Fast way to check if hes a company director

[tallblonde]

Hi everyone,
My soon to be ex-husband, co director and still 50/50 business partner is threatening to set up in competition against me.
I need to find out if he's set up a business with himself as director URGENTLY.
Whats the fastest way to check (and keep monitoring) if he has?
Companies house will only do it if I have his new business name (I don't).
Company check take 10 working days to release the info......but in 10 days he could have taken our clients with him.
Does anyone have access to "companies house direct"? apparently that has the info but to apply for access takes ages and is done by paper!
Can anyone help me?

 

[Open Book Procurement]

duedil will let you search by director

 

[GOS1234]

duedil is definitely the right place to go. I can't paste weblinks as I have enough posts.
But it's basically duedil followed by .com

You can create a free account and then search for his name. It will show you all companies where he is registered at Companies House as a director.
No waiting either, it's all in real time and you'll know instantly

 

[SwindonSteve]

I registered a UK Ltd on a Saturday and Duedil had my details online on the Tuesday.

 

[cjd]

If he's a director of your company he can't do anything to deliberately harm it - like setting up a competing company; he has responsibilities to its shareholders. Don't suppose he has an employment contract? It may have a non-compete clause as well.

 

[avecSys]

What about creditsafe?

 

[tallblonde]

If he's a director of your company he can't do anything to deliberately harm it - like setting up a competing company; he has responsibilities to its shareholders. Don't suppose he has an employment contract? It may have a non-compete clause as well.

I'm aware that if he does this...he is breach of fiduciary duty.
He's been telling me he is doing it.
He's hasn't been working much in our company this week and I've become of unusual activity.
Hence my need to check this out URGENTLY...and to monitor it.
We stupidly don't have shareholders agreement (because If I'd asked for one he would have accused me of not trusting him....and correctly, so it seems)....neither do we have a contract of employment.

Two pieces of advice I'd give for anyone....
1) have a shareholders agreement.
2) think very carefully before going into business with a spouse...or marrying a business partner.
If things go bad, you can loose everything...spouse, marriage, best friend, business, career, income, security, life style....everything.

Im a perfect example of how not to do it and it's a very painful lesson

 

[tallblonde]

Hi Guys....Ive just contacted DueDil.
They were very helpful (but had their hands tied regarding being able to provide almost instant information).
They update their database from Companies house just once a week...so depending on when a company is formed and when they update,it could be up to 8 days to be visible on DueDil.
Useful information.

 

[mckellar]

Can you not contact your customers to explain anything without going into detail?

Do you have contracts with your customers/suppliers?

 

[#ServicedOffices]

IMO: I would have tried Companies House. Don't expect too much they will probably be of little help, but sometimes they really are of some good assistance. I suppose it depends who you get to speak with. Not sure if you just used their online tools or contacted them directly?

So many websites now utilising the company data (the free product download, premium products and through their API) and director information (API) - but can take anywhere from a few days to a month for them to update.

I would keep checking sites like companycheck, duedil etc. I know company check allows you to search (companies) by postcode and they claim daily updates.

Its a long shot but you can always try using initiative like searching for his surname, town name and business industry (stemmed) (where applicable) - i.e. Accountant/Accountancy/Book Keeping etc.

In the meanwhile I suggest you take steps to determine whether he is stealing your clients etc. It sounds like its empty threats and divorce bitterness but you cannot be sure. He could (in theory) pinch clients and simply compete as a sole trader (no public record like limited companies).

Keep your eye on the ball, check your own company record to see if he is dodging the bullet by resigning his directorship... Try to keep strong he is probably winding you up, don't make things worse by accusing him of doing things you have no evidence to support. An additional idea is to make contact with your most valuable clients to touch base, they are likely to drop a hint if not tell you if they have gone with someone else. Hope this helps.