Business Address

Tiggy · Nov 3, 2005

Hi All,

I've just read that if your business means that people will be paying in advance for the service via a website then you must clearly display your business postal address.

I will work from home so won't have bricks and mortar business premises at all. I don't want to put my home address.

How do I solve this?
Will I have to purchase a business address - I've seen these on the internet somewhere.

All help much appreciated as always

Tiggy

Jayne · Nov 3, 2005

Hi Tiggy,

I got a PO box address. £54 for a year if you collect it yourself, £108 per year if you want it to your door. If you go to royal mail site, you can download an application form, fill it in, send it off and you'll have your PO Box in about 10 days.

Oh and well done again agony aunt

Jayne

fastfences · Nov 3, 2005

Hi Tig,

I think I recall that where a payment is requested, a full address is required, rather than just a P.O. address. This was legislated to prevent the 'fly by nighters' hoofing off with your money, and therefore the displaying of the full address is to instill confidence in the consumer.

What you've seen on the web are registered office services. Check this link to find further info: http://www.quickformations.com/services.qmd

Cheers, Nigel

Astaroth · Nov 4, 2005

I cannot comment on any law requiring an address being given but personally if I only saw a PO Box being listed for a company that I didnt know (different if it is the likes of Norwich Union) then I would become very suspicious of them.

I assume that you have your own domain name in which case people will be able to look up your "registered address" by checking the domain name if they are that bothered to find out where you are. If you run an honest business then I cant think of many occasions when you would want to hide the address from where you operate even if it happens to also be your home address

Tiggy · Nov 4, 2005

Thanks guys.

Astaroth, I really don't want to put my home address if I can help it. I just feel uneasy about it; not because I have anything to hide but there are some weird people out there and it's just a security measure. As well as that I feel that it doesn't look that professional either. I think especially so as I am not selling a product but offering a service.
Gosh there are so many things to think about!!! It's so easy to break the law without realising that you're even doing it!!!!

See Jayne - even agony aunts have problems!!! :lol:
Tiggy

hunny · Nov 4, 2005

Hi Tiggy,
We are in much the same position as you, we don't put an address on our site as we run the business from home. I agree, there are a few dodgy people out there and we feel uneasy, especially as we have kids at home.
We are not asking for any money from the site, we run a consultancy and clients are re-directed on to various suppliers. Haven't had any problem yet from not showing the postal address.

Tiggy · Nov 4, 2005

Thanks Hunny

I think you're ok as you're not asking for money whereas I will be asking for money up front before people receive the service - the only way I can operate unfortunately.

Jayne · Nov 4, 2005

Hi,

British Gas use a PO Box. I think if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me

Jayne

JaneOwen · Nov 4, 2005

Hi Tiggy

You're right, you will need to give an address. There are also some other requirements that you will need to check that you are complying with - you might find these guidance notes from the Office of Fair Trading helpful

http://www.oft.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/1E6F3C94-8BB0-4374-A65B-6281E030C3C9/0/oft698.pdf

The requirement is that you give your 'geographical address' so this would normally rule out the use of a PO Box number.

Hope that helps

Eagle · Nov 5, 2005

That's a great link there Jane.

bitsnstuff · Nov 5, 2005

Hello,

You have to give your geographical address if you are selling online, but also you have to provide the registered address if you are a limited company. In this case, you could have your limited company registered address as your accountant (with their permission), but I don't think they would approve of it being used as the geographical address on a website.

I also didn't like the idea, especially after being burgled, but couldn't find a way around it that was legal - please let me know if you do.

Kate :lol:

Eagle · Nov 5, 2005

bitsnstuff said:
Hello,

You have to give your geographical address if you are selling online...

Goods or services?...

JaneOwen · Nov 5, 2005

Both goods and services. The debatable issue is whether you are trading with consumers or businesses. If it's consumers than the address must be geographical (i.e. not a PO Box). The position is slightly less clear when trading with businesses as PO Boxes seem to be more acceptable, but strictly speaking it still should be a geographical one.

I think I might give the DTi a phone call on this issue to see if they have any clearer guidance yet - will post anything relevant when I've spoken to them.

Bitsnstuff is right about the registered office being relevant in some cases due to Companies House requirements too.

Complicated, eh? :lol:

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