Flinq Auctions Ltd, terms and conditions

1. About Flinq

Flinq Auctions Ltd (registered in England and Wales) is an online auction business acting as agent for its sellers, who are mainly businesses, finance companies, insolvency practitioners, public bodies and estates. Flinq markets and settles the sale but is not the owner or seller of any lot and does not act as exporter. Responsibility for each lot rests with the seller.

2. The auction

Lots are sold by timed online auction. Bids can be placed until the stated closing time. A bid in the final three minutes extends the close by about three minutes, so a lot ends only when bidding stops. After close, Flinq contacts the highest bidder within two working days; a sent invoice counts as contact.

3. Registration and bidding

Buying requires a registered account. Bidders must be 18 or over and accept these terms. Registering in a false or another person's name may be reported to the police. Flinq may suspend an account it believes is misused. You may bid manually or set a maximum autobid, which stays hidden from other bidders. Equal bids rank by time placed. Flinq is not liable if a bid fails to register.

4. Binding bids and reserve

All bids are binding, including where the reserve is not met, in which case the bid stays binding for two working days after close, extended by two further working days each time a new bid is entered in negotiation. A binding contract forms between the highest bidder and the seller at close where the winning bid meets or exceeds the reserve. Below the reserve, the seller may accept or decline. The reserve is agreed in writing before the lot goes live.

5. Condition, documentation and inspection

All lots are sold as seen. The listing (text, photos and, where available, a digital viewing video) is the basis of sale. A Flinq valuer documents each lot and records the condition and usage reported by the seller. Flinq does not carry out a technical inspection, so review all photos and the video before bidding. Where the description is limited, assume unknown or hidden faults may exist. Lots described as repair or spares lots have not been fully checked, may lack parts or have further faults, and cannot be returned.

6. Fees and VAT

Buyers pay a buyer's premium of 8% of the hammer price, minimum £75 per lot, plus VAT where it applies. Sellers pay a commission of 6% of the hammer price, minimum £250 per lot, excluding VAT. There is no cap on either fee. VAT is shown on the lot page and invoice where it applies.

7. Payment

The winning buyer receives an invoice by email, due within three working days. A lot can only be collected once payment has cleared with Flinq.

8. Collection and buyer's duty to inspect

Once payment clears, Flinq arranges a collection slot with the seller. Most lots must be removed within ten working days. You must inspect and approve the lot against the listing at collection. Where you use a carrier or agent, the lot is treated as approved once it leaves the collection site. Storage fees may apply to lots not collected in time, and risk passes to you on collection. Neither the seller nor Flinq is liable for faults not identified at collection, faults arising after collection, or lots sold under insolvency or other forced sale.

9. Vehicles

For registrable vehicles, buyer and seller are jointly responsible for completing the change of ownership at collection. Flinq may assist in an administrative capacity only.

10. Export and VAT reclaim

Overseas buyers must export the lot from the UK promptly after collection. VAT is charged unless stated otherwise and must be paid in full. A business buyer with a valid VAT number may request a VAT refund by sending, within the stated deadline, a signed CMR or consignment note, the transport company's invoice, Flinq's export declaration issued at collection, and the company's IBAN and SWIFT details. Missing the deadline means a refund is not guaranteed.

11. Cancellation and returns

Business buyers have no right of cancellation; all bids are binding. Consumers have a 14-day right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, running from the day the lot is received. To cancel, contact Flinq for return instructions and return the lot within 14 days at your own cost. A refund is made within 14 days of cancellation, after the returned lot is received in the same condition. Use beyond what is needed to check function may lead to a deduction for loss of value.

12. Complaints

Raise any complaint before removing the lot from the collection site, and document the lot with photos or video at collection. Do not carry out any repair before Flinq and the seller approve it in writing. Flinq passes information between buyer and seller but is not a party to the sale and is not the seller's legal representative. Neither the seller nor Flinq covers direct or indirect losses.

13. Technical errors

Flinq is not liable for loss caused by technical faults, communication problems, unregistered bids or contact not being established. Flinq reserves against typographical errors, does not guarantee images exactly represent a lot, and may withdraw a lot, disregard a bid or restart bidding where there is a technical problem or error.

14. Data protection

Flinq handles personal data in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. See the privacy policy for detail.

15. Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and disputes are subject to the courts of England and Wales.