Name change probs - A&L

[cmckay]

A few weeks ago I contacted Alliance & Leicester to change the business name on my account. I was told to fax a letter and it would be changed....

After 3 weeks, yesterday I recieved a letter saying I needed to send documents from Inland Revenue / Customs and my solicitor stating that I was able to use the trading name.

I am registered as a Sole Trader and anything sent by the Inland Revenue simply states my name and nothing to do with my business name. (SO Trader)

Have they got a little confused / what can I do about this?

I have tried their customer support although they don't seem to be answering today!!

 

[VeryMark]

We can do a clearance search for you on the trade mark registers covering the UK at £180 plus VAT for a full report and advice if you need it.

 

[Ozzy]

I've pointed this thread out to someone I know at A&L. Maybe they might chip in and help you...

 

[cmckay]

Thanks for the replies and help!

 

[cmckay]

Just a quick bump hoping someone can help.

 

[gj]

I have never heard of a bank requesting confirmation from the Inland Revenue/Customs or your solicitor that you can use the trading name.

What is the name? Is it sensitive in some way? If not you should be able to trade in any name you wish and don't need Inland Revenue/Customs to say you can. Indeed, you use a trading name and you have to tell them what you are using - they want to know.

This could be money laundering regulations gone mad, I suppose, but I think A&L have just got it wrong. The last form I filled in (for Natwest) just asked whether you use a trading name, but no confirmation required.

Hopefully, customer services will sort it for you

Graham

 

[cmckay]

The name is EightMedia - going to try customer service again this afternoon and hopefully they can sort it.

Didn't need anything like this when I was opening the account, don't see a difference now.

Thanks for the help!

 

[KateCB]

I had this problem years ago with the Yorkshire Bank - they wanted a letter from a solicitor to say I could use the name and that no other business was using it AND that I was legitimately trading - how stupid is that? How many Body language Gyms are there up and down the country?

As I had only just started trading, how was a solicitor supposed to know what I was doing?

I went across the road to the Natwest, explained the scenario, and they opened me an account within the hour......The HSBC were pretty good too, but then again we are now a limited company and have a long trading history.

Money laundering Ok, but come on - its red tape gone mad!

It might be because you have changed the business name - why have you done that? It could be seen as a trader failing and deciding to start again under a different name?

Kate
http://www.martialdesign.co.uk