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Original poster

Stranger registered company to my house

46 replies

Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 20:31

A letter arrived at my house today, addressed to someone I've never heard of, with a company name that means nothing to me, at my address. I opened it* and it was from a website company, saying basically "congratulations on registering your company, why not set up your website with us?". I assume this website company uses Companies House data to market to new business owners.

We own the property and have lived here for seven years, and the previous owner lived there for about the same length of time (it's not her name on the letter). I've occasionally seen the name of prior owners/occupiers on paperwork, and I don't remember any of them being the same as this new name.

I've googled the name and the company name, and nothing meaningful has come up.

How has this happened? Could this be a simple error (but how?), or is something fishy going on?

I'm worried this might affect our credit score and we are planning to apply for a mortgage in the coming months!

.* Please don't start with telling me it's against the law to do so, afaik it's only against the law to stop someone receiving their post, and if they will use my address I can't see what else I could sensibly do. I'm not going to martyr myself and risk my credit score.

OP posts:
FAQs · 20/06/2022 20:33

Have you checked companies house? If it’s in there it’ll have a number and Directors details.

Hadalifeonce · 20/06/2022 20:33

I would contact thee company which sent the letter, could it actually be junk mail rather than real (if that makes sense)?

SouthOfFrance · 20/06/2022 20:36

Have you checked Companies House website?

GeordieRacer · 20/06/2022 20:38

First step check Companies House to see if they actually have used your address or if it's just a scam/junk mail. If they have used your address, report it to Action Fraud and contact Companies House to inform them

Original poster
Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 20:42

It's on Companies House, eeeeek. Incorporated a few days ago. The sole director (the name on the letter) is a Romanian woman.

If I Google the company name it also turns up on a website called secret-bases.co.uk , the name of which sounds a bit worrying. I'm pretty worried right now!

OP posts:
Lockheart · 20/06/2022 20:44

It's entirely possible it's an address error rather than anything sinister, I wouldn't panic yet.

Just call Companies House tomorrow and explain.

JassyRadlett · 20/06/2022 20:44

Please report to Action Fraud right away, to protect yourself and to disassociate yourself from the company.

SeasonFinale · 20/06/2022 20:46

Notify Companies House that someone has used your address without your permission. Mark any letters you receive Not at this address and return them to sender.

Balderdaze · 20/06/2022 20:47

Hmm...this has been happening to quite a few houses on our street recently. It's a complete faff to convince companies house that you actually live there. Some people here have written to their MP who is going to ask companies house why they don't ask for proof of address when setting up the business.

Lockheart · 20/06/2022 20:47

JassyRadlett · 20/06/2022 20:44

Please report to Action Fraud right away, to protect yourself and to disassociate yourself from the company.

On what grounds would you report to Action Fraud? At the moment the only thing that anyone can say for any certainty is that the address is wrong. The OP is not being asked for money or stolen from.

Just call Companies House and ask their advice.

ZaraSizeMedium · 20/06/2022 20:50

PP is correct - report to Action Fraud

www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-company-using-your-personal-details-without-your-permission

frydae · 20/06/2022 20:52

On what grounds would you report to Action Fraud? At the moment the only thing that anyone can say for any certainty is that the address is wrong. The OP is not being asked for money or stolen from.

Fraud is about more than money/theft. Using OO address is fraudulent.

Forpoxsake · 20/06/2022 20:53

Not quite the same but about 2 years ago I kept getting letters from TSB for accounts registered to 2 Romanian womens names (googled)
I keot returning to sender and they kept appearing, opened a letter and rang TSB who noted the account but I still receive them every now and again!

starzyy · 20/06/2022 20:59

Is your property registered with land registry?

Acheyknees · 20/06/2022 21:00

Yes, you must report it to Action Fraud, there's info on Companies House website regarding fraudsters doing this to take out loans

Original poster
Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 21:02

Thank you all. I took the advice to contact Action Fraud and had a webchat with their advisor. She said to report it through their website, they see this happen often, and I should report it as someone trying to get credit in my name (and specify type of credit = other: business registered). She also told me how to check my credit rating. And she told me to contact Companies House who would send me some forms to fill in.

