1bigpresent

What do you give someone who has everything? ...let them decide

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 
  • Q Why should I register with 1bigpresent.com?
  • 1bigpresent is a cash/voucher based online giving service. We collect cash donations swiftly and securely from your guests allowing you complete flexibilty to spend the total sum exactly as you please. Registering your occasion is so easy and takes only a few minutes. We even help you to spread the word by email if you wish and also provide a thank you template to use when your special occasion is over! Please remember that we will email you periodically so always use an email address that you access regularly just in case you miss something important.
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  • Q Who can use 1bigpresent.com?
  • Absolutely anyone who has something to celebrate! It is perfect for birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, christenings, religious celebrations, joint parties, retirements, leaving gifts., fundraisers..... and so on! The list really is endless so maybe you have thought of something we haven't. Please email us and let us know.
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  • Q Is it becoming more acceptable to ask for monetary donations for our wedding/special occasion?
  • With a recent article in Wedding Magazine reporting that 45% of couples are now asking for cash as a wedding gift you will find that most friends/family members appreciate that monetary gifts are far more useful than traditional gifts. It is a great deal more satisfying for your guests to know that they are contributing towards something you really need or are saving for. This is exemplified in a nationwide survey carried out by i3 which proved that 78% of consumers actually prefer to give cash as a wedding gift.
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  • Q So what happens when I register my special occasion?
  • When you register your occasion with 1bigpresent.com you'll be given your own occasion page on the website. On here you can add/update your event details, post a message to your friends/family, or upload a special photo! Make it personal and where possible add some information about the gift that your guests are contributing to. The most successful 1bigpresent gift funds are those where our hosts take the time to tell their guests why they are using the service.
    As soon as your registration is complete, you'll receive your unique occasion number. Pass this on to your friends and family; they'll need it to log on and contribute to your 1bigpresent!
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  • Q How do I spread the word?
  • We make it really easy to tell people all about your 1bigpresent account. You can use the invitation email which you are prompted to send as soon as you have completed the registration process. This email tells your guests all they need to know about your registration, gives them your special code and takes them directly to the website. It is a good idea to have a list of email addresses to hand when you register if you wish to use the email facility.
    You can also print off some paper invitation inserts from the 'Your Gift' area of the website and simply add your unique occasion code for less formal occasions. You may have some other way of letting everyone know: by phone or text perhaps or even on your social networking site. Why not follow in the footsteps of some of our couples and set up a blog to keep your guests informed. You can do this on www.blogspot.com or www.wordpress.com. Just remember to add a link to www.1bigpresentco.uk and quote your occasion number.
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  • Q We are getting married and obviously using our own invites. How do we inform our guests that we are using the 1bigpresent service?
  • When you register more formal occasions (engagements, weddings, new baby etc) you can request our invitation inserts which give your guests all the information they need to use the service. There is currently a small charge for these of 10p per insert which includes postage throughout the UK.. Just fill in the box with the amount of inserts that you require and we will arrange to deliver them to you. If you would prefer to receive a sample insert first then please request this by email to admin@1bigpresent.co.uk and we will be more than happy to oblige. Alternativley many couples are opting to add a poem or polite note to their wedding invites. Just remember to add something like this:
    'Our Gift Fund is registered at www.bigpresent.com and our unique occasion number is ......'
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  • Q How much does it cost me to use the 1bigpresent.com service?
  • There is NO FEE to register your special occasion with 1bigpresent.com. All that we ask is that you make a deposit (min £5) within 14 days of registration or your account will expire. This can be made by yourself to test the service or by one of your guests.
    Our commission charge is 6.9% of your total Gift Fund but never more than £100* as our fees are capped at this amount. Our fee will automatically be deducted from your total when you close your account and the balance sent to you. We also operate with a minimum commission. Our minimum fee is always £30 so no matter how low your gift fund is at it's close we will levy a charge of £30.
    We currently add an administration fee to individual guest transactions on the website. This is to cover our charges to Paypal and full details can be clearly found under our FAQ's. Remember that to buy/post a gift for you your guests will always incur a cost whether it be for parking, wrapping or postage. Extra security and reassurance comes in the shape of Paypal's Website Payments Pro Service for which we pay an additonal premium and which fully guarantees the online security of your guests.

