Someone has fraudulently registered a PLC at my home address, what now?

[collegeboy]

I will try and be as clear and to the point as I can but please bear with me on this.

About two weeks ago I started receiving mail for a limited company, curiosity got the better of me so in the end I peeked through the top of one such letter at saw the company number.
Upon entering this into the companies’ house website I could see that ***** Limited was set up 2 weeks ago as a private limited company and had given my home address as the companies registration address. I immediately wrote to companies house to inform them who swiftly emailed me back with a copy of the documents ( I know have the persons full name and no idea who it is) .

Unbelievably they told me there is nothing more they can do, they refused to remove the address and instead told me to report it to the police and get a crime reference number.

My main questions

- What else can I do ?
- what danger is my home address is eg blacklisted etc
- can this person take out loans/ open bank accounts now?
- can they order good etc to my house
- will the police really be interested?
HELP!

 

[deniser]

Could it be a typo on the original forms and belong to one house number along?

Was a company formation agent involved in setting up the company? Could you not ring them and ask?

 

[GraemeL]

Definitely report it to the police.

 

[shadesofblue]

Definitely report it to the police.

If you have the Ltd company details then why don't you give them a call or do a google search before you go wasting the Police's time. It maybe a genuine error.

It amazes me how many people recommend calling the old bill at the slightest opportunity.

I'm dubious about companies house claiming they are unable to do anything. You've made it clear to them that a company should not be registered at your address so I would have thought they have a responsibility deal with this. Just drop them an email so you have a written copy for future reference.

 

Companies House has a fraud section - I don't know why you were told they can't help any futher.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/reportingFraud.shtml

I would definitely call the police in a non-emergency way and get a crime number. While I appreciate what shadesofblue has said above if the company or its officers attempt to secure credit at your address a crime number is the only way to show that you were aware before it happened that something shady is going on.

If it turns out to be an innocent error then you can withdraw your complaint to the police.

If you don't have it I would also get the appointments report for the company to make sure you haven't been made a director of this company without your consent. It's only £1 from Companies House online (www.companieshouse.gov.uk/info). If you have been made a director without your knowledge it would make the company look more legitimate if a director of it is listed at its registered address.

 

[Price-Tracking]

hmmm... I received a letter from companies house about a month ago, addressed to a ltd company I'd never heard of. I just assumed that someone had got the house number wrong, wrote "not at this address, RTS" on it and chucked it back in a post box.

Now I'm wondering it it might have been fraud. But I can't remember what the ltd company was called now. Is there any way to search for a ltd company by postcode?

 

[GraemeL]

It amazes me how many people recommend calling the old bill at the slightest opportunity.

.

If there was the slightest hint that someone is using my personal details without my knowledge, I will be off to the police like a shot.

I suppose you could wait until something goes wrong - but why?

 

[GraemeL]

Is there any way to search for a ltd company by postcode?

Not at companies house, as far as I am aware. They want company name or number. You could just google your address? But I suppose if someone has adopted it fraudulently as a Registered Address, they would not be using it on a day to day basis so you would not find it.

A UK business must have a Registered Address in the UK? So its quite possible that someone from another country fraudulently adopts a UK address to gain credibility for trading here.

 

[collegeboy]

Thanks for all the replies, I spoke to the fraud dept and the said flatly there is nothing they can do, all I can do is get a crime number and they advisedme to tellthem if/ when fraud is attempted

 

[GraemeL]

Thanks for all the replies, I spoke to the fraud dept and the said flatly there is nothing they can do, all I can do is get a crime number and they advisedme to tellthem if/ when fraud is attempted

OK. Very sorry and disappointed to hear this. The registered office is the address that will be used if there is anything legal involved.

You should be able to get all of the directors names and home addresses from Companies House. Will cost you £1.

 

[hbcraen]

Contacting the police is a waste of time. Check who the directors and contact them.

Contact Companies House, they are generally helpful

You should be able to sort this out fairly quickly

If you provide me with the name of the Company I may be able to assist

 

[LicensedToTrade]

If you provide me with the name of the Company I may be able to assist

Considering that your advice was to contact companies house when the OP has made it quite clear they have been turned away from CH at least twice, how exactly do you believe you will be able to assist when you cannot even read?

