Companies House and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) join forces to warn about unsolicited payment requests
Companies House and IPO warn businesses about unsolicited payment requests and how to identify them.
Companies House and the听IPO听are asking businesses to be vigilant of听misleading requests for payments, sent by organisations听not affiliated with government.听
These听requests听typically take the form of invoices requesting payment for听Companies House and IPO services.听听
What to look out for听
Invoices are usually听posted to听the听company鈥檚 registered office听address, but听can be听sent by听email too. These invoices may request payment at a highly inflated price for services available for a much lower fee, or free of charge, directly from鈥痶he legitimate sources: Companies House, IP听attorneys听or the IPO.
They usually ask for payment to:听鈥��
- set up or claim your Companies House online account听
- authenticate your听Companies House听account or verify your details听
- renew your trade mark鈥痮r include it on an 鈥榚xclusive online register鈥�
How to check if a letter听or email is听genuine听
If you receive a letter听or email听asking for payment and听you鈥檙e听not sure whether听it鈥檚听genuine, you can:听
- check听any听website addresses included in the letter or email,听and email addresses from generic domains听鈥� official Companies House and IPO services are provided through 扒哥吃瓜听
- look for disclaimers听stating听the organisation is not affiliated with government听
- contact us directly to verify any requests听
If you choose to use听a third party to听represent听your company, you may need to pay for their services.听These听can be听legitimate businesses offering separate services to those provided directly by Companies House听and the IPO.
Report suspicious听contact听
If听you鈥檙e听unsure about a听letter听or email听you鈥檝e听received, contact Companies House,听the IPO听or the organisation听representing听your company听directly before making any payment.听
- Contact Companies House听
- Contact IPO at misleadinginvoices@ipo.gov.uk
You听should听report suspicious activity to听,听and听your听local鈥� Trading Standards鈥痮ffice.听If you听believe听you鈥檝e听been a victim of fraud听you听should report this to the police via .