My company details on the web

[kellycell]

Hello,

I came across my company's details at sites such as creditgate.com and companyalert.co.uk.

Obviously I am not happy with this, since it discloses part of my home post code and my whole registered company address.

I wonder, how did my details end up there and how can I take them down?

thank you.

[MarillionFan]

Hello,

I came across my company's details at sites such as creditgate.com and companyalert.co.uk.

Obviously I am not happy with this, since it discloses part of my home post code and my whole registered company address.

I wonder, how did my details end up there and how can I take them down?

thank you.

Public domain records I am afraid Kelly. As a Director of a Ltd Company these are freely available at Companies House and so are subsquently available as part of other agencies. Your home address, is effectively your companies address!

It gets worse though. Your DOB can also be found out as Company Director. It can be reverse engineered from the data available.

Company Directorships are a great source for scammers & identity thieves. It's happened to me. Just make sure as a Company Director you are signed up to one of the credit services.

In fact, if you've been in business for more than a few years, even I have your name & address and details on a Dunn & Bradstreet database copy I have!!!!

[kellycell]

Hello, thanks for this. What do you mean by "Just make sure as a Company Director you are signed up to one of the credit services"?
Cheers

Public domain records I am afraid Kelly. As a Director of a Ltd Company these are freely available at Companies House and so are subsquently available as part of other agencies. Your home address, is effectively your companies address!

It gets worse though. Your DOB can also be found out as Company Director. It can be reverse engineered from the data available.

Company Directorships are a great source for scammers & identity thieves. It's happened to me. Just make sure as a Company Director you are signed up to one of the credit services.

In fact, if you've been in business for more than a few years, even I have your name & address and details on a Dunn & Bradstreet database copy I have!!!!

[MarillionFan]

Hello, thanks for this. What do you mean by "Just make sure as a Company Director you are signed up to one of the credit services"?
Cheers

I have always been aware of the fact the data is Public domain. But a couple of years ago someone started to open up a load of bank accounts & credit cards on my previous address. They had by DOB, address and put down what job I did and what company I worked for. Then they added in a mail redirect from my old address, using falisifed details.

If not for the person at my old 'company' address I would have been seriously scammed. As it happens I was a victim of identity fraud and I am signed up to CIFAS(not by my choice) which causes me problems with credit.

On investigation from the police, they asked me if I was a company director and basically believed that this was part of a scam using public domain info.

I would recommend as a Company Director you sign up for an Equifax service that lets you know when credit changes or applications are made to your account.

[d000hg]

Is it of any benefit from a security angle to have your registered address not your home address? I do this anyway for legal purposes, but does it provide any anonymity?

[kellycell]

Re: Equifax service that lets you know when credit changes or applications are made to your account.

Won't I know this through my bank account though or my accountant?

cheers

[Zippy]

Re: Equifax service that lets you know when credit changes or applications are made to your account.

Won't I know this through my bank account though or my accountant?

cheers

I thnk he means your credit record not your bank account. Say someone manages to apply for credit cards based on your details and has managed to redirect your mail to their scamming address (not exactly sure how you do this, as the confirmation and any renewal letters will not be redirected), you will be unaware of it until a new account appears on your credit record. You won't get the cards or the bills as they are redirected.
You just need to keep checking and contact the companies if you see anything suspicious.

[SallyPlanIT]

Isn't the Director's address private and not in the public domain, whilst the Director's service address and the Registered Office address are?

Thus, don't have the last two at your home address.

[Scrag Meister]

When my ex wife was chasing me for more maintenenace last year, she went and got my short version accounts via a Companies House Webcheck!!!

Its the nature of the game I'm afraid. Public information on companies.

I dread to think how much spam mail my accountants recieve as they are my registered address.

[Clare@InTouch]

Isn't the Director's address private and not in the public domain, whilst the Director's service address and the Registered Office address are?

Thus, don't have the last two at your home address.

That's true, and great if you're setting up a company now as your home address need never be public. However, if your home address was used during incorporation or on a subsequent annual return it's still possible to get copies of those documents and thereby get the home address details.