Business Bank Account - Registering without a UK address

[Cirrus]

A "straight answer" was not given because the question was irrelevant to the issue at hand. Whether it is client or agency, the question is about a legal requirement to have a bank account for a company. And if there is no such requirement, then it's not a gamble and hence is the question.

I don't think the real question is what the law is about bank accounts. It seems to me this about whether or not someone will pay you into an account which isn't the same as the party in the contract. You seem to say you have set up a UK company but you haven't got a UK company account.

If your contract is technically with an agency, then I'll assume that means: the contract is with the agency. Therefore the agency pays you. It will be them and their AML rules that determine what problems you may encounter.

The impression you give is you are trying to hide the complication, hoping you can trap people into doing something they didn't foresee. England has a very robust legal environment but lawyers cost a lot of money and nobody like frivolous actions so I would talk to the agency and ask them what they normally do in these circumstances. It must happen all the time.

[Confounded]

Thanks to all of you for taking time to reply to my messages. I apologise if they have caused any frustration . All the best.

[Contreras]

And if there is no such requirement, then it's not a gamble and hence is the question.

It's a gamble whether the client, or agent (it's still not clear) will refuse to pay, in spite of [the lack of] such requirement.

It's a gamble whether advice received here, for free, can be relied upon - especially without more context.

I have no idea whether a UK bank account is a requirement. But personally I would not contemplate going legal if the client has offered to pay, in the absence of a written contract to MyCo that stated otherwise.

The questions are so that people can offer pragmatic advice.

[borderreiver]

However, we cannot open a UK bank account as we are not based in the UK and I am only going to be in the UK few days per week so will be staying in hotels/private rooms which means that we will not have a UK address which banks as for.

Have I missed something here? If you've got a UK Ltd then you must have a Registered Office in the UK ... and hence a UK address for the company. Why can't you give the bank that?

[VectraMan]

Have I missed something here? If you've got a UK Ltd then you must have a Registered Office in the UK ... and hence a UK address for the company. Why can't you give the bank that?

You can use an accountant for registered office, but the bank will want to know your real address.

[WTFH]

Based on Confounded's last reply, I think he may have left the building because we dared to ask for a bit of information rather than just telling him what he wanted to hear.

[borderreiver]

You can use an accountant for registered office, but the bank will want to know your real address.

Ah, fair enough then.

[Cirrus]

Based on Confounded's last reply, I think he may have left the building because we dared to ask for a bit of information rather than just telling him what he wanted to hear.

Curious - he didn't invite me down the pub before he left