H’s friend has moved away leaving all his indebted companies registered at our address

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My H has a friend who has tried many failed ventures, lots of different company names, ideas, loans etc. My H has been friends with him since childhood, and always tried to help him and has leant him money in the past.

The friend has recently moved to Indonesia indefinitely with a girlfriend he met who comes from there. We waved them off, then suddenly all these demand letters for all H’s friend’s companies started to arrive at our house. It looks like he has reregistered about five companies he has left behind without winding up, at our house!

I asked H what was going on and he said that he would “sort it out” with friend. Two weeks later, we’re getting more letters, more different companies. I spoke to H again and he says he’s due to speak to ‘friend’ tomorrow and will ask him what to do. He said he is worried that bailiffs will start coming round.

We have three DC. There is absolutely no way I am going to stand for this.

I heavily doubt H’s ability to clear this up and his loyalty to his friend may make him keep this going on for longer, so I want to knock it on the head now.

What do I do? Who do I call? I honestly do not care about the consequences to H’s friend. He obviously does not care enough about us and our family to not leave us with this.

I think most are companies house. Can anyone help?

You can notify companies house that he doesn't have permission to use your address so they can amend the register. I've found the helpline quite useful.

He'd probably have to pay to wind them up so I bet he's hoping companies house will dissolve them for free after not responding to correspondence or filing required paperwork.
All his creditors will be using the registered address on Companies House so I'd say that's a priority to get the address changed.

I agree. You need to notify companies house ASAP that the address is wrong and been fraudulently used. If you leave it too long they'll wonder why you didn't mention it when the first letters came through.

Good luck.

How odd, presumably they weren't registered with you before he left, so why didnt he just leave it as they were, if he was going to just do a runner?

I'd say there's more to this than DH is letting on

You can also put a notice of disassociation on your credit report as it could affect your credit score.

Also give the bailiffs the friends address and contact info in Indonesia.

tell Companies House and pass on any contact details you have for this guy - email, social media - anything. If you have a physical address for where he's gone, even better.

I'd also notify HMRC.

I also reckon your DH knows more than letting on. He isn't named as a partner etc on any of them is he?
Anyone else would be fucking furious. His reaction is odd.

Check if your DH is named as a Director or Company Secretary on any of the companies, if he is then he needs to resign. As PP have said, I think there is more to this than your DH is saying.

Get in touch with Companies House yourself if necessary, also look online to see if the companies have ever filed any accounts and/or the directors.

www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company

Yeah I'd definitely be checking with your DP that he isn't a director or somehow financially involved with these companies. Have you googled your DP's name to see if anything comes up?

If someone did this to me, we would no longer be friends so either your DP is far too forgiving or there's something else going on.

Also is there any chance that there's some kind of threats or even emotional abuse going on between them? There must be a reason why he's being so loyal to this friend.

Definitely search the entities on the companies house website and see if your husband is named as one of the ‘people’ on any of them. Get in touch with them ASAP and tell them your address has been fraudulently used.

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You need to complete a form RP07 in respect of each company which has been registered at your address, and file them with Companies House to let them know the address is being used without permission.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-change-a-companys-disputed-registered-office-address-rp07

Send back to each sender saying no such person known at that address.

Thank you everyone. I am getting on to it now. I’ll let you know if I uncover anything else

Yes contact Companies house asap

Don't ask your DH if he's a director of the companies, check yourself by searching his and your name on companies house online.

I don't know the specifics of changing the address but this won't be an uncommon thing so do as others above have said and get it removed asap

Check companies house online to see name of company, directors and registered address.

I take it now he is no longer a friend of your dh?

I think it’s horrible that as a so called life long “friend” he has done this to dh and you.

Ditto what others have said about getting in touch with Companies House ASAP.

I'm guessing your DH is a director of these companies...

I would do exactly as suggested above and also google your address, search companies house for any details related to you and your husband. I hate con men, I wonder how many people he owes money to from these companies. Good luck sorting the mess out and separating yourself from these things. I hope he has just used your address rather than dragging your husband in

Ask your H how much this "friend" has borrowed and not paid back.

Would it be worth logging it with "ActionFraud".

Any luck Op?