MadBid.com - Must Knows

1. Users must be over 16 years of age
2. To register, users must have a mobile phone for identification and security. MadBid will send all new users a registration Confirmation Code. Password Reminders and notification of auction wins will also be sent by free SMS).

3. A user can win:

   1. A maximum of 3 products in any 24 hour rolling period, and
   2. A maximum of 12 products any 30 day rolling period, and
   3. A maximum of 1 product of the same type within any 30 day rolling period.

   Special limits apply to some items:

   1. Platinum Products (RRP £4,000+): 1 auction win in any 365 day rolling period
   2. Gold Products (RRP £1,000+): 1 auction wins in any 30 day rolling period
   3. Silver Products (RRP £350+): 3 auction wins in any 30 day rolling period
   4. Novelty Products (These are special auctions such as 'Double Your Credits' which will be clearly marked as 'Novelty'): 1 auction win in any 180 day rolling period.

   Example: If a user was to win 12 products within a 25 day period, he would not be able to bid for the next 5 days. Once the 30 day rolling period has elapsed the user would be allowed to bid again.

   Please refer to My MadBid in the Members Control Panel for information regarding your current auction limit status and allowances.

4. A user can bid using the web site (for free) or via SMS
5. Payment of products won is made on-line using 'My MadBid', where a PDF invoice can also be found
6. Products are usually shipped within one to two weeks of payment, but please allow up to 21 days
7. MadBid Credit Packages can be purchased using PayPal, clickandbuy, Ukash, DIRECTebanking.com or by using a Credit/Debit card. Card types accepted are Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro & American Express
8. MadBid is operated by Marcandi Limited, a UK-based and registered company (Company Registration No.: 6609609 and VAT Registration No.: 934 925792)

9. There are three types of Auctions - Regular, Rookie and Buy It Now Auctions:

   1. Regular Auction: Every auction has a countdown timer, usually between 10 seconds and 1 minute. When the timer reaches zero, the highest bidder wins. If someone bids, the timer restarts. Bid increases are made by 1 penny at a time. You can bid by SMS (text message) from your UK mobile or through your MadBid Online Account. On winning you pay the closing auction price plus shipping & handling.
   2. Rookie Auctions (For new MadBid customers): At MadBid we like everyone to win! A Rookie Auction is exclusively for the users who haven't won an auction before. If you are new to MadBid this is the best way to learn how to bid and win. There is less competition on these auctions - so this is a much better strategy for winning your first auction. Once you have won any auction on MadBid, you will not be able to participate in Rookie auctions any more. On winning, you pay the closing auction price plus shipping & handling.
      These auctions can be recognised by this symbol:  
      
   3. Buy It Now Auctions: These auctions allow you to opt out of bidding at any point before the auction closes (and up to 24 hours after it closes) and buy the product for the Buy It Now price. The cost of any credits you have placed is deducted from the Buy It Now price.
      Essentially, you can try out your bidding skills for an average 87% saving on the recommended retail price (plus shipping & handling) and then still buy the item if you are not the auction winner. More information on how Buy It Now operates at MadBid is also available.
      These auctions can be recognised by this symbol:  
      

How does MadBid work?

MadBid is a revolutionary pay-to-bid auction concept in the UK. The basic idea is to offer brand new products at very attractive prices.

The auction works as follows: a bid is raised by one penny at a time, so when the current price of a product is ?1.05 the next bid raises it to ?1.06. There is no fixed closing time for when any auction will close. Instead, each auction has an auction-specific time limit or 'countdown time limit.' Whenever no additional bids are placed during this time (For example 2 minutes), the auction is automatically closed.

To give an example, if a bid is made at 3:03pm and there is a 2 minute time limit, assuming no other bids are placed, at 3:06pm the auction will close. The Auction Hours, during which it will be available to receive bids, are also auction-specific. For example, Auction Hours may be from 9:00am to 12:00am (midnight). If the auction does not close during that time period, the auction continues the following morning. Please note that Autobids can be placed so that it is not necessary to remain in front of a computer for hours on end. Autobids can also be placed when an auction is sleeping (outside of its Auction Hours). This way the Autobid will be activated as soon as the auction resumes the following day.

