<p>I have purchased from both <a href="http://quickbitcoin.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://quickbitcoin.co.uk</a> and <a href="http://bitbargain.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://bitbargain.co.uk</a> and have had good experiences with both.  </p>

<p>If I had to recommend one, I would go with <a href="http://quickbitcoin.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://quickbitcoin.co.uk</a> as you are dealing with a company rather than a random individual (which is the case on bitbargain).  I have found that quickbitcoin is <em>very</em> fast, and usually takes 10-15 minutes from sending you money to receiving your coins.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T16:04:45.050Z
This is great. [quickbitcoin](https://quickbitcoin.co.uk/) takes UK bank transfer. I just tried them and got my coins in about 10 minutes. I figured I didn't want to wait for days for my bitcoins ;)
Hugh M Halford-Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T15:21:36.663Z
2013-09-13T15:21:36.663Z
mrwooster
<p>I've used localbitcoins.com quite a few times with UK bank transfers and haven't been disappointed yet. Transactions have been generally very fast and prices are getting better as the arbitrage opportunities are being soaked up. You should of course follow their safety guidance and if you are nervous then stick to users with high numbers of previous transactions. </p>

<p>I have had funds stuck in exchanges that had their bank accounts closed in the past though. So as the regulatory landscape changes then these kind of companies are carrying some risk, especially in the US where the practice has been freeze assets first, talk later.</p>

<p>Generally if you are only buying then bitcoin are hardly ever 'seized' and it's only if you have fiat funds in someone elses account that you are likely to have a problem.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T16:10:38.080Z
Yes. I used `localbitcoins` many times. Make sure you buy from somebody with some reputation already. It uses escrow regulated by the company and is clear on how to use it properly without getting conned.
Piotr Kula
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T10:21:19.070Z
2013-09-13T10:35:13.937Z
2013-09-13T10:35:13.937Z
barrymac
<p>The <strong><em>safest</em></strong> way (though perhaps not convenient) is to create a two-party legal contract with signed witnesses. This way if either party reneges you have legal recourse in the civil courts. The contractual arrangement would be somewhat similar to when a <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13195/6679">freelancer charges</a> bitcoins for their goods or services.</p>

<p>Escrow doesn't provide the same level of protection, as your legal contract with the escrow company (if any) usually includes a clause that final binding arbitration is made by the escrow company - not you. However, a reputable escrow service or currency exchange will typically suffice for people with moderate risk appetites.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T01:02:57.113Z
2013-09-13T01:02:57.113Z
2017-04-13T12:47:33.660Z
LateralFractal
<p>I'm from the UK and I've had no problems doing the following;</p>

<ul>
<li>Bank transfer to MtGox</li>
<li>wait 3-4 days until money is credited</li>
<li>Buy bitcoins </li>
<li>Withdraw</li>
</ul>

<p>MtGox are a reputable exchange and are quick to process GBP deposits (At least for me anyway). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T09:32:16.543Z
Bank transfer to MtGox costs a lot. If you want to buy only a little it's expensive.
Hugh M Halford-Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T11:03:52.760Z
It costs me £16, no matter if I transfer $1 or $100,000 and this it not a MtGox fee, MtGox Processing GBP has no fee, this is purely a bank fee for sending the money to a foreign bank.
ManreeRist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T11:29:32.290Z
Well, seems to me that Hugh is much closer to the $1 than the $100k. ;)
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T14:02:24.013Z
£16 is fine for 100k but as you say Murch - I was thinking £50 or £100.
Hugh M Halford-Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-21T11:17:15.230Z
Don't forget the banks usually round (up) the conversion rates.
Edson Medina
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-12T23:29:18.207Z
2013-09-12T23:29:18.207Z
ManreeRist
<p>I have come across multiple websites offering bitcoins for UK bank transfer. What site have people had the best experience with?</p>

<p>I've come across a few so </p>

<p><a href="http://www.quickbitcoin.co.uk" rel="nofollow" title="www.quickbitcoin.co.uk">www.quickbitcoin.co.uk</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.bitbargain.co.uk" rel="nofollow" title="www.bitbargain.co.uk">www.bitbargain.co.uk</a></p>