    Should you require invitation inserts we are happy to supply these at a cost of 10p each (including UK postage). These provide your guests with information about the 1bigpresent service. If required these can be ordered at the point of registration. You can request a free sample insert by emailing admin@1bigpresent.co.uk with your full postal details.
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  • Q Can I check my account at any time?
  • Yes, you can access your account with your login details at any time of the day or night, from anywhere in the world. It will always be up-to-date with the latest messages, contributions and your total gift fund amount. Each transaction will be itemised and permanently displayed alongside your total on your page of the website so you will always know what is going on! Remember that the information that you are viewing about individual transactions CANNOT be viewed by your guests!
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  • Q How do I know if someone has contributed to my1bigpresent fund?
  • You will receive an email alert every time someone contributes to your gift fund. When you log into your account you can then view your gift and your guest's message on your message board along with a full record of all the contributions to date. Only you as the account holder will have access to those details which will be itemised precisely for you on your personal pages of the site. Just remember when you register to ensure that you use the best email address to receive your alerts.
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  • Q We have guests who don't use the internet! Can they still contribute to my 1bigpresent account?
  • Of course! We are happy to receive cheques made payable to:
    1bigpresent.com Limited, and posted to
    The Cumbraes, 9 Woods Court, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 9QP. Please ensure that your guests quote your occasion number on the back of the cheque in order that we can credit it to your account.
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  • Q What does each guest see when they log on to my page of the website and what form of receipt/confirmation do they receive once they contribute to my occasion?
  • Well your guests can read all of the messages you have received and they can view the total in your gift fund IF you have chosen to display it. Remember however that the total is always hidden until it reaches £100 just to help your occasion get started. (You will be asked if you wish to display your total when you register). You can elect to display or remove your total at your convenience throughout the time that your occasion is open on 1bigpresent.
    Your guests will receive an email receipt and are also copied into the email sent to you advising you of their gift as soon as they have completed their transaction on the site.
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  • Q When do I request my cash/gift vouchers?
  • You select your choice of gift vouchers/cash when you close your occasion, normally within a few days of your occasion having passed. It is a simple process and you will be guided through each step.
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  • Q Can I choose more than one type of voucher?
  • For administration purposes we ask that you limit your selection to just two types of Gift Voucher, or take advantage of the cash option as one of these. We are happy to allow a third if it is the Charity Voucher for Sightsavers International.
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  • Q What is the cash option and how does it work?
  • We know that you might want to use your gift fund in your own way, which is why you can receive it in cash or a cash/voucher combination. Your friends contribute to your fund in the normal way, but when your account closes we'll post you a cheque for the full amount instead of sending out vouchers. It's then yours to spend in any way you like, without being tied to a particular tour operator or department store! You can then shop around for the very best deal with your cash.
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  • Q When will I receive my cash/vouchers?
  • When your 1bigpresent account has closed, your cheque or vouchers will be prepared or ordered and sent straight to you. There will be no additional cost for this. If however you are in a rush to receive your cash then we are always happy to transfer funds directly into your bank account. We will charge a fee for this (currently £15). Just email us and ask for details. We are flexible and always happy to help.

    Gift vouchers may take a little longer as it all depends on how long it takes the retailer to issue them; sometimes just a few hours but sometimes a few days! .