How do I participate in an auction?

In order to participate, you need to submit a bid in an on-going auction. You can either put in a bid by sending an SMS from your mobile phone or by creating a MadBid account. To bid using SMS, simply send a message with the code for a specific product to the relevant short code. To bid using the MadBid web site, simply click on 'Register' and follow the instructions to register.

Are all the products new?

All products sold are brand new and come from respected manufacturers. All products come with relevant warranties wherever applicable.

Is it possible to bid with a foreign mobile number?

Unfortunately not for the UK site. Users of uk.MadBid.com can only participate with a UK-based mobile phone number. However, MadBid also operates in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland and Sweden. These countries' users can participate in the auctions for those countries.

Click here to visit one of the different MadBid auction web sites available.

I don't live in the UK. Can I still participate on MadBid.com?

MadBid currently operates web sites in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Finland and Sweden.

Only users from these countries are able to participate in our auctions at this time.

Users based in the United States may not participate on MadBid.

What can I do to improve my winning strategy?

1. Get comfortable with the site. Read the FAQs and the Terms and Conditions. These pages include very useful information. Try out our Autobid function where you can set your account to bid for you on the auctions you're interested in. Also check out the My MadBid section of the web site once you are logged in.
2. Choose the view that you are comfortable with. You can choose to view the regular Home Page View, Live Auction View and Easy View. If you are bidding on a single Product, then clicking on the illustration or the auction title, will display the Product's information full-screen (This is called 'Product View').
   1. The Home Page View is the page that is displayed when you see the page for the first time. For a larger viewing area press F11 to view MadBid in a full screen.
   2. The Easy View is developed for viewers who wish to bid on multiple products at the same time or wish to have a better overview of the products that are being auctioned.
   3. The Product View shows specific information such as product specifications, shipping & handling fees, links to reviews and other useful information. Here you can also see a bigger picture of the product. You will also see the details of the last five bidders that have placed bids on the product. This list can also be refreshed by pressing 'F5'.
3. Place your MadBid Credits using a certain strategy. Either bid early, late or always on top. If bidding manually, keep your eyes focused on the countdown timer. But don't bid too late! You might miss out on a bargain!
4. Use Autobids to your advantage; turn them on if you are away from your PC. Use them to exhaust those bidders you are up against.
5. Understand your competitors. This is a very important aspect of winning. We advise you to:
   1. Start bidding with less valuable products. Fewer bidders are interested in the lower value products.
   2. Try to concentrate your bidding on one, or a few, items. Placing Credits randomly is not a good strategy.
   3. Understand how other bidders place their bids and what time of the day they are bidding. Our Sneak-A-Peek function can help you with this. MadBid is, to a large extent, about timing - so perhaps you can work out the best time to come and win a bargain!
   4. Bid at the right time of day, as the number of bidders varies throughout the day. Bidders can use this to pick up bargains by bidding when others are busy having breakfast or taking the dog for a walk!
6. More MadBid Credits are very useful to win more products - and they can often be won for less cash than buying them directly.

What should I do before I start bidding on MadBid?

1. Read our Responsible Bidding Guide.
2. Set your budget - it's very important to have a bidding budget and to follow it accordingly.
3. Learn how to use Autobid - be careful when using the Autobid function, so that you don't spend too much or at the wrong time. Plan and execute your Autobidding strategy with care.
4. Read the Terms & Conditions and these FAQ's thoroughly so that you know what to expect.

Is there a risk of addiction to MadBid?

Please refer to Responsible Bidding Guide.

Where can I read the Terms and Conditions?

Our Terms and Conditions can be read under the section Terms and Conditions

I tried to buy something but was told the payment failed. However the money has been taken from my account!

Sometimes your bank will authorize a payment and our Payment Processor will reject it. Usually when this happens, the authorization is cancelled immediately and the money is released straight back to your account.

