Displaying company number on website?

[bananapringle]

So I've read that it's a must to include a company number on your websites or face a fine but it's astonishing the amount of people who dont actually do this on their website at all?

And they've been around for a number of years so how are they avoiding this? Is it a must?

 

[james_firmsites]

https://www.gov.uk/running-a-limited-company/signs-stationery-and-promotional-material

Yes you are required to display it, however like you point out enforcement seems patchy. It takes all of 2 seconds to add it to the footer, so why run the risk of getting in trouble with CH?

 

[bananapringle]

Yes you are required to display it, however like you point out enforcement seems patchy. It takes all of 2 seconds to add it to the footer, so why run the risk of getting in trouble with CH?

And is it included in yours?

 

[Paul Carmen]

They don't know or don't care, it's not really enforced.

 

[Socio South West]

Like all things company and taxation these days, its an item that is not searched laterally... but if they find something else wrong and want another stick to beat you with, they will bring it up.

 

[james_firmsites]

And is it included in yours?

LOL! that's embarrassing, you're right its missing on the current footer. It was, but went through a recent redesign and I have not put it back on the footer. It still is on the terms and conditions page, so technically is on our site but I will fix that now!

 

[Caledonian TV]

It still is on the terms and conditions page

Which is absolutely fine AFAIK. However - the number of sites out there where you can't even work out where in the country they are, and they're working off a mobile phone, is mind boggling!

 

[Paul Carmen]

Which is absolutely fine AFAIK. However - the number of sites out there where you can't even work out where in the country they are, and they're working off a mobile phone, is mind boggling!

I totally agree, I'm amazed they get any work, but so many people don't seem to check, or go with a company like this & then say they have loads of problems later!

I always avoid any company that isn't transparent about their business & how to contact them like the plague. My other pet peeve is when the company details are clearly wrong, is that deliberate, ineptitude, why do it?

Sometimes I've looked to find out more about them & the companies house data says they're no longer trading, but no ones told their website or social media!

 

[GTL]

I don't know whether the same applies to a website - I don't have one - but I used to have my business on Google Maps together with my business landline telephone number. The result was up to 6 cold calls a day from India selling utilities etc. When I took my business off Google maps they stopped.

I found it a huge distraction a very irritating.

 

[Paul Carmen]

I don't know whether the same applies to a website - I don't have one - but I used to have my business on Google Maps together with my business landline telephone number. The result was up to 6 cold calls a day from India selling utilities etc. When I took my business off Google maps they stopped.

I found it a huge distraction a very irritating.

Most people who have a website want to rank on Google Maps and locally too, so will have to do this. Any details in the public domain will get some spam, but it's pretty easy to block/ignore...

 

[Newchodge]

It is very simple and very little to do with CH checking up. I would never have any transaction with a website that did not display full contavt details, registered address and registered number on the first page. Many others would react the same. So you lose a potential client/customer.

 

[bananapringle]

It is very simple and very little to do with CH checking up. I would never have any transaction with a website that did not display full contavt details, registered address and registered number on the first page. Many others would react the same. So you lose a potential client/customer.

What if it’s something like a PR service and I only wish to give my email but not a home
Address of course, will the company number suffice?

 

[Alan]

LOL! that's embarrassing, you're right its missing on the current footer

btw it doesn't have to be in the footer, you can bury it T&Cs or contact details, it just has to be somewhere ( on my site its in the footer, but that is to create trust not for compliance reasons )

 

[Newchodge]

What if it’s something like a PR service and I only wish to give my email but not a home
Address of course, will the company number suffice?

Not for me, no. It appears to me as a consumer that you are tryinmg to hide yourself.

 

[Caledonian TV]

What if it’s something like a PR service and I only wish to give my email but not a home
Address of course, will the company number suffice?

Well for a start - if you're a sole trader, you wont have a company number! - But you still need to display who you are on the site! It's permissible (in either case)to write it as a postcode and door number and state that this is a correspondence address only. It's perfectly normal for CI professionals to be a little 'coy' as many are home-based freelancers.

Not for me, no. It appears to me as a consumer that you are tryinmg to hide yourself.

Indeed... In my case, as I also work as a Journalist/News cameraman; I've found myself at times trying to hide my daughter's bedroom window from certain weirdo perverts that were stalking my family and creeping around the back yard a night! - The address I use for business correspondence (which is one of some flats I own, most of which I rent out) isn't on the front page; but it is clearly stated in the T&Cs.

The alternative is to rent a mailing/accommodation address, which really is trying to hide something!

 

[james_firmsites]

btw it doesn't have to be in the footer, you can bury it T&Cs or contact details, it just has to be somewhere ( on my site its in the footer, but that is to create trust not for compliance reasons )

I agree, I did used to have it there so makes sense to put it back. I agree people should be as open as possible, customers should not have to hunt for stuff like that.

 

[Paul Carmen]

Not for me, no. It appears to me as a consumer that you are tryinmg to hide yourself.

I totally agree, when I get to a site that has vague information, or just a contact form I run for the hills. If you're not clear about your company on your website, it's difficult to do any due diligence and why would I trust you if that's the starting point?

There is a legal point to be made too, James already linked to it, if you're a limited company then you have to display your registered office address: https://www.gov.uk/running-a-limited-company/signs-stationery-and-promotional-material

Depending what you do online, there are many other laws that require you to clearly display an address; e.g. distance & online selling: https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses

 

[Caledonian TV]

Actually... Buried somewhere in the legislation is the requirement for even Sole Traders to state that fact and provide a correspondence address somewhere on their website.

 

[Paul Carmen]

Actually... Buried somewhere in the legislation is the requirement for even Sole Traders to state that fact and provide a correspondence address somewhere on their website.

That's why I added the second paragraph about other legislation, these apply whatever the company/trading type. There are many more requirements that impact the online world via contract law etc. that require sites to make it clear legally who they are.

 

[Caledonian TV]

That's why I added the second paragraph about other legislation

Quite so... Thing is, a lot of people will read that and think (or try to convince themselves) it only applies to 'e-commerce' type situations and/or if you're selling directly off the page.

 

[Colin Forrest]

Considering how little space it takes up, why run the risk or not including it?

 

[Minuteman Press]

Makes for a transparent and accountable business; if you have a company number, why would you not include it?