05/08/2026
Right now, someone in Britain is selling their gold for less than half what it's worth. And no law is being broken.
The UK's precious metals buying market has no rules. Anyone can start buying gold tomorrow. No regulation and no duty to show you the rate they pay, which would allow you to make an informed decision before selling.
That gap gets used. Through the post, at pop-up events, from mobile vans in car parks and over counters up and down the country. It isn't unusual for sellers to be paid between 30% and 60% of what their gold is really worth. Most sellers never realise they've been short-changed.
Here's the scale of it.
Britain sells an estimated £2.5 billion of scrap gold every year. If just half of those sellers unknowingly go to a low payer and get around 50%, instead of the 90% or more a fair dealer pays, that works out at roughly £500 million a year lost by ordinary people.
On a single sale, it looks like this. You bring in £1,000 of gold, perhaps inherited, perhaps needed for the bills. A fair buyer pays you around £900. A low payer hands you £300 to £500. Same gold, same day, up to £700 gone.
We would like the Government to introduce some proportionate rules to make things fairer.
- Show the price before you buy
- Regulate postal buying services
- Regulate travelling buying events
- Ban large cash payments
- ID checks for all sellers
None of this hurts honest businesses. Every one of these is something a fair, well-run buyer already does.
Please sign, and share it with anyone who might one day sell their gold. That's almost everyone you know.
ROBBED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT: Gold buyers pay Brits HALF what their gold is worth. Legally.