Occasionally however, this does not happen. The rejection is not recognized immediately by your bank and it can take up to 72 hours for the money to be released back to your account.

What are the Auction Hours of a particular auction?
What if I am the last bidder before it closes?

Auctions are only live during the time listed on the auction as 'Auction Hours' - usually 9:00am to 2:00am.

Outside of this timeframe the auction will be paused: the auction clock will not count down, and no bids can be placed. However, at the appropriate time the next day the auction will resume and people may continue to bid.

The last bidder of the evening will be listed as the highest bidder throughout the night, but anyone may place a counterbid in the morning when the auction resumes.

What are Rookie Auctions?

At MadBid we like everyone to win! A Rookie Auction is exclusively for the users who haven't won an auction before. If you are new to MadBid this is the best way to learn how to bid and win. There is less competition on these auctions - so this is a much better strategy for winning your first auction. Once you have won any auction on MadBid, you will not be able to participate in Rookie auctions any more. On winning, you pay the closing auction price plus shipping & handling.

These auctions can be recognised by this symbol:  

Who can bid in Rookie Auctions?

Rookie Auctions are only open to users who have not won an auction before. Once you have won your first auction, you can not bid in any other Rookie auctions.

What happens if an Auction has one bid, and no-one else bids on it?

The auction closes and the product is sold for a penny.

What happens if I win?

When the auction ends, the winner must pay for the product. Shipping & handling is required to deliver the product to the winner. VAT will also be added to total price.

Note: The price of the product is:

1. the final price when the timer reaches zero; plus
2. VAT; plus
3. Shipping & Handling.

How do I pay for an auction I've won?

Simply click on the My Madbid button that leads you to your account control panel which has variety of options.

By clicking on Won Auctions, your won items will appear with an option to Pay Now.

You can pay using any of our accepted payment methods.

You must ensure you pay within 7 (seven) days of the auction closing.

Why does the auction clock show "Checking Results" just before closing or adding another bid to the auction?

As the timer reaches zero, the technical platform on which MadBid.com runs, sends the server a request to make sure that no other bids have been placed (both via SMS and on-line). During this time, the user sees "Checking results" instead of the auction timer. The duration for which the user sees "Checking results" on his screen is dependent on the user's CPU and his Internet connection.

How long after an auction closes can you use the Buy It Now function?

If you don't win an auction but you still really want that item, your spent Credits will not have gone to waste.

You can still buy the item at the price advertised on the product's page under the category 'Buy It Now'.

If so, it will be sold to you for this price minus the cost of the any paid MadBid Credits you have already spent. VAT and Shipping & Handling will also be added. You can use the 'Buy It Now' function at any point before the auction closes, and up to 24 hours after it closes.

Why is an auction shaking?

If you see one of our auctions shaking, you should start to get excited too! A shaking auction means that there are currently three or fewer active bidders trying to win that item. Join the auction when it's shaking and you'll have a better chance of winning. There are fewer bidders to compete against!

All auctions will start off shaking - because when they are launched, there are (obviously) less than four unique bidders. Once a fourth bidder joins in, the auction stops shaking - but it may start shaking again soon after if a bidder drops out.

You need to be logged-in to your account to see a shaking auction - they appear as normal to any users or visitors not logged in. Keep an eye out for them - and make sure you're ready to pounce on them for some earth shattering deals.

How do I buy MadBid Credits?

Once you are logged in to your Madbid account, the Buy Credits buttons and links can be seen on the right hand side of the screen.

MadBid Credit packages can be purchased using PayPal, clickandbuy, Ukash, DIRECTebanking.com or by using your Credit/Debit card.

Card types accepted are Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express.

What payment methods do you allow?

Credit packages can be purchased using PayPal, clickandbuy, Ukash, DIRECTebanking.com or by using your Credit/Debit card.

Card types accepted: Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express.

Is payment secure?

Yes, we use high-security SSL-encoding to process your payment online.

Can I bid more than one penny?

