Contest Rules – Reverse Auction

The following Terms and Conditions shall apply to the contest known as a `Reverse Auction’ in conjunction with any specific terms and conditions published as part of the Publisher’s general contest rules, and in conjunction with the auction terms and conditions listed below. Unless otherwise stated, this contest is available to all members of the public and any users of joint promotional partners.
a)    All bids must be received by text message to 84721. Texts cost £1.00 plus any network provider rate.  You may bid any number of times. Each entry will require an additional entry fee, previous entry fees will not be refunded.
b)   The auction item offered is as advertised in paper, no cash equivalent is available, but the right is reserved to substitute the item offered for a similar item of equivalent value. Auction items and/or prizes are strictly non transferable.
c)     A bid is only successful if we receive it before the competition’s closing date and confirmation is sent, and received by the entrant with a valid reference number. All bids must have the permission of the bill payer, and proof of payment is required
d)     You must be able to prove ownership of the mobile phone used to bid, and quote the reference number for the lowest unique bid.
e)     Entrants agree that by entering this contest they agree to publicity should their bid be successful.
f)     The successful bidder will be contacted or confirmed by letter no later than twenty-eight days of  the auction closing.
g)     The Publisher’s decision will be final and no correspondence entered into.
h)     Prizes offered by the Publisher, are in most cases provided to the company by a third party or sponsor. In those cases you must comply with any requirement imposed by the third party or sponsor. Should you fail to do so, the Publisher reserves the right in its absolute discretion to invalidate your bid.

A copy of our general terms and conditions for contests and individual promotions or contests is available on our website, or by personal application (SAE).  
All participants in this competition or promotion will be deemed to have understood these rules, and to be bound by them. All participants in the competition shall accept and enter into the competition or promotion subject to these terms and conditions and our general contest terms and conditions.
1.0 Reverse Bidding Terms and Conditions.

1.1 Auction entry is open to everyone, excluding employees or, subsidiary companies or contracted clients, their families, agents or anyone else connected with this promotion.

1.2 For the avoidance of doubt, the winning bid will be the lowest bid in whole pence that is closest to 1 pence that has not been matched by another bidder. In the event of there being no unmatched bids, we reserve the right to award the prize to the lowest paired bid received first.

1.3 Each auction is open for the period stipulated in each individual promotion.

1.4 Each bid made costs £1.00 + your standard network charges unless otherwise stated in each promotion. The entry fee is payable directly from your phone bill via SMS

1.5 Each bid made implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

1.6 No responsibility is accepted for entries delayed or lost. Only a confirmation text is accepted as proof of receipt.

1.7 Bids are limited to a maximum of 500 bids per bidder per auction.

1.8 No lot includes travelling expenses incurred by successful bidders.

1.9 Any charges incurred in delivering the lot to the winning bidder will be the responsibility of the auction promoter. However, the promoter reserves the right to cancel delivery arrangements should three unsuccessful attempts be made to deliver the lot. Subsequent delivery charges shall be the responsibility of the winning bidder.

1.10 Each successful bidder, within 14 days of the close of each auction will be required to pay the sum equal to the winning lowest unique bid to assume ownership of the lot.

1.11 Ownership passes to the winning bidder once the value of the winning bid has been paid and cleared in the promoter’s bank account.

1.12 The reverse auction service is not guaranteed to be provided free from any interruptions, faults or inaccuracies and we will not therefore be liable for any loss or damages arising there from; and we reserve the right unilaterally to terminate transmission of all or any part of the reverse auction for whatever reason without notice.  We will make all reasonable endeavours to ensure the uninterrupted and timely supply of the service and will take all reasonable steps to correct any error, omission or mistake, but for the avoidance of doubt, we shall not have any liability in connection therewith.

1.13 This contest is conducted by text communication. We will attempt to confirm whether your bid is the lowest unique bid, or when it is no longer the lowest unique bid via text. However once a response has been sent to your mobile service provider for delivery, we accept no responsibility should any text not be received.

1.14 We will make the results of the auction available as soon as the lowest unique bidder is confirmed, or at the time advertised.

1.15 In order to participate entrants must be over 18 years old and be able to form a legally binding contract. If they do not qualify under these Terms and Conditions they are not eligible to participate. We reserve the right to invalidate an entry if we find that a winner is in breach of these Terms and Conditions.

2. Bidding and Winning

2.1 to be eligible as a winner, confirmation must be received from the mobile phone network that the winning bid has been successfully paid for by the entrant.

2.2 We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to change items and/or to substitute alternative items and to increase the number of items available in each Lot and/or amend the descriptions at any time.

2.3 We reserve the right to award the Lot to the lowest unmatched bid received. In the event the lowest unique bidder cannot be contacted, within 7 days of the auction closing, we reserve the right to award the lot to the next lowest unmatched bid.

2.4 For any item requiring delivery, unless otherwise stated, please allow 30 days from the date that we receive payment. Items such as motor vehicles, requiring registration, must be registered in the confirmed lowest bidder’s name, and collection or delivery completed within 5 working days of notification that the item is available.

Note: We reserve the right to invalidate an entry if we find that a winner is in breach of any of these Terms and Conditions.

3.0. Opt Out.

3.1 By participating in our reverse auctions, you agree to receive messages advising you of your status in the auction, the status of the auction and of future auctions. In order to opt out from receiving promotional messages simply text STOP to 84721