Argh, couldn't have come at a worse time. I had a quick look earlier at the Companies House reporting procedure and they don't seem to make it easy, there doesn't seem to be an online form or anything specifically geared to this. Perhaps I'll just give them a call first and explain.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 21:03

starzyy · 20/06/2022 20:59

Is your property registered with land registry?

I believe so.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 21:03

Acheyknees · 20/06/2022 21:00

Yes, you must report it to Action Fraud, there's info on Companies House website regarding fraudsters doing this to take out loans

Thank you, do you have a link please?

OP posts:
Ilikewinter · 20/06/2022 21:05

Yes please report this OP, its a well known scam, they set up fictiuos companies and obtain loans which they then obviously default on....... this is one way the govenrment managed to loose millions with the Covid bounce back loans.

Original poster
Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 21:05

Acheyknees · 20/06/2022 21:00

Yes, you must report it to Action Fraud, there's info on Companies House website regarding fraudsters doing this to take out loans

Sorry, missed this - thank you v much.

OP posts:
QuidditchThroughtheAges · 20/06/2022 21:06

You need to sign up for notifications from the land register because they can steal your identity and sell your house without you knowing

www.businessweekly.co.uk/blog/business-weekly-guest-blog/vicar-returns-home-discover-fraudsters-sold-his-house

sparkler10 · 20/06/2022 21:14

I was recently victim of a similar fraud, investigation still ongoing but my data seems to have stolen, along with that of a larger group of people. Needed to get a court order to get our names removed, due to Companies House procedures. Just filling in their online form was insufficient. For confidentiality, I can’t give more info about the procedure. But part of advice was to definitely report to Action Fraud as well.

Original poster
Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 21:24

Ok, I'm filling in the Companies House form to dispute the address details, and I'm a bit worried - it says they will forward my details and my supporting information (copy of gas bill) to the company. Obviously I don't want yet more of my data to end up in the hands of these scammers! But perhaps they would just write to the company c/o my address anyway?

Thanks so much everyone who has posted, I'm so glad I asked here (also slightly terrified).

OP posts:
Iusyje · 20/06/2022 21:34

Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 20:31

A letter arrived at my house today, addressed to someone I've never heard of, with a company name that means nothing to me, at my address. I opened it* and it was from a website company, saying basically "congratulations on registering your company, why not set up your website with us?". I assume this website company uses Companies House data to market to new business owners.

We own the property and have lived here for seven years, and the previous owner lived there for about the same length of time (it's not her name on the letter). I've occasionally seen the name of prior owners/occupiers on paperwork, and I don't remember any of them being the same as this new name.

I've googled the name and the company name, and nothing meaningful has come up.

How has this happened? Could this be a simple error (but how?), or is something fishy going on?

I'm worried this might affect our credit score and we are planning to apply for a mortgage in the coming months!

.* Please don't start with telling me it's against the law to do so, afaik it's only against the law to stop someone receiving their post, and if they will use my address I can't see what else I could sensibly do. I'm not going to martyr myself and risk my credit score.

There was a programme on TV a few years ago (I can't remember name of programme) where this happened to someone. They ignored the mysterious letters , went on holiday and came back to find their property having been taken over by the new fake owners. The lock on the door had been changed. The fake owners had reported to the police that THEY were the victims of identity fraud. With access to the house they got documents (probably forged) but with enough truth to convince a gullible police officer that the property was theirs. When real owners tried to go to the police, they were the ones looking suspicious. It took a lo............ng time to convince courts they were the rightful owners.

EmmaH2022 · 20/06/2022 21:38

Whyhasthishappened · 20/06/2022 21:24

Ok, I'm filling in the Companies House form to dispute the address details, and I'm a bit worried - it says they will forward my details and my supporting information (copy of gas bill) to the company. Obviously I don't want yet more of my data to end up in the hands of these scammers! But perhaps they would just write to the company c/o my address anyway?

Thanks so much everyone who has posted, I'm so glad I asked here (also slightly terrified).

I think you need to speak to someone at Companies House

sending your info to the scamming company is madness!