No, in order to maintain an affordable price and the excitement of participating in MadBid, we only allow a one penny increase with each bid placed on an item.

Can I bid at night?

Some auctions have Auction Hours reading "24 hours". These are active at any time of the day and night. Some users may prefer to bid on MadBid at night as there may be less competition.

Can I bid on lots of auctions at once?

Yes, there is no limitation. But make sure you are familiar with the limits on the products you are actually allowed to win within any 30 day rolling period.

Can I retract bids that I have already made?

No, any bids placed on an auction cannot be undone.

Can I bid on the same product more than once?

All MadBid users deserve the best opportunity possible to win the products they desire. Therefore each user on MadBid is not allowed to bid on products that they have already won in the past 30 days (e.g. you can win only one IPhone 4 per rolling 30-day period). This cap ensures a more competitive and fair bidding environment for everyone.

Products bought through Buy It Now are excluded. Some items like cash, gift cards or vouchers, Experiences and MadBid Credit Packages are exempt from this rule.

Note: Winning limits are not affected, just the number of unique products you can win in any rolling 30-day period.

Why does it take more than one MadBid Credit every time I place a bid?

Some auctions require more than one MadBid Credit to place a bid.

This is indicated by a number on the auction that looks like this:  .

Check out Flexi Bidding for more details.

What is the price that I pay in order to bid?

This varies with the number of Credits the auction will use up. Placing one bid can use up everything from 1 to 8 Credits, depending on the item you are currently bidding on.

The average cost of a paid MadBid Credit is ?0.10 (although of course free MadBid Credits can also be used to bid).

If you placed a bid on an auction requiring 6 MadBid Credits, and you had bought all of these Credits, you would have effectively paid £0.60 to bid on that auction.

What are Autobids? How do they work?

One of MadBid's functionalities is called Autobid. Autobids are placed automatically for you when you are unavailable to observe the MadBid auctions in person.

You must be a registered user on the web site to use Autobids.

Autobids are very simple to use:

1. Login to your account
2. Click on the Autobid button in your member controls. It will take you to the Autobid Instruction Panel.
3. Select the auction that you want to place your Autobids on
4. Place the maximum number of bids you want to use on that auction and at what price these bids should be activated. (You will be automatically informed of how many Credits these bids will consume!)
5. Click the 'Submit' button
6. To remove Autobids, you will see a list of all your Autobids on this same page. Simply choose to delete the Autobids that you no longer require.

Note: Autobids cannot be used via SMS (mobile phone)

Can I be refunded my unused MadBid Credits if I close my account?

No, all of our Credit packages are non-refundable.

How much does it cost me when I bid via SMS?

Sending a text message costs ?1.50 plus any operator surcharges.

Why would I use SMS for bidding?

Even though SMS bidding is costlier than online bidding it has its own advantages:

1. You do not have to buy a whole Credit package and it's convenient if you want to make a limited number of bids
2. It?s a good way to test our platform before moving on to on-line bidding. However, SMS bidding is slightly slower than the online bidding - so make sure you bid early enough!
3. You may not have a Credit or Debit Card
4. You are bidding for your favourite product and you have used up all your MadBid Credits and you can?t find your Credit or Debit Card!

What happens if I win while bidding via SMS?

1. You will get an SMS (free of charge) stating that you have won the product.
2. You will need to register at MadBid.com.
3. While registering you will be asked to enter a mobile number - you must use the same mobile number you won the product with.
4. After you complete the Registration process, you will receive an email explaining the steps to follow to have the product sent to you

I was bidding but the BuyItNow price has not decreased!

You were using free MadBid Credits on this auction. Only paid Credits give a discount against the Buy It Now price.

It says I have reached my winning limit and can no longer bid in this auction!

A user can win:

1. a maximum of 3 products in any 24 hour rolling period, and
2. a maximum of 12 products any 30 day rolling period, and
3. a maximum of 1 product of the same type within any 30 day rolling period.

