Is this dodgy or am I just being paranoid??

[northernladuk]

I'm not sure that's a good idea. It's one thing providing them securely on one occasion so that they can be entered into whichever BACS system the client/agency uses for future reference, but I don't think I'd want Disgruntled Dave that works in the mail room, or Kayley the work experience girl to be privy to details of my or MyCo's bank account numbers. Remember what happened to Clarkson.

When I started out I would have thought this would be the case as well but both last gigs insisted it was on the invoice. Made some enquiries and told this wasn't a problem or risk so complied.

[Gentile]

When I started out I would have thought this would be the case as well but both last gigs insisted it was on the invoice. Made some enquiries and told this wasn't a problem or risk so complied.

Even if there wasn't a risk associated with making that information more widely available than need be (which there definitely is - just ask Clarkson), I wouldn't let an agent/client tell me how to format my own company's invoices beyond what is required by HMRC rules. That sounds like the very definition of D&C to me: if they're actually telling you to put sensitive information on your invoices just because they can't be arsed keeping those details securely themselves? If they want to self-bill, that's fine, but if you're changing the invoice format that you use for everyone else just to suit a particular client it's difficult to see how that's not acting under their direction and control.

[TestMangler]

(Almost) everyone here has their name, Address and Date Of Birth sitting on the Companies House website and accessible by Director Check. That's more than enough for someone to take out a mobile contract or a credit agreement with Bright House or the like.

In my days of selling computer hardware, most PC parts distributors and a lot of online retailers would display their bank account numbers and sort codes on their websites (and most still do) in their 'Payment Instructions' section for customers wanting to pay by BACS. Having it there certainly never cause me a problem.

Not having a go. Actually interested in what someone could actually do with just your sort code and account number.

[Gentile]

(Almost) everyone here has their name, Address and Date Of Birth sitting on the Companies House website and accessible by Director Check. That's more than enough for someone to take out a mobile contract or a credit agreement with Bright House or the like.

In my days of selling computer hardware, most PC parts distributors and a lot of online retailers would display their bank account numbers and sort codes on their websites (and most still do) in their 'Payment Instructions' section for customers wanting to pay by BACS. Having it there certainly never cause me a problem.

Not having a go. Actually interested in what someone could actually do with just your sort code and account number.

The Jeremy Clarkson example given above (where someone set up a Direct Debit on his behalf after he published details of his sort code and account number in The Sun and he lost £500 as a result) demonstrates the risk.

Do you have an example of a retailer that publishes their sort code and account number on their website?

[kingcook]

I keep meaning to get a seperate "incoming" account for my business (it's just for money coming into the business). Then i can move any monies to my ltd co's main current account once an invoice is paid.

[Gentile]

I keep meaning to get a seperate "incoming" account for my business (it's just for money coming into the business). Then i can move any monies to my ltd co's main current account once an invoice is paid.

What do you feel the benefit of that would be, kc?

I used to keep separate accounts for VAT, PAYE and a current account. But, tbh, I ended up just using the current account for everything and the other two just lay idle. That was in the days of free business banking. I wouldn't choose to operate more than one account now unless I was sure I needed them and would use them.

[TestMangler]

The Jeremy Clarkson example given above (where someone set up a Direct Debit on his behalf after he published details of his sort code and account number in The Sun and he lost £500 as a result) demonstrates the risk.

Do you have an example of a retailer that publishes their sort code and account number on their website?

Would the Clarkson thing not have been a bank f##k-up though as a paper based DD requires a signature, which the bank clearly didn't check ?

BigPockets (a retailer) and VIP Computers (a trade distributor). The only restriction being that you need to have signed up as a customer to see them, but thats not a problem with a throw away email address. I understand the limitations of trying to scam either of these two companies specifically as you'll need delivery addresses etc, I was more meaning the general principal of what someone can do with your acct no/sort code, other than deposit money in your account

[TestMangler]

A quick check on Google finds this: (Dunbartonshire Council)

Payment by Standing Order, BACs or home banking
You will need to give your bank the Council’s bank details as follows and ensure they quote the payment reference number shown on your bill:-

Bank Name: Clydesdale Bank plc, 110 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, G66 1JU
Bank Sort Code: 82-69-13
Bank Account Number: (please note the different bank account number for each type of bill:

80000601 - for Council Tax

80000577 - for Rent (download a preprinted Rent Standing Order mandate here)

80000585 - for Business Rates

80000593 - for Debtor Invoices

[Gentile]

A quick check on Google finds this: (Dunbartonshire Council)

Payment by Standing Order, BACs or home banking
You will need to give your bank the Council’s bank details as follows and ensure they quote the payment reference number shown on your bill:-

Bank Name: Clydesdale Bank plc, 110 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, G66 1JU
Bank Sort Code: 82-69-13
Bank Account Number: (please note the different bank account number for each type of bill:

80000601 - for Council Tax

80000577 - for Rent (download a preprinted Rent Standing Order mandate here)

80000585 - for Business Rates

80000593 - for Debtor Invoices

Crazy. But the Public Sector does lots of crazy things; I think it comes from playing around with other people's money.

I'd be surprised if a Private Sector retailer published their bank details online, though. Do you have an example of a retailer doing that? It's just that you said most still do have their bank details on their websites, and I'd honestly be surprised if that were the case.

[Scrag Meister]

When I started out I would have thought this would be the case as well but both last gigs insisted it was on the invoice. Made some enquiries and told this wasn't a problem or risk so complied.

They are on my invoices as well.