 

[collegeboy]

Well a bit of an update, I was sent all docs relating to this free of charge from CH, I now have the full name of the director ( someone I have never heard of ) also the registered address for the directer is suprise surprise my home address.

A point for others who might be in a similair situation Companies house take all docs they recivce in good faith and proccessed as such, which seems like a massive loop hole for any would be scammers.


Anyway I have notr bothered with a crime reference number as it seems the advice is that I should just sit tight and wait and see what happens.(it could be a genuine mistake)

I am assuming that legally Im in the clear having done all I can.

Just wondering legally what can this person do using my home address, not much I assume?

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Sorry don't be a prat,

Report to police straight away. If you just wait and then try sorting it out after the even you will get bogged down with proving your innocence

 

[GraemeL]

Sorry don't be a prat,

Report to police straight away. If you just wait and then try sorting it out after the even you will get bogged down with proving your innocence

Totally agree. If you do nothing you are only increasing your risks.

 

[deniser]

Well a bit of an update, I was sent all docs relating to this free of charge from CH, I now have the full name of the director ( someone I have never heard of ) also the registered address for the directer is suprise surprise my home address.

A point for others who might be in a similair situation Companies house take all docs they recivce in good faith and proccessed as such, which seems like a massive loop hole for any would be scammers.


Anyway I have notr bothered with a crime reference number as it seems the advice is that I should just sit tight and wait and see what happens.(it could be a genuine mistake)

I am assuming that legally Im in the clear having done all I can.

Just wondering legally what can this person do using my home address, not much I assume?

As you now have evidence that this is not a mistake, please report it to the police immediately. You need to protect your own position as it looks like someone is up to no good.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

it seems the advice is that I should just sit tight and wait and see what happens.(it could be a genuine mistake)

Who gave you that advice, it certainly wasn't anyone in this thread. Some have advised you to get in contact with the named Directors to see if it is a genuine mistake. I don't believe anyone suggested you adopt a 'wait and see' approach.

 

[JamesCartwright]

To answer some of your original questions though...I'd say the danger is limited to your address being publically available. What I mean by that is, on the public register - that Company is at your address...anyone who wants to get in contact them would do so through that.

With regards to getting a bank loan/account, I can't see this would be set-against the Registered Office? Plenty of accountants offer a legitimate Registered Office Service - so I can't see it being possible to open an account/gain credit against it? Additionally - even if they somehow could - you'd imagine any bank would ask for proof of residence at said address...

 

[mhall]

This is the first step to identity theft - most people would accept Companies House documents as proof of residence. A fake ID or, even easier, a faked cut and paste utility bill and they are really away. Anybody who is slightly suspicious would pay the £1 and be reassured by CH that they are you.

Quite frankly, if you don't inform the police you are a fool.

 

[JDX_John]

Can't you look up the name online or in your phone book? Or even find a registered phone number linked to the registration?

Notifying the police to cover your bases initially seems sensible if you can't easily ring the director up.

What are people's thoughts on opening the letters to see what is happening? Alternatively you should be able to get a block on post to that name/company, maybe?

 

[JDX_John]

This is the first step to identity theft - most people would accept Companies House documents as proof of residence

Would they? Most people don't live in their office...

 

[mhall]

Would they? Most people don't live in their office...

er.. the whole point of the thread:
"Someone has fraudulently registered a PLC at my home address, what now?"

 

[JDX_John]

Right - but I would not accept a companies house letter with a business address as proof of residence at that address.

 

[mhall]

You may not, but others will - lets face it - they would accept a utility bill with nothing more than a cursory glance

Also, how many people would accept if presented with a Government website that states the Directors address?. I admit it's slightly more difficult now that the "Service" address is listed as public rather than the the residential address- but I doubt most people would realise the difference anyway - certainly not the salesperson at the local Furniture store that just wants the sale.