Special limits apply to some items:

1. Platinum Products (RRP £4,000+): 1 auction win in any 365 day rolling period
2. Gold Products (RRP £1,000+): 1 auction wins in any 30 day rolling period
3. Silver Products (RRP £350+): 3 auction wins in any 30 day rolling period
4. Novelty Products (These are special auctions such as 'Double Your Credits' which will be clearly marked as 'Novelty'): 1 auction win in any 180 day rolling period.

Example: If a user was to win 12 products within a 25 day period, he would not be able to bid for the next 5 days. Once the 30 day rolling period has elapsed the user would be allowed to bid again.

Please refer to My MadBid in the Members Control Panel for information regarding your current auction limit status and allowances.

Which browser is best?

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are the internet browsers most compatible with our servers. Using these browsers may reduce any lag time on the site during auctions.

I tried to place a bid but it was not accepted at the end of the auction!

Sometimes, when the network is busy, there is a short lag between the timer as seen by the user - and the actual server timer. When this happens, it may be the case that Credits placed at the last second do not register in time. MadBid always recommends bidding a few seconds before the auction will close to ensure this does not happen.

A group of users is taking turns outbidding me!

When a number of users have Autobids running on an auction, the system automatically uses one bid from each user in turn to ensure fairness.

In this case it may appear that users are taking turns - but it is just the way the system allocates their Credits.

The auction closed because of site problems but I was still bidding!

The auction may have closed due to a network outage. The nature of the Internet causes such outages to occur occasionally and we do our best to avoid them but unfortunately it is beyond our control.

When these kinds of things happen we temporarily pause the entire site and resume it after conditions on the Internet have stabilized. Before the site resumes we send a SMS (free of charge) to all of the users who were active on the site at the time of the outage. We inform them of the scheduled resumption of the auctions on which they were bidding. Anyone who wishes to continue bidding at that time is free to do so.

I won an auction but it has been re-started!

Sometimes the site encounters a network outage. This causes auctions to close prematurely. In this case a user may appear to have won.

However, if the auction has closed prematurely then to ensure fairness to all bidders we resume the auction at a later time.

Before the auction resumes we send a SMS (free of charge) to all of the users who were active at the time of the outage informing them of the scheduled resumption of the auction. Anyone who wishes to continue bidding at that time is free to do so.

I was the highest bidder at the end of the night but the auction resumed in the morning!

Auctions are only live during the time listed on the auction as 'Auction Hours' - usually 9:00am to 2:00am.

Outside of this timeframe the auction will be paused (or 'sleeping'). The auction clock will not count down, and no bids can be placed. However, at the appropriate time the next day the auction will resume and people may continue to bid.

The last bidder of the evening will be listed as the highest bidder throughout the night, but anyone may place a counterbid in the morning when the auction resumes.

What is the cost of delivery?

The winner of the product pays for the Shipping & Handling fees.

For specific costs, please go to the individual product page (click on the photo or auction title of the item).

When in Product View you will see a table which shows the Shipping & Handling charge for the product.

Why are shipping times so long?

We aim to deliver all purchases within 21 days after you have paid for them.

Any exceptions to this timescale will be listed on the auction details of the individual items.

As we use a number of suppliers, order processing times vary so we feel this allows ample time to make sure your purchases get to you. Often shipping times are considerably shorter than this.

How can I get Rush Delivery?

Rush delivery is only available to users who have reached the Loyalty Category of Level 3 User (or above) (See how our Loyalty Programme works at Loyalty).

• Level 3 Users are entitled to one rush delivery every 30 days
• Level 4 Users are entitled to two rush deliveries every 30 days

Each use of a rush delivery costs 5 MadBid loyalty points.

Does MadBid deliver everywhere in the UK?

Deliveries are made solely within the UK and Northern Ireland (exclusively on the mainland, otherwise only upon enquiry).

Deliveries to some less accessible areas could incur a delivery surcharge of £10 - £15. These areas include portions of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Islands (including the Shetlands and the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey), Cornwall, Northumberland, PO Boxes and BFPO addresses.

If you are unsure if this includes your address please contact Customer Services at customer@madbid.com and they will be happy to let you know if it does.