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  • Q How will I receive my vouchers?
  • Some retailers now issue e-vouchers which can be with you in a matter of hours, but some still offer paper vouchers that have to come through the post. We'll keep you informed about the delivery method but please bear in mind that it may take a few days to get your paper voucher, depending on the retailer.
    If you've selected the cash option, your cheque will be sent to you straight away.
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  • Q I have a little money left after selecting my vouchers? What options do you offer me?
  • We offer two options if this happens. If you have a little amount of money left over you can request a cheque for that amount to be sent to you (simply by ticking the appropriate box). Alternatively we ask that you consider donating it to our sponsored charity - Sightsavers International, again simply by ticking the appropriate box. We then pass your donation on to them.
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  • Q How do I thank my guests?
  • You can, of course, thank your guests in the traditional way but it helps to know that 1bigpresent has prepared a "Thank you" template which is ready to send out as soon as your occasion has closed. Just personalise the email, press send and every guest who has contributed to your gift fund will automatically receive a thank you. You may wish to thank each guest individually as they make their contribution to your Gift Fund. WIth 1bigpresent you can do that also. Each email alert that you receive will detail the contribution and allow you to thank your guest immediately if you so choose.
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  • Q I have chosen some gift vouchers. Is there a time limit on the vouchers?
  • Usually there's no time limit on your Gift Vouchers, but some retailers may like to you spend them within 12 months. Please be sure to check when you receive them. If you do have any questions or concerns then email us at admin@1bigpresent.co.uk.
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  • Q How secure is the money contributed to my 1bigpresent account?
  • 1bigpresent only uses Paypal and Paypal Website Payments Pro. This means that all contributions are absolutely 100% refundable. In terms of the security of the company, well, unlike similar gift registry companies with shops/premises etc, 1bigpresent is a family run business working from one office and with with NO major overheads. We guarantee to pay every penny of YOUR gift fund over to YOU!
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  • Q I can't see the Gift Vouchers that I would like? Can you help?
  • We should be able to help with most requests and can supply vouchers for most retailers, however it is best that you email us with the details before you set up your Gift Fund and we will be glad to check for you. Also remember that we always offer the cash option, just in case.
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  • Q I am a guest! How do I contribute to a gift fund?
  • All you need to contribute to a gift fund is the unique occasion number you received from your wedding or party host, and your email address. This lets you login to our secure website, where you can access details of the gift fund page, choose your contribution amount and compose a special message to your host/s. You are able to read all the messages from other guests on the main event page and view the total amount in the gift fund (if your host has elected to display them) but individual contribution amounts are NEVER shown. If you prefer you don't have to leave a message but your host will still receive notification of your contribution and know that it is from you. Your contribution can be made using your Paypal account or by credit/debit card and can be any amount from £5 up to £200. You will receive an email confirming your contribution and you will be copied into the email that is sent to your host/s advising them of your gift.

    If you wish you can also download a 1bigpresent voucher to put inside a card. (This has no monetary value but represents your gift!)
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  • Q I have made a contribution to a new occasion but the amount I contributed (£30) is not showing! Why?
  • Your hosts may have opted not to disclose their contributions on their home page. If however they have elected to leave them on display they will not be visible until the gift fund has achieved £100. This is just to help get things off the ground as sometimes people can be a little reluctant to be 'first' to use the service.
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  • Q How much does it cost a guest to contribute to a gift fund?
  • We do charge a fee to contribute as a guest but remember that guests will have no wrapping, parking or postage costs to incur and have the additional reassurance that comes with the Paypal Pro Shopping Cart. These fees are on a sliding scale (see below) and cover our costs to Paypal who do charge us per individual transaction.


    Contribution => Fee
    --------------------
    £5-£20 => £1.25
    £20-£30 => £1.95
    £30-£50 => £1.95
    £50-£100 => £2.50
    £100-£200 => £3.50
    £200-£250 => £3.95
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  • Q My event is only a couple of days away and not many of my guests have contributed yet! Should I be concerned?
  • No, not at all. Guests often contribute to an event at the very last minute and sometimes even afterwards!!! Slightly frustrating for you but not a problem so long as you have not closed your account. Only when your account has been closed is it too late for your guests to contribute. In fact it makes sense just to leave it open for an extra few days if you think there may be one or two stragglers!
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  • Q I have friends and family outside of the UK. Can they still contribute to my 1bigpresent occasion?
  • Of course! All they need to contribute is your unique occasion number. We use Paypal Website Payments Pro to process all transactions, so they can be sure their payments are swift, secure and that their chosen amount will be converted into your gift fund at the relevant exchange rate.
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  • Q Tell me who is behind 1bigpresent.com?
  • The name behind 1bigpresent is Michelle Mohindra, business women and mum from Harrogate, North Yorkshire who, recognising the need for a 'simple' online service set about creating a gift giving solution for friends/family/colleagues almost anywhere in the world, linking them together safely and securely towards one extra special and much wanted gift. Read her personal statement:

