Q. How much does it cost to join Dixons Reverse Auctions?
A. It costs nothing to sign up and become a registered Dixons Reverse Auctions user. However, you may be required to pay an entry fee to place bids in the site auctions.
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Q. Who is running Dixons Reverse Auctions?
A. Dixons Reverse Auctions is powered by The Clever Group Limited, a company registered in England & Wales.
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Q. How old do I have to be to join Dixons Reverse Auctions?
A. Users have to be 18 years or over to participate in auctions. Winners will have to produce proof of their age as part of the verification process.
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Q. How do I register with Dixons Reverse Auctions?
A. Users can register by clicking on the "Register" link that appears on the site.
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Q. What is my Username?
A. This is unique identification that you choose when registering on Dixons Reverse Auctions. This protects your privacy and helps you to easily identify yourself on the Dixons Reverse Auctions site.
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Q. Exactly how do Dixons Reverse Auctions work?
A. Registered users or mobile phone users place bids on selected items offered by Dixons Reverse Auctions through a sealed bid process. Bidders pay an auction entry fee to place their bids in the auction. Their aim is to place the lowest unique bid, that is the lowest unique bid in pence that one else will place. Users are notified of the status of their bid after the bid is submitted, either by SMS, email or on-screen, depending how they have entered. If the status of a user's bid changes throughout the auction (eg a unique bid is matched and becomes no longer unique) then the user is notified either by SMS (for mobile bidders) or email (for online bidders) .Every auction is limited to a specified number of bids (e.g. maximum 150) or a time limit (eg 29th August, 2359). As soon as that limit is reached, the auction automatically closes. After the auction has closed, the winner is the user who has placed the lowest unique bid
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Q. Show me an example of how reverse auctions work?
A. For Example A Reverse Auction Might Have The Following Characteristics

Auction Product: Plasma TV
Auction Closing Date: 31st August 2008
Entry Fee: 1.50

Assuming that the following bids (in pence) are received:

Bid 1: 1p Not Unique
Bid 2: 1p Not Unique
Bid 3: 2p Not Unique
Bid 4: 2p Not Unique
Bid 5: 2p Not Unique
Bid 6: 3p Lowest Unique Bid
Bid 7: 4p Not Unique
Bid 8: 4p Not Unique
Bid 9: 4p Not Unique
Bid 10: 6p Unique But Not The Lowest