I have been waiting less than 18 days and my item is still showing as ready for shipping.

Please be patient. In some cases the shipping time is very quick so we can still have your item out to you within our target delivery time.

I have been waiting more than 18 days and my item is still showing as ready for shipping.

There may be a reason why your order is taking longer to ship than usual.

One of the main reasons for this is that your item was out of stock and has been re-ordered. If your item is still showing as 'Ready for shipping' after this period of time, please give our Customer Services team a call and they will happily look into it for you.

My item was marked as shipped less than 7 working days ago but has not arrived.

Sometimes there is a short delay between us placing your order with our supplier and them sending it, so do not be alarmed.

If you have still not received it after 7 working days please give our customer service team a call and they will chase it up for you.

My item was marked as shipped more than 7 working days ago but has not arrived.

If this is the case, please send an e-mail to customer@madbid.com stating:

• Your username
• The Auction ID

I have received a damaged or faulty product, what should I do?

Apologies for the inconvenience caused. On rare occasions it is possible that an item might not work or become damaged in transit.

• If a package shows indication of damage:
  We request that you do not sign for the item without verifying the contents are intact
   
• Please note that you must inform us about damaged or faulty goods within 5 days of receipt:
  MadBid cannot accept responsibility for damaged or faulty goods once 5 days have lapsed. If you notify us within this time, we will aim is to solve your problem as quickly as possible.
   
• In the event that the product you received is faulty:
  

  Firstly, check that it actually is faulty. Check the manufacturer's web site or call their helpline. Many common problems are easily solved without having to return the product.

  If this does not solve the problem, please contact us at returns@madbid.com and we will instruct you from there. Please have the Auction ID and the serial number of the product ready so we can quickly locate your order.

• Please don't send the item back to us without contacting us first. This could result in a delay between return of your item and a replacement being dispatched. If your product does need replacing, we will contact you and let you know what to do.

Your statutory rights are not affected.

We work with a range of different suppliers who are happy to help identify any problems and to replace faulty items, where necessary.

Can I return a product that I have won?

Yes, you can return a product that you have won within 10 days of receipt provided that it is defective. Please read the answer to 'I have received a faulty product, what should I do?'

Please get in touch with the returns department at returns@madbid.com and mail them the following information:

• User ID
• Auction ID and product details
• Reason for returning the product

Please follow the instructions under 'I have received a faulty product, what should I do?'

Note: We only can offer a refund on the final price of the item you have won, not on the cost of the Credits placed (on that product), or the delivery costs.

Your statutory rights are not affected.

Do I get a refund if I return the product?

We can only offer a refund on the final price of the item, not on the cost of the MadBid Credits placed on that auction.

Your statutory rights are not affected.

What does "Supplier Sent Request" mean?

This is an intermediate step between "Ready for Shipping" and "Shipped". It simply means your item should be shipped very soon. Thank you for your patience.

How long are free MadBid Credits valid for?

All free MadBid Credits expire 30 days from the date they were added to a user's MadBid account.

My number of Credits is decreasing without me bidding. Do Credits expire?

Yes, all purchased credits expire 180 days from the date they were added to a user's MadBid account.

All free MadBid Credits expire 30 days from the date they were added to a user's MadBid account.

When will I get my item?

Items are often shipped within one to two weeks after the payment has been received, but please allow up to 21 days for delivery.

Any exceptions to this timescale will be listed in the auction details of the individual product.

If you do not receive your item(s) within 21 days, please e-mail customer@madbid.com.

I won an item, but I cannot pay for it. The Options Panel in My MadBid says 'Expired'!

You have 7 days (after the auction closes) to pay for your won items.

After this point, you will forfeit the item. You must make sure you pay for your won items speedily and within seven days - or MadBid assumes that, despite winning the item, you do not wish to avail yourself of its purchase.

How Do I Unsubscribe?

To stop newsletters and texts from MadBid, go to My MadBid then 'Edit Settings' and uncheck the relevant boxes.

