I've been trying to set up an exchange here in the UK, but am facing a lot of what I consider anti competitive behaviour from UK banking. I met Vince Cable to talk about it and hopefully the situation will change in the future:

http://www.reddit.com/r/BitcoinUK/comments/1n99os/met_with_v...

Although it's a big mountain to climb so perhaps it's wishful thinking at this stage!

Go talk to Burnley S&L

http://www.burnleysavingsandloans.co.uk/about-us/

See if Dave can help.

Thanks! Loved that documentary on Channel 4. Have dropped them an email asking if they can help. I'm not clear if they provide online banking or instant transfer notifications (SMS for example) which would be a core requirement for running a Bitcoin exchange. But I've asked, and hopefully something could come of it!

Would love to know if they can help you take up the banner for btc. It may be too 'new fangled' for Dave to get involved in, but the democritazation(?) aspect may be something he'd be willing to help out with.

In any event, let us know if something comes of it! Go Dave!

I found the practice of getting money to a place where you can buy bitcoin was an excellent lesson in the utility of bitcoin.

I'm a New Zealander who earns predominantly US dollars, I was an early adopter of bitcoin not as a way to get rich, but because I have been stung for fees so many times.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that I have been prepared to accept bitcoin for two or three years. I have yet to be actually be paid in bitcoin. I request payment in bitcoin, They ask what bitcoin is, I explain, They scream in terror because it's an imaginary drug money ponzi scheme and pay me in something else that stings me with fees (and now, due to new anti-money laundering rules requires more forms of ID than I actually possess)

Yep, same here. Recently used https://bitbargain.co.uk (no affiliation at all) to get myself a couple though, and was surprised just how simple it was.

bitbargain certainly seems to be a step in the right direction. I guess being an escrow service allows them to skip a lot of the legal work involved in setting up an exchange.

Are their prices set very much higher than the 'going rate' for bitcoins?

Certainly seems to be.

I believe most sellers set their asking price according to the MtGox latest, or just under that figure.

I had exactly the same experience. Kicking myself now as they were $8 each at the time...

Retrospective trading is a good way to chew yourself up. It's meaningless and pointless so don't dwell on it! Look at it from todays perspective.