    'I have put my heart and soul into 1bigpresent and am extremely proud of the website and it's fantastic capabilities. To the many customers who have already placed their trust in us I would like to say thank you. To those of you who are thinking about using the 1bigpresent service I give you my word that you will receive a premium service and that, regardless of the size or genre of your special occasion, you will not be disappointed!'
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  • Q How do I contact you at 1bigpresent.com?
  • The best way is by email anytime to admin@1bigpresent.co.uk. If you have something you would prefer to discuss on the telephone then please include the number you would like us to call you back on and we will get back to you quickly. Our office telephone number is 0870 890 7638 where you can leave a message day or night or if we are out of the office or taking another call. As 1bigpresent tends to operate around the clock (we often work some pretty unusual hours) please don't be alarmed if you get transferred to the answerphone. We promise to respond quicky to all enquiries.
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  • Q We're not sure how to ask our guests to use the service. Can you help us with some polite wording for our wedding invites?
  • We have decided to add this at the end of our FAQ's as it actually happens to be one of the most frequently asked questions we answer. Here at 1bigpresent we have composed most of the polite words and poetry you'll find below. We have also copied and pasted some bits and pieces from other forums and websites for you to play around with. We hope they help.

    1. Your presence on our Wedding Day is far more important than any presents you could give and as such we don't have a traditional wedding list. However as some of you have asked what we would like we have enclosed some details to assist with this (1bigpresent insert). Having already created a home with all we need we will just be happy to see you on the day and very much hope that you enjoy our wedding so please do not feel obliged to give in any way.

    2. We have invited you to celebrate our wedding day with us and therefore do not expect a gift. Some guests however have indicated that they would like to give/buy us something to symbolise the event. We have enclosed a card to assist with this if you would like (1bigpresent insert). We have also compiled a small list of store items for anyone who would prefer not to give monetary gifts.

    3. As our special day draws near,
    we hope our sentiment is clear
    Our dearest wish is that you’re there,
    and in our happiness you’ll share
    Your presence is what matters most,
    not gadgets for our tea and toast
    But if a gift is on your mind,
    A small contribution would be kind
    We have a fund, please see below
    Each little gift will help it grow.
    So ‘Thank you’ is all that’s left to say
    We’ll see you on our wedding day

    Our Gift Fund is registered with 1bigpresent.com
    Our unique occasion number is —–


    4. The love of family and friends
    a precious gift that never ends
    Each one of you as guests we'll treasure
    You'll bring our special day such pleasure
    And though wedding gifts are oh so nice
    Your "presence" surely will suffice
    But if a gift is on your mind
    Your contribution would be kind
    We have a fund, please see below
    Each welcome gift will help it grow
    Though more than this we hope you'll say
    You'll be there on our wedding day

    5. We are sending out this invitation
    And hope you’ll join our celebration
    Our dearest wish is that you're there
    to share our special day,
    So please don't feel that you're obliged
    to give in any way
    But if a gift is your intention
    We’ll take the opportunity to mention
    What most of you already know,
    We set up home some time ago
    With this in mind we don't need much
    No household things, or gifts as such
    We have a fund, please see below
    Each welcome gift will help it grow
    But more importantly our request
    is that you'll be our wedding guest

    and then at the end of whatever you have selected you can add:

    Our Wedding Fund is registered with 1bigpresent.com
    Our unique Occasion Number is ----

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Sightsavers International

Click here to find out about our sponsored charity, Sightsavers.