I don't want to receive the MadBid newsletter anymore

To stop newsletters/texts from MadBid, go to My MadBid then 'Edit Settings' and uncheck the relevant boxes.

I want my account removed

To remove your account, please send an email from your registered email address to customer@madbid.com stating that you would like your account to be closed.

How long do I have to pay for an item that I have won?

You have 7 days (from the close of the auction) to pay for your won items.

I am trying to register but it says my username is already taken

In this case you will have to choose a different username. Sorry!

I am trying to register but it says my mobile or email address is already taken

It sounds like you may already have an account with us, perhaps try entering your mobile number or e-mail address in the forgotten password page. This will send your password to you if you?ve previously signed up with us.

I am being asked for a Confirmation Code but have not been sent one successfully

If you have not received your Confirmation Code, please give our Customer Service team a call on 0845 680 9716 and we can get it re-sent for you.

I have a Confirmation Code but left the page where I enter it. How do I get back?

To get back to this page, simply log in using your username and password.

The Confirmation Code I received does not work

If the code you are trying to enter is 80160 then this is not the right code. This is the number you are receiving the text from. You need to open the text message fully in order to see the code. Our codes are usually made up of five letters.

What is 'Buyer Protection'?

In the interest of security and fairness to all bidders, sometimes we need to put a buyer in this status to ensure they are a genuine bidder. MadBid may ask users to provide photo ID, proof of address and other documentation.

ID will need to be in the form of:

Photo ID

• Driving Licence
• Passport
• Government issued Bus Pass
• Citizen Card (or other cards with the official PASS hologram)
• Armed forces identity card
• Police warrant card/badge
• Government-issued identity card

Proof of Address

• Recent Utility Bill ? Gas / Electric / Water / Sky/ Telephone / Home Broadband (Not mobile phones) (in last 3 months)
• Statement or Letter from Bank / Building Society / Credit Card / Mortgage / Insurance / Investment / Savings company (in last 3 months)
• TV Licence
• Council Tax Bill
• House or motor insurance certificate
• Recent Vehicle registration / Tax renewal document
• Current State Pension book / Notification letter
• Current Benefits Agency Book / letter
• Current Local Authority Rent Card
• Housing Association/Public Letting Agency/Council tenancy letter or agreement
• Bank / Building Society / Credit Union Statement or passbook
• Credit Card Statements from main provider (in last 3 months)
• Official Documentation from Her Majesty?s Revenue And Customs (this does not include P60's)
• Letter from nursing/care home confirming residency
• Letter from Benefits Agency confirming rights to State Benefits/State Pension
• MRC Tax Notification/Assessment letter

If an Account is placed in Buyer Protection, the User will receive an e-mail and a text message to inform them of this. At this point, they will be restricted from bidding and buying activities on the site until ID has been provided.

Note that uploading ID does not release an Account from Buyer Protection. Releasing an Account is a manual procedure done by one of our site operators who will ensure the ID provided is genuine. This being the case, it may take up to 48 hours (particularly if ID is uploaded out of office hours) for any Account to be released from Buyer Protection.

I forgot my username or password!

• Go to: MadBid's password reminder page.
• Please use the 'Forgot Password' link that appears after you have clicked 'Login'. Here you can enter your mobile number and you will then receive an SMS (free of charge) with your new Confirmation Code.
• Simultaneously, you will be taken to the next screen on the site where you can enter your username, your new Confirmation Code and also set yourself a new password.

I forgot my password and my mobile number has changed.

In this case, please contact our Customer Services team on 0845 680 9716 and they will assist you.

I can login but I cannot do anything!

In this case, please contact our Customer Services team on 0845 680 9716 and they will assist you.

I can login but it is asking me to upload identification

In some instances we are required to verify users' identities. We do apologise for any inconvenience caused but if you see this screen then this means we need to approve these documents before you can continue to use our services.

I participated in a promotion but did not receive the extra credits that I should have

In this case, please contact our Customer Services team on 0845 680 9716 and they will assist you.

