complete, accurate and not misleading. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless against any and all losses, costs (including legal costs on an indemnity basis), damages, claims, fines or liabilities suffered or incurred by us arising directly or indirectly from:
- Any breach by you of these Terms;
- Any inaccuracy, misrepresentation or omission in information you provide;
- Any third-party claim relating to the Items, including but not limited to title disputes;
- Any unlawful, fraudulent or negligent act or omission by you.
11. Limitation Of Liability
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for: (i) death or personal injury caused by our negligence; (ii) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (iii) any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
Subject to the foregoing, and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:
- Our total aggregate liability in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise arising under or in connection with these Terms and our services shall not exceed the greater of (i) the Offer price in respect of the relevant Items, or (ii) £1,000.
- We shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, special or punitive loss or damage; loss of profits, loss of business, loss of revenue, loss of anticipated savings, loss of goodwill, loss of opportunity, loss of data or wasted management time, whether or not such loss was reasonably foreseeable.
- We are not liable for any loss or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, pandemics, government action, internet failure, postal disruption, courier failure, third-party service provider failure (including Supabase, Vercel, banks, payment processors), strikes, market fluctuations or extreme weather.
- We are not liable for the accuracy of any guide price displayed by the Calculator or any other indicative figure.
- We are not liable for any decision you take in reliance on content displayed on the Site, on social media, in advertising or in any communication with us prior to the issuance of a final written Offer.
12. Disclaimer Of Warranties
The Site, the Calculator, all content and all related services are provided "as is" and "as available", without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy, completeness or uninterrupted operation.
We do not warrant that the Site will be free from errors, viruses, malicious code or that the Site or any of its content will be available continuously or in any particular location. You access and use the Site at your own risk.
13. Intellectual Property
All content on the Site (including text, logos, graphics, photographs, calculator design, layout, software and underlying code) is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by copyright, trade mark and other intellectual property laws. No licence is granted other than a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to use the Site for its intended purpose. Any other use, including copying, distribution, scraping, automated data collection, framing or modification, is strictly prohibited.
14. Acceptable Use
You agree not to:
- Use the Site or our services for any unlawful, fraudulent or harmful purpose;
- Submit false, misleading or stolen Items;
- Use any robot, spider, scraper or automated means to access the Site;
- Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Site, the admin area, or systems;
- Interfere with or disrupt the Site or servers connected to the Site;
- Upload, send or transmit any virus, malware, harmful code or unlawful or offensive content.
15. Termination
We may terminate or suspend your access to the Site and our services immediately, without notice, for any breach of these Terms. Termination does not affect any rights or obligations of either party which accrued prior to termination.
16. Privacy & Cookies
Our processing of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy. Our use of cookies is described in our Cookie Policy. Both are incorporated into these Terms by reference.
17. Notices
Any notice given under these Terms must be in writing and may be sent by email to info@goldcharters.com (in our case) or to the email address you provided (in your case). Notices sent by email are deemed delivered on the next Working Day after sending.
18. Third-Party Rights
A person who is not a party to these Terms has no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term.
19. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable from the remainder, which shall continue in full force and effect.
20. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us in relation to your use of the Site and our services. They supersede all prior communications, negotiations or agreements (whether oral or written).
21. Variation
We may amend these Terms at any time by posting an updated version on the Site. The "Last updated" date will reflect the current version. Material changes will be highlighted. Your continued use of the Site or our services after such posting constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
22. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms, and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any such dispute or claim.
23. Contact
Charters Gold
Avalon House, Unit 7A, Egham Business Village, Crabtree Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8RB
Email: info@goldcharters.com
Telephone: 07951999999