Company Using Our Address

[PenCreed]

We have had two letters from Companies House addressed to a person and a company that we have never heard of, who are apparently registering their company at our house. We've reported it to Action Fraud and are filling in Companies House forms to try and have this removed, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this they could share? Or if there's anything else we should be doing!

We've lived here for 7 years and they definitely aren't the previous owner or anything like that - apparently they only changed the address ten days ago. None of the similar numbered houses on our road have changed owners recently either so it's not a confusion with eg next door.

Hello, fellow Georgette Heyer fan 😉

It looks from this article as if you've done the right things by contacting Action Fraud and Companies House - but that you might need to keep on the case with Companies House

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-12094063/A-Chinese-company-registered-business-home-address.html

It's DH who's doing the Companies House forms, and he's not the type to let that slide! I'm a bit reassured to know we're doing all the right things even if it is a bit of an administrative nightmare.

And good spot on the Heyer reference!

An underrated part of her oeuvre, IMO.

I've heard of this before & believe it's a scam. Have you googled the name of the company to see if they have other addresses they use, phone number, emails etc? You could ring hmrc vat & tax fraud (good luck with getting through though).

Yes, it is a scam, but they aren't trying to scam the OP. Typically, these companies are used to set up scam websites. The purpose of the company is to give the website an air of legitimacy.

There was a program about this on TV a few years ago, at the time it was individuals in the Baltic states doing this, I can’t remember why but obviously dodgy.

This rings a bell. I read something about this, might have been on here but the scammers started ordering goods on behalf of the company registered to the bogus address then would get it delivered elsewhere or wait & steal it off the doorstep. Something like this.

@CherryRipe1

yes it was me! We have had bills from UPS to do with import tax for deliveries we have never had. Not in our name but using my DP’s business address. We were receiving letters from debt collection agencies addressed to the address (but not to DP because his business doesn’t include a name) threatening Court action for unpaid UPS bills. I contacted the debt collection agency who said they’d stop proceedings pending any police investigation.
We reported to Action Fraud but understandably they’re not going to investigate. Unbelievably a couple of deliveries have been made to DP’s business which he took delivery of but refused to hand over. He’s tried contacting the sender but they won’t won’t take his calls so something fishy all round!

I’m sure I remember there being a news story a couple of months ago about a guy in a flat in Cardiff (or somewhere) who was getting 40 odd letters a day for loads of different Chinese companies.

I don’t remember what the outcome was.

@Picoloangel I remember your username now. Good heavens, that's awful! Is it all still going on, have the police done anything? Shame you can't order a Lamborghini in that company's name and appropriate it (joke).

It’s been quiet for a few months! I need to get back on it and write to the companies who sent the products.

Yes a Lamborghini would be good!

Seems like this is quite common.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-62494987.amp

Have you filled in the RP07 form in order to start the process of removing the registered address?

Am going through this process for a family member. It took CH 2 months from when they received the form to begin the process of removing address, despite numerous phone calls to chase. RP07 triggers a letter addressed to the company director telling them about the challenge to their companies registered address. They have 28 days to reply and can ask for evidence supplied by the person who has challenged it. Currently Companies House are taking 17 days to change the address once the 28 days are up. Companies House do not verify any information they are given, whatsoever. They are a worse than the scammers in my opinion.

Yes, form is done, just waiting now. Nothing further has been received for the scam company, but you'd think there should be more checks in place around the address used for Companies House!

Hey!

Just received a letter from Companies House about a company registered to my home address!

Will be contacting Companies House to change it.

Forgive me for being a little stupid in this area, but can someone explain what the potential risks are for having a business I have no knowledge of registered to my house?

Could we end up being chased for debt built up, or are there any other risks? I guess I don't really understand why they would do it?

It is very unnerving as the motive is a complete mystery, but so far in our case nothing much has happened with the bogus company. Even if a business bank account is opened using your address no-one can chase you for money unless it's your name on the paperwork.

Have you filled in the forms to get your address removed? See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-company-using-your-personal-details-without-your-permission.


You’ll need to complete form RP07: apply to change a company's disputed registered office address.

If a director or/and secretary is using your address you'll also need to complete form RP02a - Application for rectification by the Registrar of Companies.