I was supposed to get my MadBid Credits back if I did not win. When will I get them back?

For rookie 'Credits Back' offers, your balance must reach zero. The Credits will then be returned to you the next morning. For 'Credits Back' promotions, you will receive your credits when the offer period ends.

What is 'Buy It Now' (BIN)?

BIN is an alternative name for 'Buy It Now' or 'Buy Now'. This function is not always available for all auctions. When you see the 'Buy It Now' option, it means you can stop bidding on the item and buy it at the RRP price. You can subtract the cost of any bids you have used on the auction so far from the RRP. Only the cost of paid MadBid credits can be subtracted from the RRP. Once you choose the 'Buy It Now' option, you are no longer able to participate in the auction for that item.

What is 'Credits Back'?

For our new users, you can buy your first MadBid Credit package and if you do not win anything your first day you can be re-issued your MadBid Credits again. This is a one-time deal for first time users only. Only Credits from your first package will be re-credited and only up to a maximum of 400 MadBid Credits. You must spend all of your Credits on the day you register by 2:00am on the second day of bidding. You will then be automatically re-issued your Credits the next morning when the auctions open - but only if you did not win anything on your first day.

This is a one-time 'Credits Back' offer for new users. All other Credit packages purchased are non-refundable. For more details see ours Terms and Conditions

What is 'Convert to Credits'?

Some, but not all, auctions are configured so that you can opt to convert the item to MadBid Credits rather than pay for it. The item will always be converted at 90% of its RRP - not at the price that you won it for! Look for the icon that indicates an auction can be converted to Credits on a successful win and play strategically for these auctions. They offer you the opportunity to practice bidding on MadBid and can allow you to obtain converted MadBid Credits at a cheaper price than buying them directly.

If you see a link next to one of your won auctions in My MadBid that says 'Convert to Credits', you have won such an auction and can convert the auction rather than buy the product. If you do, you will be given a breakdown similar to the following:

But think hard before you choose to Convert It - because if you do, then this action is irreversible.

Convert It! No Thanks

You will always be offered automatically the best deal for MadBid Credits. If you click Convert It! you will be immediately credited with that number of MadBid Credits. You will then no longer be able to exercise the right to purchase the product.

What is Sneak-a-Peek?

Sneak-a-Peek is a function that allows you to access user and auction info that could help with your bidding strategy. As Sneak-A-Peek involves a large number of features, we have a special section dedicated to describing how it works.

If you are worried about other users using Sneak-a-Peak upon you, you can purchase 'Stealth Mode' to stay 'undercover' and protect yourself from their prying eyes.

Please note that only bidding information is available, not the Personal Details of other users (as this would breach Data Protection legislation).

What is 'Stealth Mode'?

Stealth Mode is a security feature that protects you from any users who have purchased the Sneak-A-Peek feature. Whilst Sneak-A-Peek allows them to gain information about bidders they are competing against, Stealth Mode protects you, as a bidder, from their prying eyes.

More information on Sneak-A-Peek and Stealth Mode on MadBid is available here.

What is Rapid Recharge?

Rapid Recharge allows you to automatically reload your credits without missing a moment of the auction! Your account will be deposited with the smallest credit package amount, and the card details you have saved will be used to credit your account. You can turn off Rapid Recharge at any time by editing Your Settings.

What is the Loyalty Programme?

All users are enrolled in the MadBid Loyalty Programme upon registration.

The Loyalty Programme is an additional feature which includes a number of Loyalty Categories. The lowest Category is a Level 0 User.

Loyalty Points are awarded to users who:

1. purchase MadBid Credits, and
2. participate in certain MadBid promotions

Loyalty Points can be converted to MadBid Credits at a rate of 100 Loyalty Points to 1 MadBid Credit.

Higher Loyalty Categories (e.g. Level 4 Users and Level 5 Users) offer users the ability to rush deliveries of items, as well as other benefits.

The MadBid Loyalty Programme has its own page and your Loyalty Points and Loyalty Category History can also be viewed in My MadBid.