Companies House and the police warn it's easy for rogues to change your company's records at Companies House and run up credit in your name. These simple precautions will make sure they don't.
You're the mark
A rogue checks your credit rating. It's good. He files forms at Companies House notifying appointment of a fictitious new director and a new registered office address for your company.
The Registrar of Companies (who cannot check that all these documents are genuine, and is not obliged to by law) registers them. The rogue is now able to order high value goods and services on credit, using false ID to pretend he is a director of your company, and asking you to deliver them to an address you know nothing about. To a third party searching at Companies House, all seems in order, so credit is given and the delivery is made. The rogue disappears, without paying.
Don’t let this happen to you – here are the three protective measures recommended by the police and Companies House:
1. Check frequently
To make sure you haven't been targeted, you can check your company's registered office online at any time, free of charge, on the Companies House website.
Just key your company name, and click 'search'. Click your registered number when it appears to see your registered office and other details.
Click 'Order information on this company' to buy a 'directors' appointment report for £1, this will provide the directors' details, and make a secure, online credit card payment.
2. File electronically
Pre-empt the rogues by signing up to the Companies House PROOF service which is an online filing scheme.
This will mean that certain information (including changes in directors and registered office) can only be filed electronically. Paper forms will be rejected. You will be given a user name and password, authentication code and recognised email address to let you file documents electronically. The rogue will not have access to these, so you're safe. And it's free!
3. Delegate monitoring
Subscribe to the Companies House Direct online search service for £5 per month. Companies House can monitor your company (and, if you want, any competitors, customers or business partners) for 50p per company per year, and e-mail you if a document is filed.
If it was you, ignore the e-mail and there is no charge. If it wasn't, you can download and pay for an image of the document.
If in doubt, take legal advice.
