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Buyer During the Auction


How do I become qualified to bid on an auction? Only users who have signed up on Bid4Assets can place bids on an auction. Click here to Sign up.

If you're already signed up and are interested in bidding on an auction with a deposit requirement, please review our How to Place a Bid Deposit Step-by-Step guide.

What deposit methods do you accept? There are several ways to fund a deposit. The seller determines which methods they will offer for their auctions. The following deposit methods are possible:

  • Personal/Company Check
  • Online Check (ACH): An online check is an electronic transaction that enables a person to pay online with his/her checking account. Payment is automatically deducted from their checking account through the ACH (Automated Clearing House) system. Currently, ACH only supports U.S. currency customers with U.S. checking accounts. Please allow 3 business days for processing.
  • Certified Check/Money Order: A certified check/money order is a form of check for which a bank verifies that sufficient funds exist in the bidders account to cover the check.  You will need to mail or express deliver the certified check/money order to Bid4Assets for deposit in the deposit escrow account. You must get a certified check from your bank. Please note an online bill payment check you initiate through your online banking bill payment account is not a certified check. These checks will not be accepted. If you are unsure if you are submitting a certified check for a deposit, please check with your financial institution. In almost all cases, a certified check produced by your bank will either say "Official Check", "Cashier's Check" or "Bank Check" printed on the check.
  • Wire Transfer: A wire transfer is an electronic transfer of funds.  You must contact your bank to wire funds from your bank account to the deposit escrow account.

Are there costs associated with placing a deposit? It depends. Please review the auction's terms to see whether there is a deposit processing fee. Please note: Your financial institution may impose fees for a funds transfer. We recommend you check with your financial institution before initiating a transfer.

When should I send in my deposit? The deadline to place a deposit is included in the instructions for each auction.

If a deadline is not included the following schedule applies. Please note: Your deposit must be received by Bid4Assets according to the timeline in the table below to allow sufficient time for processing:

Deposit Type

Deposit At Bid4Assets By

ACH (online check)

Immediately available

Personal or Company check

7 business days prior to the auction start date

Certified Check/Money Order

3 business days prior to the auction start date

Wire

2 business days prior to the auction start date

How do I know if Bid4Assets has received my deposit? Log into My Account and select My Bid Deposits to view the status of your deposit. Please note: the deposit transaction history will display Checks as Received while Wire transfers and ACHs display as Deposited.

Why do you require my Social Security or Tax Identification number? Due to federal government and banking regulations, Bid4Assets must obtain one of these identification numbers in order to conduct financial transactions over the Internet.

Who should I contact if I sent a deposit and it is not posted in my account? Please send an email to [email protected] with the information outlined below. Please consider that Bid4Assets receives and processes thousands of deposits. To ensure we can quickly provide you with an update regarding your deposit, it is essential you include all the information listed below in your email:

  • Your name and user ID #
  • How you sent the deposit (ACH, Check, Certified Check, Money Order, or Wire)
  • Date of the deposit
  • Auction ID #
  • Name of originating bank/financial institution
  • Name on account from which the funds were sent

If you placed your deposit by Wire Transfer you must also include the FEDWIRE tracking number.  Your bank or financial institution can provide you with that tracking number.

How do I get a refund of my deposit? If you are not the winning bidder on the auction, your deposit refund will automatically be processed within 10 business days of the close of the auction. Please note, there are no exceptions.

  • Online check deposits are refunded by online check (ACH) to the originating bank account. Refunds are processed within ten business days of the day the auction closes. ACH deposits cannot be refunded before an auction closes. Please be aware that ACH refunds can take up to 3 days to process through the Automated Clearing House.
  • Certified checks, money orders, checks, or wire deposits are refunded by check to the name and address provided in your Bid4Assets profile. To confirm your profile information, click on the My Profile link located in My Account page.

It has been 10 business days and I have not received my refund? You can check the status of your refund in the My Bid Deposits link of your My Account page section of the site.

If you placed your deposit by Online Check (ACH): Bid4Assets will process your refund electronically back to your account within 10 business days after the auction closes and the Refund Process Date will be noted in your account. However, your financial institution may take up to 3 to 4 business days to process and post the refund to your account.

If you placed your deposit by Wire Transfer, Personal or Company Check, or Certified/Money Order: Bid4Assets processes and mails refund checks, via first class mail, within 10 business days after the auction closes. The refund is mailed to the address listed on your Bid4Assets profile. Our experience is that it may take 5 business days or more for delivery.

If you still haven't received your refund 5 business days after the Refund Processed Date shown in your My Bid Deposits, please contact our Customer Service Department at [email protected] with the following information included in your email

  • Your name and user ID #
  • How you sent the deposit (ACH, Check, Wire)
  • Date of the deposit
  • Auction ID #
  • Name of originating bank/financial institution
  • Name on account from which the funds were sent (if different than your own)

If I am not the winning bidder, can I use my deposit for another auction? No, your deposits may not be transferred from one auction to another. Once an auction ends, your deposit funds are refunded to you. If you wish to participate in another auction requiring a deposit, you must place a new deposit in the amount required for that auction.

I won an auction, but I changed my mind about buying the item. Can I get a refund? No. Your bid is a binding contract. If you do not, for whatever reason, perform on the auction your deposit is forfeited to the seller and your Bid4Assets account is suspended.