Identity theft is easy enough as it is without CH helping

One thing this thread has taught me is that Companies House have a gaping hole that they need to sort out -

 

[mhall]

Update- I have just telephoned my local PCWorld and the youth there has confirmed that a Companies House letter WOULD be accepted as identity for a Business Account - I just said I was brand new and still sorting it out but was working from home and had a utility bill in my name and he could check the business on Companies House or I could bring a copy in with me.

Admittedly, I doubt they would let me walk away with stuff on the basis of that, and I'm not going to try (but perhaps I need to brush up on my Photoshop skills)

What I could do is now go to the Post Office and get the mail re-directed to another address - a mail drop will do nicely-get the authentication code from companies House and enter the PROOF scheme and I am away- apply for bank accounts and credit accounts - catch me if you can!

Seriously OP- get to the Police

 

[Jenni384]

Yes, report to the police.

Companies House telling you they can't do anything is rubbish. If you tell them the company has no authority to use your address, they should write to the director telling them to sort the address out or they will strike the company off. They should also advise you to return all post to sender (and you should do this).

If they can't write to the director because he's given your address, that's too bad: that post will be returned to sender too, and the company will get struck off.

I've had clients who have used our address (we provide registered office services) and on rare occasions have had to inform CoHo that we no longer provide registered office services. CoHo informed me as above.

 

[Jenni384]

What I could do is now go to the Post Office and get the mail re-directed to another address

That reminds me:

OP - you can tell your local delivery office not to deliver anything addressed to that company but to return it to sender at source. They will do that for you.

 

[ivebeenstiffed]

If Companies House accept paperwork "in good faith" - why don't you send in a change of address form with your local police station address on it?

 

[LicensedToTrade]

If Companies House accept paperwork "in good faith" - why don't you send in a change of address form with your local police station address on it?

I know your joking, but on the off chance that the OP takes this as serious advice (evidence so far suggests he might) then I'd advise against it as it would only muddy the water if an investigation did take place.

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Goodness, what a horrible situation! No wonder you're worried: definitely contact the police, I know it's highly unlikely that they will actually do anything at all at the moment (since no attempt to defraud anyone has yet come to light) but you will at least get a crime number proving that as soon as you became aware of the fraudulent registration you tried to rectify it.

Hopefully, nothing will happen, but in the event that it does IMO you need to be able to prove that you reported it, tried to rectify it and have nothing to do with it.

I would also try addressing an envelope to the "company" at your address and just see whether or not it actually arrives on your doorstep - if it doesn't that would suggest to me that a redirection has been put in place which would worry me even more.

 

[mhall]

.

I would also try addressing an envelope to the "company" at your address and just see whether or not it actually arrives on your doorstep - if it doesn't that would suggest to me that a redirection has been put in place which would worry me even more.

Now that's a VERY good idea !

 

[Reg AddKing]

I think the bones of a plan is coming through here:

• Inform the police and get a crime number;
• With that, contact Companies House, in writing, recorded delivery;
• Open any fraudulent mail you get, copy it, then reseal it, marking the envelope 'Return to sender, not known at this address' and repost.

I would try to establish the person or department at Companies House directly responsible for dealing with this sort of thing and write to them. Phone calls disappear into the ether. Keep copies of all correspondence.

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

On a positive note this is your opportunity to try on Miss Marple's shoes .........

 

[Duediler]

I would be very careful, you just never know what people get up to these days! It could in fact be the start of something fraudulent, or just an error with the address. I agree with what most others have posted, in that you should open up anything you receive and make a copy of it and mark "knot known at this address".

Companies House and the Police would probably be your best option as far as moving forward and trying to figure out if something untoward is going on.

Since you know the name of the person and the company, take a look at this website: Duedil.com short for Due Diligence.

Everything on the above website is free to access and print off as you please, and you can search for millions of Companies and Directors who have all registered with Companies House. Since you know the person's name, you can perform a Directors Search by name, and it will tell you which company that person is a director of, any other companies they hold directorships in, and any other companies they were formerly a director of. This may unearth a lot of useful info for you. You can also look up company financial records etc. etc. and it is all absolutely free.

Good luck with your situation and I hope it work out for the best.