Company Director fraud?

[Charles43]

Some years ago I was forced by a family member to sign something. They just demanded "sign this". This person had said so threateningly and they had been violent to me in the past so I did not question. Years later my name is now on Company House as a Company Director along with others that are just for show. I don't even know what company directing is. Is this fraud? Or my own fault for signing something?

 

[Newchodge]

It's your own fault. Write to the company concerned stating that you have never acted as a director, that you were not aware that you were a director and that you are resigning as a director with immediate effect.

Copy thta letter to Companies House

 

[Charles43]

Thanks. I was replaced as Director a long time ago. I didn't have a choice to sign that. Oh well

 

[Newchodge]

Thanks. I was replaced as Director a long time ago. I didn't have a choice to sign that. Oh well

ARe you still shown as a director at Companies House, or are you shown as having resigned?

 

[Charles43]

ARe you still shown as a director at Companies House, or are you shown as having resigned?

I show as resigned

 

[Mark T Jones]

I show as resigned

Then leave it and move on.

On the very remote chance that there is some kind of investigation you can use the circumstances as mitigation.

 

[Mr D]

Next time do not sign stuff you have not read.
Being a director without knowing can get you into plenty of trouble.

 

[Charles43]

Can I ask why a person would have needed me to be a nonexistent Company Director? What purpose would I have served?

 

[SteveHa]

To hide the "true" directors from the public eye.

 

[Mr D]

Can I ask why a person would have needed me to be a nonexistent Company Director? What purpose would I have served?

So they could run a business with you to take the blame if anything went wrong. Sometimes people are themselves banned from being a director but can get someone else to agree to do the role for a while.

Or have intention of crashing a bunch of businesses but don't want people to be able to track back to them. The trail would point to the director. You.

In this case it appears nothing has gone wrong. If the company had been involved in shady stuff or fraud was committed then some hard questions would have been asked of you.

 

[Charles43]

So it was entirely illegitimate? The record of the company shows multiple relatives appointed as directors, even their own partner (who only had 1 job in their life as a lollipop lady)

So the person doing this for not have the best of intentions to say the least. Right?

 

[Mr D]

So it was entirely illegitimate? The record of the company shows multiple relatives appointed as directors, even their own partner (who only had 1 job in their life as a lollipop lady)

So the person doing this for not have the best of intentions to say the least. Right?

Not necessarily illegitimate.

You being forced to sign was a problem. You don't know if anyone else was - and people can volunteer to be directors.

Lollipop lady? Nothing wrong with that.
No requirements about previous jobs in order to be a director. For a few quid you can set up your own company and be a director easily.

 

[Newchodge]

So it was entirely illegitimate? The record of the company shows multiple relatives appointed as directors, even their own partner (who only had 1 job in their life as a lollipop lady)

So the person doing this for not have the best of intentions to say the least. Right?

No one here can have the slightest idea. Perhaps they were being altruistic and intending to set up a company to benefit multiple relatives by appointing them as directors. Who can know, and why does it matter? If you could explain what your issue is, you might get more help.

 

[Charles43]

No one here can have the slightest idea. Perhaps they were being altruistic and intending to set up a company to benefit multiple relatives by appointing them as directors. Who can know, and why does it matter?

As stated before: I was threatened to sign something I had no idea about. Are there any lasting legal consequences for this? Why couldn't the person forcing me to do it have done themselves? Why would someone be banned from directing their own company if that was the case?

 

[Newchodge]

As stated before: I was threatened to sign something I had no idea about. Are there any lasting legal consequences for this? Why couldn't the person forcing me to do it have done themselves? Why would someone be banned from directing their own company if that was the case?

No idea. Why not ask them.

 

[Mr D]

As stated before: I was threatened to sign something I had no idea about. Are there any lasting legal consequences for this? Why couldn't the person forcing me to do it have done themselves? Why would someone be banned from directing their own company if that was the case?

Can be multiple reasons why someone banned from being a director. Including having been bankrupt recently which you can appreciate isn't a criminal act. They can also be choosing not to be identified as a director.

Lasting legal consequences? Unknown - if someone investigates the company for the time period you were listed as director you would be questioned. Directors do have responsibilities.

 

[thevaliant]

As stated before: I was threatened to sign something I had no idea about. Are there any lasting legal consequences for this? Why couldn't the person forcing me to do it have done themselves? Why would someone be banned from directing their own company if that was the case?

We cannot help you. Your first and (almost) ONLY avenue of enquiry is with the person who made you sign a document. For all we know, you didn't sign an appointment of director form, but signed a personal guarantee document and said individual appointed you a director forging the form.

Go back to Companies House and look at the tab called 'Filing History'. Go through all the forms that say 'Appointment of Director' and download them. Is that the form you signed? If so, all well and good, you can and probably should move on.

If it's not.... I would go back to said individual and demand to know what was signed.

Unless you're willing to reveal the company name and number on here, we can't help at all (and even then, we can barely help).

 

[Charles43]

Thanks, I appreciate this is not an easy or a straightforward question, I appreciate the advice you have all shown

 

[HFE Signs]

Did they make a profit during the time you were a Director? If so ask for your dividends

 

[SteveHa]

Did they make a profit during the time you were a Director? If so ask for your dividends

On what basis? Dividends are only paid to shareholders, not directors.

 

[Mr D]

Did they make a profit during the time you were a Director? If so ask for your dividends

Directors don't get dividends. Shareholding is another matter though.

 

[HFE Signs]

On what basis? Dividends are only paid to shareholders, not directors.

Point taken, I miss-understood the initial thread.