NEW:  In the UK at last ...

You can now shop via PayPal without having a PayPal account as long as the amount is under £500. When you get to the checkout pages just click on the 'click here' button next to "If you don't currently have a PayPal account" to be taken through a conventional credit/debit card checkout.  Note that Paypal recognise you by your email so if you have on old account that you don't want to use either close it first or give a different - but still valid! - email address during checkout.

A verified PayPal account is still required to purchase items for more than £500 - this is one way they maintain one of the lowest fraud rates of all the payment providers. If PayPal this doesn't suit you please telephone us on 01789-778462 and we will process your details via WorldPay for any amount allowed by your card.

Also new is the Account Guard button on the Ebay toolbar (free download if you don't have it). When you visit a genuine eBay or PayPal site the button shows green. It will do this when you click on one of our Add to Basket buttons and are transferred to the secure PayPal shopping cart and then checkout page. This green Account Guard button is your guarantee that you are on a genuine PayPal site and not a false one trying to steal your information! 

WHY PayPal?  We've chosen a payment process that is both secure for you as a buyer and suitable for an on-line discount supplier like ourselves. PayPay has an international reputation with more than 25 million users worldwide and is recognised as a very convenient and secure way to send and receive money via the internet. There are no charges for signing up for a PayPal account.

Benefits?  Once you sign up for a PayPal account you can send money to anyone with an email address. You can use your credit card, debit card or bank account.

PayPal accounts are accepted widely,  including eBay where you can use a premier account to send and receive money - so you could auction items privately that buyers pay for by credit card! When buying on eBay many items are covered by a £350 protection scheme.

You won't have to repeatedly fill out forms with your personal details, once you have a PayPal account you only have to log in to a PayPal site with your username and password. Apart from your address all details are kept confidential of course, the seller doesn't see them, only you & PayPal have access to sensitive information.

Verification?  Verifying an account adds to the security of the process. Due to the fact PayPal is unable to verify non-US bank accounts, members outside of the US are asked to complete their Expanded Use enrolment to increase the security of the payment network. This verification enables you to spend more than £500 /month.

Complaints?  There is a buyer complaint process and protection scheme for your added safeguard. See the PayPal site for details of the cover offered.

Secure?  PayPal uses SSL technology to keep your information safe. In addition, when you send a payment using PayPal, the recipient will not receive sensitive financial information like your credit card or bank account number.

HOW?  You can sign-up on line as part of the purchase process on this site simply by answering the questions presented in the secure area. You can also sign up at www.paypal.co.uk and then log-in to your PayPal account details while making a purchase.

With a PayPal account you can immediately spend up to £500 per month via your account. To spend larger sums verify your bank account via the Expanded Use Programme.

Checkout?  When you checkout you can either create a PayPal account or log-in to an existing one and retrieve all your details automatically. If signing up for a new account remember to give your name as it is on the card, the card number without spaces and a genuine email address. In either case remember not to spend more than £500 until your account has been verified.

Hints?  If using a scrolling mouse be very careful that the wheel doesn't change the data in a drop-down list! In general use drop-downs lists before buttons. Watch out for the optional phone number entry, it requires the international code (+44) in the first box and then the complete UK number (starting with 0) in the second box. Always enter banking information exactly as it appears on your card or statement. Finally if you 'refresh' or 'reload' a shopping basket check that the quantities are still correct.

Verify?  Verifying your account helps with security and enables you to spend larger amounts on your credit card on any PayPal site or on eBay. To verify your account, PayPal deduct a small refundable amount from your card. This shows on your bank account within 1-4 days. You note the reference number and then enter it on the PayPal site to confirm your banking details. Full instructions are given at every stage.