New Visitors Guide

Firstly I would like to welcome you to this website and to the world of British First Day Covers. If you are new to the hobby then I would suggest you read the following pages: A brief introduction and What is a First Day Cover. These contain a wealth of information about the hobby and you will soon come to realise that collecting first day covers can be both rewarding and educational.

BFDC Ltd follows the same basic operation as most 'online' shopping sites i.e. those sites where you can order online with your credit card. Of course you can order by mail (and cheque) if you wish - see Methods of Payment. Whichever way you choose to order, the notes below should prove helpful especially if you are new to the internet. As a last resort, if you still have problems, you can email me at: [email protected] and I will do my best to get back to you within 24 hours.

How to Search for Covers
To find the covers you want either enter the stock code into the search box above or enter a word or phrase to describe what covers you are looking for. For example if your interest is Railways, then type Railways into the search box. If your interest is more specific, say Stockton and Darlington Railway, try typing Darlington.

Once you have typed in the search box, click on the 'Search' button and the results will be displayed as thumbnail images. Click on any of these thumbnails for a larger image plus full details of all versions for that cover, e.g. signed versions or covers with different postmarks.

If your interest is for a range of covers, then try the Browse facility where you can search for covers with particular postmarks; or search by cover producer or cover series; you can search by stamp type, e.g. prestige stamp books; or by signature; or for all the covers issued in a particular year. Give it a go - I am sure you will be impressed!

Online Ordering
If this is the first time you have ordered anything by credit card online, ie. on the internet, the following instructions will be of particular help. These notes are also designed to help existing customers. Shopping could not be easier! Just read these notes and you can't go far wrong. Should you need further assistance please email us at [email protected]

Shopping Basket
When you are satisfied that you have located the covers which you wish to purchase, simply click on the word Basket next to the price. By doing this you will open the My Basket window. You will see the item that you have chosen has been placed in your shopping basket. You may also notice that in the grey bar at the top of the page that the following information is now recorded:
(a) the number of items you have selected; and
(b) the the total value of your order;
you will also notice that the shopping basket icon has a 'parcel' inside!.

Any discounts will automatically be reflected in the shopping basket. Please note that each time you click on the word Basket the My Basket window will open. To go back to the previous page or make further selections, click on the Back button, or type another search word/stock code in the box.  Whilst in the shopping basket window, should you wish to order two or more of the same item, simply change the figure '1' to the number required and click on the Update Basket button.

Once you have finished choosing your items, if you are not already on the shopping basket page, you should click on the Shopping Basket icon in the grey header bar above. This will return you to the Shopping Basket page where you can review your selections. You then have three choices:
Pay with: See below
Clear Basket: To empty the basket just click on the "Clear Basket" button.
Update Basket: To Order more than one item change the number in the box next to the item and click "Update Basket".
To remove an individual item simply click on the red cross alongside the item you wish to remove.

Pay With:
Click on the "Pay with WorldPay" button. If you have already signed in, and have confirmed that your contact details are still correct, you will go straight to the WorldPay website.  If you have not signed in you will be asked to do so.  The following instructions apply depending on whether you are a new or existing customer:

New Customers
In order to proceed with your first order from www.bfdc.co.uk - or to sign-in for the first time, you will need to create a new account. Signing-in allows you to place orders with your credit card or to create a WishList of items you might like to purchase in the future.

Click on the Register button at the top right of the website. You will need to complete your personal details (name, address etc) in order that we know where to send the covers. You will be asked to choose a password. Please remember your password as you will need this should you make future purchases. Once you have completed these details click on the Register button at the foot of the page.

A new page will now open asking you to confirm the details you supplied on the previous page. If you are happy that the details are correct, click on the Continue button at the bottom of the page. If you need to make any amendments to your personal details you must do so before clicking on the Continue button.

Once you have completed your first order we will forward your Account Number by email. you can either use your account number or email address to sign-in in future.

Existing Online Customers
i.e. customers who have previously ordered online at www.bfdc.co.uk. 

You will need to know either your Account Number or Email address and your password. If you have forgotten your Password please click on this link: Forgotten your Password?

Once you have logged onto the website you will be shown the billing address and delivery address of where we will send the covers. If this is correct click on the Pay with WorldPay button.  If these details need amending then go to your "My Account" section and click on edit account details.

Existing Mail Order Customers
i.e. customers who have NOT previously ordered online at www.bfdc.co.uk but who have previously ordered by post. 
You need to follow the same procedure as for New Customers above. 

WorldPay
After submitting your order by clicking the Pay With WorldPay button you will then be taken to the Secure WorldPay payment pages. WorldPay are a respected PSP (Payment Solution Provider) who use 128 bit encryption to ensure your details are safe. You will notice that a 'Padlock' symbol  will appear at the bottom/top of your browser which verifies that a secure connection has been established.

Now that you have been taken to WorldPay's website you will be asked for your credit/debit card details. This information will be verified at WorldPay. Once this process is complete your order details will automatically be sent to us. You may then click on the link to return to our website. You should receive two automatic emails: one from WorldPay confirming that your card has been charged; and one from BFDC confirming your order details. These will not arrive if you have not provided your correct email address!. In the event that you do not receive these automatic emails then please inform us by email to [email protected] and we will do our best to sort it out as quickly as possible - that's a promise (weekends may take longer depending on who is available).

Please note that at any time during the WorldPay ordering process you may click on the Cancel Order button which will return you to our website.

Paying by Cheque/Postal Order
If you prefer to pay by cheque or postal order, then simply print out the shopping basket page and enclose with your remittance (Cheques payable BFDC Ltd) to:
A G Bradbury
3 Link Road
Stoneygate
Leicester
LE2 3RA
PLEASE NOTE: If you are ordering from outside the UK cheques must be in Pound Sterling and Drawn on a UK Bank