Bizarrely, if your address is being used by a shareholder or Person of Significant Control it cannot be changed without a court order, even if it’s the same name as the director or secretary.


Currently the processing time is around three and a half months. CH will send a letter to the company informing them that you (it does print your name) are disputing their right to use the address and they are given 28 days to respond. They can ask CH to see the evidence you provided to back up your claim (i.e. utility bill sent with RP07). This is all ridiculous seeing whoever created the company didn’t have to verify anything but there is no getting around it. This letter will most ikely be sent to you address as well, but that isn't a guarantee (I was told companies have a private address too) so try and provide as little extra personal information as possible.

Pretty much the only good thing about CH is they have a decent helpline - so can always check with them and on the current status of any forms sent. Good luck!

Nothing has really happened so far - we've asked CH to take it off and are waiting. We've also separately had a letter to the company from CH, saying they're going to be fined for being late to submit their accounts and it's being passed to a debt management company. We pointed out to CH that they should have noted a problem with the address they're using! It just seems to take ages.

I had to get a court order last year for a client who was down at Companies House as the only shareholder! CH had removed other details about the client but for shareholders it is a different matter as a company must have shareholders so a court order is needed (which I was able to obtain) and then the change was made - even so the court order is public against that company so in a tiny sense my client is still connected to it even if it shows he is "not connected". We found the address used for that company was also used by a man from abroad for other companies so probably he was the fraudster but other than pointing out that issue to Companies House did not pursue him as he might also have been yet another innocent victim.

There is a whole new law and regime about to come in for verification by the way biggest shake up to Companies House and the law for 100 years so i t may get better.

I also had a case where my client's trade mark was breached and the fraudster had used an old couple's address so they could appear on Amazon or Ebay when selling as if they were a British company with British address when they were in fact in China.

Good heavens, it's so convoluted. The lengths these bloody scammers go to is unbelievable and really stressful for those being scammed.

Crikey! Roughly how much a court order if you don't mind me asking and do you need them for each seperate part of CH register needs amending?

This is gives a good exaplanation and the possible results of the changes coming up (which is taking a very long time about) - https://www.taxpolicy.org.uk/2023/07/13/robot/

For many changes you don't need a court order. If you need a court order Companies House will tell you. Our case was the only shareholder was someone not connected to the company fraudulently put down there and a company has to have an owner. it cannot have no shareholders as then no one owns it. So that is why for that a court order was needed. Theer were two fees paid to the court which came to £388 (and my fees on to). It is annoying that because of a fraudster and because the state does not check what is registered my client had to pay the Government £388 (plus fees to me). He could have done nothing and just left it but he was not happy to do so.

I remembered this thread when I head an item about it on the radio today. Very well worth a listen. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_fourfm?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Ah, sorry. Edited to say that’s not the link to the actual show. I’ll have to wait until it finishes.

Here we go. This is the link.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001qtdy?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Thanks for the link.

Update: Having been through the rigmarole of trying to get a relatives address being used without permission, these forms worked (to an extent):

RP02A - is an application for rectification where information is invalid/factually inaccurate.

RP07 - The regulations allow any person whose address is being used by a company without authority, as a Registered Office address, to make an application to change this address by filing the form RP07.

The forms took 3 months to be dealt with.

Companies House deleted the company directors ‘service address’ in form IN01 and there is now a note under filling history tab that reads: ‘The director’s service address was removed from the public register on (date they actioned form) as it was invalid or ineffective, or was factually inaccurate or was derived from something factually inaccurate.’

The registered address has been changed to default Companies House address.

The officers correspondence address (previously my relatives) has been removed completely, it is now blank.

However, my relatives address can still be found in the pdf form IN01 under the ‘Proposed Registered Office Address’ and ‘initial shareholdings’ page. It is also found under the ‘Persons with significant control’ tab.

You do need a court order to change any details about a Person with Significant Control, but have no idea how to make Companies House remove all address references in form IN01.

It would be easier herding cats than getting Companies House to be helpful towards victims of fraud.

Fortunately nothing much appears to have happened with my relatives new livestock company so clueless about the fraudsters aims.

Meant to add forms RP02A & RP07 do not involve a fee or court order to send in.