No pressure to begin with
There is genuinely nothing to commit to at the start. WhatsApp a photo and you will get an honest read on whether testing is worth it for that item, what the cost would be, and what the report will say.
GoldPaid has no branches. The testing service is run by post, UK-wide, with a single number for calls and WhatsApp and a full evening window so you can ask outside work hours.
What this pack is for
Estate administration without the full HMRC IHT400 formatting. The pack suits an executor doing a first-pass inventory, a family clearing a parent's house, an antique dealer auditing the metalwork lot of a house clearance, or a charity that has been left a small bequest.
For HMRC-grade probate paperwork, the probate pack (£195, up to 20 items) is the right tier. The estate pack is one step down — same testing rigour, lighter formatting.
What is in the estate-pack report
- Inventory page with a numbered photograph of every item in one shot, plus an individual photo for each piece.
- Ten individual reports, one per item, each with full elemental table, hallmark cross-check, and plating screen result.
- One ranked summary table by fine-metal content.
- One indicative total scrap-equivalent value at the live spot price on the test date, clearly labelled as not an offer.
- Notes column for executor-relevant observations: replaced parts, repaired clasps, atypical alloys, items inconsistent with the hallmark.
The process, step by step
- Start with a photo. A clear WhatsApp photo of the item is enough for us to tell you which pack fits, what the report will show, and what the price will be.
- Pay and get your label. Once you order, a free Royal Mail Special Delivery label and a QR code for the counter are emailed straight back.
- Send it in your own time. Use any padded envelope. The label stays valid until used. There is no time pressure on you.
- Tested by handheld XRF. Each item is scanned at multiple points with a Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 precious-metal analyser. The full elemental table goes into the report.
- Report inside 24 to 48 hours. A written PDF report arrives by email, and your item is dispatched back on the same day, fully insured.
How items travel
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. For higher cover we can arrange a tracked courier before you post, with the cover level agreed in writing first.
Special Delivery is signed for at every handover. We send a confirmation by WhatsApp when the parcel reaches us, and the same again on the return leg once the report has been issued.
Return policy
Every item is returned by tracked, insured Special Delivery the same day the report is finalised. The return is included in what you have already paid. Nothing else is added at the end.
If we cannot complete a test for any reason — for example, the surface is too contaminated, or the item is a non-metallic composite — you are refunded in full and the item goes back the same day.
The independence pledge
You can use this testing service without ever wanting to sell. Many customers do. We test. You decide. There is no obligation to ask for an offer, no commission paid to the team for converting a test customer into a sale, and no upsell embedded in the report itself.
If you ask, at the end, whether the item is something we would buy, we will tell you straight. If you do not ask, the report stands on its own.
What this report is, and what it is not
The report identifies the elemental composition of an item to the accuracy of the analyser. It does not replace a UK hallmark, an Assay Office fire assay, or a written valuation from a qualified valuer for insurance reinstatement purposes. We say so in plain English on the front page of every report.
If a report leaves any doubt, we will tell you what the next step would be — typically a UK Assay Office fire assay (destructive but definitive) for high-value disputes, or a written insurance valuation from a qualified independent valuer for reinstatement cover.
Why this is a calmer way to sell
Three things make GoldPaid a steadier route than a counter sale. You see a measured valuation in writing, not a verbal estimate. You decide at home, with nobody waiting. And if you decline, the return is free, tracked and insured, so obtaining the valuation costs you nothing.
Common questions
What if some items in the parcel are not gold?
They are still reported. The elemental table will show what the items actually are (plated, silver-plated, base metal, costume), and the summary table reflects that.
Can the family pack be combined with the estate pack?
No need to combine — order the higher pack. The estate pack covers everything the family pack covers, plus more items.
Can the executor be a different person from the person ordering?
Yes. We can address the report to a named executor and copy it to the person who ordered. Tell us at order time.
What if I have more than 10 items?
Move up to the probate pack (20 items, £195). Above 20, ask first and we can quote a custom job.