Purchase gold and silver jewelry, be careful
State services in the Gers are alerting consumers to be vigilant, invited, following postal canvassing, to go to private hotels or other places for gold and precious metals redemption operations.
During these operations, excessively low repurchase prices were noted (around €2 per gram of gold) compared to those practiced by established establishments (between €40 and €50 per gram). ).
As a reminder, the consumer has a right of withdrawal of 48 hours in the context of a gold redemption transaction.
This period is 14 days in the event of door-to-door canvassing (mail addressed by name).
However, it was noted that this right of withdrawal was rarely implemented. When the professional cannot return the purchased good, he must pay the consumer double the sales price received for the sale of this good. The gold objects having been repurchased at an abusively low price, the amount paid in the event of withdrawal would itself be very low compared to the current price of gold, leading to, in addition to the loss of the objects, a substantial loss of profits.
The purchase of precious metals must be the subject of a written contract.
- Cash payment for precious metals is prohibited.
- You have a right of withdrawal which you can exercise within 48 hours of signing the contract.
- Consult several professionals before selling precious metals and find out about the quality of the metal.
What information should the professional communicate to you?
- The purchase price applied to precious metals purchase operations must be displayed at the place of public reception and, where applicable, on all pages of the website relating to offers to purchase precious metals.
- The words “at the gold price” or “at the current price” are not sufficient. The professional is not obliged to align his price with that of the gold price and cannot justify the absence of display of the purchase price by its variable nature.
- The terms and conditions for displaying the purchase price are specified by the decree of August 18, 2015 relating to consumer information on the purchase prices of precious metals.
- The quality of gold varies depending on its “carat”: prices are therefore different depending on whether it is 18 or 24 carat gold.
- The purchase of metals is subject to a tax, the existence of which must be mentioned by the professional.
For more information you can consult the dedicated practical sheet on the website of the State services in Gers:
https://www.gers.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Economie-emploi-et-entreprises/Consommation/Rachat-de-metaux-precieux-informez-vous-sur-les-termes-du-contrat