<p>www.blockchain.info</p>

<p>Ideas?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-12T13:44:52.857Z
The problem is that there are no real customer satisfaction surveys for exchanges yet, and your question falls into the "recommendation questions can't be factually answered" category. Personally, I have made good experiences with Bitstamp, but who knows. See my answer to a very similar question here: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/12718/5406
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-12T13:45:21.953Z
possible duplicate of [Best trader from an European perspective](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/12691/best-trader-from-an-european-perspective)
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-13T01:17:21.750Z
check out [Kraken](https://www.kraken.com/) or [bitstamp](https://www.bitstamp.net/). I know bitstamp accepts SEPA and kraken is very legit.
Loourr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-24T12:40:14.800Z
I am indeed the founder. I asked this a while back to find out people's experiences with other sites and to find a steady supply of bitcoin. It was really hard to know who to trust when we started.
Hugh M Halford-Thompson
<buy-bitcoins><uk>
What's the safest way to buy bitcoins in the UK?
Hugh M Halford-Thompson
# What's the safest way to buy bitcoins in the UK?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-09-12)

I have come across multiple websites offering bitcoins for UK bank transfer. What site have people had the best experience with?

I've come across a few so

[www.quickbitcoin.co.uk](http://www.quickbitcoin.co.uk "www.quickbitcoin.co.uk")

[www.bitbargain.co.uk](http://www.bitbargain.co.uk "www.bitbargain.co.uk")

www.blockchain.info

Ideas?

**Tags:** buy-bitcoins, uk

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The problem is that there are no real customer satisfaction surveys for exchanges yet, and your question falls into the "recommendation questions can't be factually answered" category. Personally, I have made good experiences with Bitstamp, but who knows. See my answer to a very similar question here: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/12718/5406  
> **username_1**: possible duplicate of [Best trader from an European perspective](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/12691/best-trader-from-an-european-perspective)  
> **username_2**: check out [Kraken](https://www.kraken.com/) or [bitstamp](https://www.bitstamp.net/). I know bitstamp accepts SEPA and kraken is very legit.  
> **username_0**: I am indeed the founder. I asked this a while back to find out people's experiences with other sites and to find a steady supply of bitcoin. It was really hard to know who to trust when we started.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-09-13. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I have purchased from both <http://quickbitcoin.co.uk> and <http://bitbargain.co.uk> and have had good experiences with both.

If I had to recommend one, I would go with <http://quickbitcoin.co.uk> as you are dealing with a company rather than a random individual (which is the case on bitbargain). I have found that quickbitcoin is *very* fast, and usually takes 10-15 minutes from sending you money to receiving your coins.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is great. [quickbitcoin](https://quickbitcoin.co.uk/) takes UK bank transfer. I just tried them and got my coins in about 10 minutes. I figured I didn't want to wait for days for my bitcoins ;)  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-09-13. Score: 3

I've used localbitcoins.com quite a few times with UK bank transfers and haven't been disappointed yet. Transactions have been generally very fast and prices are getting better as the arbitrage opportunities are being soaked up. You should of course follow their safety guidance and if you are nervous then stick to users with high numbers of previous transactions.

I have had funds stuck in exchanges that had their bank accounts closed in the past though. So as the regulatory landscape changes then these kind of companies are carrying some risk, especially in the US where the practice has been freeze assets first, talk later.

Generally if you are only buying then bitcoin are hardly ever 'seized' and it's only if you have fiat funds in someone elses account that you are likely to have a problem.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Yes. I used `localbitcoins` many times. Make sure you buy from somebody with some reputation already. It uses escrow regulated by the company and is clear on how to use it properly without getting conned.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-09-13. Score: 3

The ***safest*** way (though perhaps not convenient) is to create a two-party legal contract with signed witnesses. This way if either party reneges you have legal recourse in the civil courts. The contractual arrangement would be somewhat similar to when a [freelancer charges](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13195/6679) bitcoins for their goods or services.

Escrow doesn't provide the same level of protection, as your legal contract with the escrow company (if any) usually includes a clause that final binding arbitration is made by the escrow company - not you. However, a reputable escrow service or currency exchange will typically suffice for people with moderate risk appetites.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2013-09-12. Score: 0

I'm from the UK and I've had no problems doing the following;

* Bank transfer to MtGox
* wait 3-4 days until money is credited
* Buy bitcoins
* Withdraw

MtGox are a reputable exchange and are quick to process GBP deposits (At least for me anyway).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Bank transfer to MtGox costs a lot. If you want to buy only a little it's expensive.  
> **username_7**: It costs me £16, no matter if I transfer $1 or $100,000 and this it not a MtGox fee, MtGox Processing GBP has no fee, this is purely a bank fee for sending the money to a foreign bank.  
> **username_1**: Well, seems to me that username_0 is much closer to the $1 than the $100k. ;)  
> **username_0**: £16 is fine for 100k but as you say username_1 - I was thinking £50 or £100.  
> **username_8**: Don't forget the banks usually round (up) the conversion rates.  

---

