How to get a website removed, company gone bust

[InternetRadioServices]

Hi,

Long story short. Im building a new website for a client, who leased thier building to a company which has now gone bust. However the company (the one thats gone bust) still has its existing website up and running.

This is causing a potential problem as members of the public are calling in to the company warehouse looking for the now bankrupt company.

The address is still on the .net under the old website and also the telephone number.

The new company occupying the building has a very similiar business and search terms are likely to display the correct website and possibly the incorrect website.

Im sure you can all aprechiate this has the potential to cause a lot of issues and confusion with clients, and also any search engine optimisation etc etc

Does anyone know

A: If its possible to get a website shut down
B: How this could be done

Thanks for any advice in advance

 

[Dan_Kesher]

Its generally impossibel to remove a website that you dont own. If its paid up, the hosting company will maintain the website until its renewal date.

In addition, the hosting may have been purchased on a persomal credit card (such as the Director's card) and therefore may still be active. In that event, the website could stay active for years.

The only solution is to try doing some SEO for the problematic terms to ensure the active company appears at the top of search results. Or pay for some Adwords to keep yourself at the top.

Sorry its not great news!
I stand to be corrected though.
Good luck!

 

[InternetRadioServices]

I had thought this was the case, and I tend to agree with you, but I figured Id ask and see if anyone can suggest something.

Its not like its hard to find out whos hosting the site and contact the host, but as you say ...... if there being paid .........

Its generally impossibel to remove a website that you dont own. If its paid up, the hosting company will maintain the website until its renewal date.

In addition, the hosting may have been purchased on a persomal credit card (such as the Director's card) and therefore may still be active. In that event, the website could stay active for years.

The only solution is to try doing some SEO for the problematic terms to ensure the active company appears at the top of search results. Or pay for some Adwords to keep yourself at the top.

Sorry its not great news!
I stand to be corrected though.
Good luck!

 

[serverhouse]

Change your phone number, keep the old one to see if you can win over customers, but have a new one for your business.

Put 1A in front of your address or unit 3 or something to separate yourself a little.

Perhaps publish a PO BOX for the active company (unless you rely on people finding you)

Put on the active company that you have no association with XYZ who ceased trading in 2011.

You can also try working out who have access to the site (perhaps a web designer, company director x-IT staff) who might be willing to correct the information. This might be legally sketchy of course..?

I'd also be inclined to do some more forum posts or write a blog specifically mentioning the company and the problem and talking about the visitors you get etc as this'll all appear in Google and get the message out nice and clearly.

 

[MartCactus]

Check the expiry date of the domain.

If it comes up for expiry soon and they don't renew it (quite possible if they've gone bust) then the site will go offline.

You might then want to purchase the domain yourself?

 

[bingomike]

If it was a ltd company, can you contact administrators and get them to help?-possibly cost you though. I am having same sort of issue but its a phone number that i want to reinstate as we are a similiar business to the company that went bust but the administrator has put a block on BT reissuing the phone number! - and want the admin want a largish sum of money to release the phone number!

 

[InternetRadioServices]

Thanks to all who have replied.

Just goes to show its not what you know, but who.

Turns out the hosting company of "The Other" website, is run by a very good friend of mine.

Small world huh?

 

[astutiumRob]

Turns out the hosting company of "The Other" website, is run by a very good friend of mine.

Who is unlikely to be able to do anything legally beyond contact their existing client and ask them what they want done.

 

[InternetRadioServices]

Who is unlikely to be able to do anything legally beyond contact their existing client and ask them what they want done.

Absolutely, however given the amount of money £2.5 million + these people owe to some of the less desirable members of the business community, let’s just say contacting these people isn’t something they are keen for "Anyone" to do. Hence knowing the person behind the hosting has made things a lot easier. We finally managed to open a line of communication with the owners in question. The site (again long story - won’t go into it) has links to the domain my client wants to use. I’ve managed to agree a domain transfer to the new company and we’re now going to be editing the site in question to clear up any confusion and maximise on the links already in place. So this one worked out well all round.

Once again thanks to all who have commented on this issue. Interesting comments on the white hat s.e.o as the original poster commented there’s some companies that use other methods and the results can be very detrimental

 

[wevet]

The old website would be an asset of the old company. As such contact the liquidators/receivers and they would probably be happy to sell the domain to you. (Get the liquidator's info from companies house)