Then the bidder that placed a bid of 3p would win the auction, as their winning bid of 3p is the lowest unique bid that has been placed. Although 6p is a unique bid, it is not the lowest, as 3p is also unique and it is a lower bid in value. Auction bid status changes regularly throughout the game. You may start out having a unique but not the lowest but it could become the lowest unique bid. Or you could have a unique bid but it could be matched and be no longer unique.
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Q. How can I place a bid in an auction?
A. Easy. Simply login, then click on the auction you would like to enter, and place your bid(s) in the "Enter Your Bids" boxes. To complete the bid process, you would need to pay any applicable entry fees using the secure payment system. Once paid, press submit and your bids will be entered into the auction.
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Q. Can I place more than one bid?
A. You can place as many bids as you like, unless there is a stated maximum number of bids for each auction. However, please remember that an entry fee may be charged for each bid that is placed.
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Q. Can I take part in more than one Dixons Reverse auction at the same time?
A. Registered users can take part in as many auctions as they like.
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Q. What is a lowest unique bid?
A. This is the lowest bid amount entered in the auction that has not been placed by more than one person. For example, if bidders A, B and C place a bid of 1p, bidder D places a bid of 6p, and bidder E places a bid of 2p, although 2p is not the lowest bid in the auction (1p is lower), 2p is the lowest unique bid placed in this auction. Similarly although 6p is a unique bid, 2p is lower AND unique, therefore 2p is the lowest unique bid.
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Q. Can I purchase the products on offer from Dixons Reverse Auctions instead of participating in an auction?
A. No. Items auctioned on the site are competition prizes and not for sale.
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Q. How many items are available for each auction?
A. Usually, one item is placed for auction. However, Dixons Reverse Auctions may decide in the future to place multiple items in the same auction.
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Q. How many bids are there in an auction?
A. This varies from auction to auction. The auctions are either limited by bid numbers (eg 1000) or by time/date. In a bid limited auction, the maximum number of bids that will be accepted for each auction is clearly stated in the auction description pages and the auction will close once this limit has been reached. In a time-limited auction, a closing day, date and time will be clearly specified and the auction will close on the published deadline.
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Q. When does an auction end?
A. An auction automatically ends when the maximum number of bids or when a specified closing day, date and time has been reached.
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Q. How do I pay for a bid?
A. Follow the instructions in the bid process and it will take you to a secure payment page. You can pay using a debit / credit card (through Click And Buy and Paypal ) or pre-paid cash voucher (Ukash).
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Q. What do the "New", "Hot" and "Closing" icons next to the auction items mean?
A. A New icon means a new or recently opened auction. A Hot icon means around a quarter of the required bids have been placed or the auction has passed a quarter of its allocated time. A Closing icon means most of the required bids have been placed and the auction is about to end.
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Q. How do I know if my bid was successfully received?
A. Dixons Reverse Auctions will send you an e-mail or text message verifying that your bid has been successfully entered in the auction. Online users also receive an instant notification on-screen once the bids are submitted, including details of the bid, unique Bd ID and real-time status
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Q. What is the Bid ID code?
A. The Bid ID code is a unique number allocated to each successful bid. This enables you to reference the auction in the "My Account" section, as well as checking to see if you are a winner when the results are published. Your Bid ID code will be sent to you in your bid confirmation email and (for online users) shown on screen. Mobile bidders do not receive a Bid ID code.
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Q. How can I bid using my mobile phone?
A. Each auction has a clearly displayed keyword assigned to it. Text this keyword followed by your bid in pence and send it to the published shortcode for that auction. So for example if the keyword was BID and the shortcode 81404 and you wanted to place a bid of 25p, text BID 25 and send it to 81404. You will receive a text message back, confirming your bid and its status (eg Your bid 25p is unique but not the lowest). If and when the status of your bid changes throughout the auction, we will text you status updates free of charge (eg Your bid of 25p is no longer unique).
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Q. How much does it cost to bid via my mobile?
A. The entry fee for bidding by mobile varies from auction to auction. Typically bids cost either £1 or £1.50 each plus your standard network rates for sending a text message. Please click the "SMS Bid" button on the auction on which you would like to bid, in order to confirm the cost of the SMS entry fee for that auction.
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Q. Do I get charged every time my bid status is updated?
A. No. You will only be charged for each seperate bid you make and only on the first time that bid is entered. If you bid 10p, and the status changes 10 times, you will only be charged once for the bid. So if you place 10 different bids, you will only be charged for those 10 bids. All bid status updates, either via email or via SMS are free of change.
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Q. Can I check the status of my bids in real time on the site?
A. Yes. Click on "Active Bids" under the main menu bar, or go to "Current Bids" in "My Account" and you will see a list of your active bids (if any). To update the bid status in real time, click the "Refresh" button at the bottom of the page
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Q. What is auction tracking?
A. Registered users can track the progress of an auction without having to place a bid. Users who opt to track a particular auction will receive an email informing them when a quarter of the bids have been placed or the time elapsed on the auction, another message will be sent out shortly before the auction closes. You could then decide to come in and place a bid. Auction tracking is only available to online bidders.
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Q. If I track an auction, how often will I receive messages notifying me about the tracked auction?
A. If you track an auction via the online site, you will only receive a maximum of 2 email tracking updates during the auction.
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Q. Are there instructions showing me how to bid by mobile?
A. Yes, on the auction, click the red "SMS Bid" button and it will take you to a page, showing the keyword and shortcode for that auction, as well as some instructions on how to bid.
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Q. How do I know if I have won the auction?
A. Dixons Reverse Auctions will send you an e-mail or text informing you that you have won the auction. Once confirmed and verified as the winner, your name may also appear on the results pages as the winner of the auction.
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Q. How do I know if I have not won the auction?
A. After an auction closes, you can check the latest auction status, including recent winners, by visiting the Dixons Reverse Auctions site and clicking the "Winners" menu button
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Q. If I place the winning lowest unique bid, do I have to pay the winning bid amount?
A. No.
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Q. If I am under 18, can I enter an auction?
A. No. The minimum age for entering the reverse auction competition is 18. Winning bidders are asked to provide proof of age. If under 18, your bids will be voided and no refunds of entry fees will be given. In the case of a winning bid placed by an Under 18, then the bids from that bidder will be voided and the auction prize will be offered to the next lowest unique bid.
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Q. If I place the winning lowest unique bid, do I have to pay the winning bid amount?
A. No.
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Q. How do you check if I am the winner or even the person who entered the winning bid?
A. Our customer support team go through a comprehensive verification and security process for winners, to ensure that the auction has been won fairly and allocated to the correct user. Security and verification can take up to 48 hours.
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Q. Where can I see the results of a Dixons Reverse Auctions auction?
A. The results of previous auctions may be found in the results section of the site. You may also directly find links to the results of auctions in My Account under Previous Bids.
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Q. How can I view my existing and previous auction bids?
A. Login to Dixons Reverse Auctions and go to the My Account section. You will find full details about your current / past bids in the My Bids section of your account. You can also shortcut to your current active bids at any time by clicking the "Active Bids" link underneath the main menu bar on the Dixons Reverse Auctions site.
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Q. What happens if there are no unique bids?
A. If there are no unique bids then the winner is determined by the lowest bid where two bids have been placed and the then by whoever bid first. If there is not a bid price with two bids placed then it will be from the lowest bid with three bids placed and so on until a winner is found.
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Q. What is an auction entry fee?
A. This is an administration fee charged for each bid placed in a Dixons Reverse Auctions auction.
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Q. When do I have to pay an entry fee?
A. You pay the one-off fee when placing the bid. Mobile users are charged an entry fee through the cost of a premium rate SMS text message.
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Q. What payment methods can I use on Dixons Reverse Auctions?
A. You can use all major credit and debit cards (via Paypal and Click And Buy). You can also use Ukash Pre-Paid Cash Vouchers, which are available to purchase from thousands of shops in the UK and Europe. With Click And Buy, users can even have their entry fees taken from their phone bill. Please visit Click And Buy for more details. Cash and cheques are not accepted.
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Q. What are the cancellation terms? Can I get a refund on my auction entry fee?
A. Once an entry fee is charged and a bid placed, a user cannot change their mind and the bid fee cannot be refunded. If the auction is cancelled or postponed, the allocation of refunds are at the sole discretion of Dixons Reverse Auctions. In an instance where a fault in the auction has been caused by Dixons, the user would receive a full refund. Your statutory rights are unaffected.
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Q. How do I know if my payment was processed successfully?
A. You will receive an e-mail to confirm that your bid and payment have been processed successfully. A VAT invoice is also generated and can be accessed from My Account under Invoices. When placing your bids by mobile, your confirmation of your initial bid status is charged as your bid entry fee.
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Q. How much will the postage and packing be to receive items I win?
A. Unless otherwise stated, postage and packing is free for all items shipped to the UK and Ireland. However, shipping to destinations outside of the UK and Ireland may incur additional fees. If in doubt, please contact our help desk and they will be pleased to assist.
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Q. Can Dixons Reverse Auctions ship internationally?
A. Dixons Reverse Auctions can send items anywhere in the world. However, depending on the region, there may be additional charges levied as postage and packing is free to UK and Ireland addresses. When shipping internationally, unless otherwise stated, Dixons Reverse Auctions is not responsible for any delivery costs, import duties or any other applicable local fees or taxes. In specific instances, Dixons Reverse Auctions may be able to source prizes locally, instead of the UK. Please contact our help desk for more details.
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Q. If I decide I do not want the item, can I return it and get a refund of my entry fees?
A. Once a competition prize is received, it cannot be returned and no refund of entry fees will be given.

Q. What do I do if my product is faulty?
A. In the unlikely event of a fault within warranty, customers are to contact the manufacturer direct.
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Q. Can Dixons Reverse Auctions repair or replace faulty items?
A. No. Any fault or damage claims (provided the item is within warranty) should be taken up with the manufacturer.
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Q. Where can I view the site terms and conditions?
A. Full terms and conditions can be found by following the Terms & Conditions link at the bottom of the Dixons Reverse Auctions website.
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Q. Is my personal information confidential?
A. Yes. Dixons Reverse Auctions abides by the Data Protection Act and is obliged to keep customers data confidential. Dixons Reverse Auctions does not make information available to third parties without the explicit permission of the customer. However DSG Limited may from time to time, with the user's permission contact them for marketing purposes.
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Q. Is it safe to use a credit/debit card on the site?
A. Yes. Secure third-party payment-processing providers (Paypal and Click And Buy) are used to process all credit/debit card transactions. The third-party payment processors pages are encrypted SSL secure pages.
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Q. What happens if I have forgotten my password?
A. Click the "forgotten password" link on the site and you will be emailed a temporary login, sent to your registered e-mail address. You can then reset your password and continue using the site. If you still experience problems, refused entry or the system fails, please contact our helpdesk.
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Q. When I login, the page keeps on resetting itself without login happening. What’s going wrong?
A. Please check that cookies are enabled on your browser. This is a known and recognised problem with certain AOL browsers. If this continues, we suggest that the AOL browser is minimised and that you open the site once again in Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox or another browser. If this problem persists, please contact our helpdesk.
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Q. What are Bid Points?
A. Bid Points is a loyalty scheme exclusive to Dixons Reverse Auctions, allowing users to collect points for every online bid placed for which an entry fee was paid. Users can accumulate Bid Points which can then be used to pay for entry fees on future auctions. See "Bid Points" section of the site for more details and to see the values of the points earned and/or required to place bids
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Q. How else can I earn Bid Points?
A. From time to time Dixons Reverse Auctions offers special promotions that enable you to receive Bid Points.
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Q. How can I spend Bid Points?
A. If you have sufficient points, you may use them to pay auction entry fees. This can be done by ticking the Pay With Bid Points option in the auction checkout basket.
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Q. Can I bid with Bid Points?
A. Yes, if you have sufficient Bid Points. If so, then the tick box for paying with Bid Points will be available to you.
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Q. Can I exchange Bid Points for cash?
A. No. Bid Points may not be exchanged for cash. They may only be used to pay for auction entry fees.
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Q. How can I contact Dixons Reverse Auctions?
A. You will find our contact details by following the Contact Us link that always appears on the top right-hand corner of the site.
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