Finally, before you even consider entering your payment details, it’s vital that you check for " at the start of the URL. If you’re purchasing something online, always check the company's refund and exchange policy. You might find it within the privacy policy or terms and conditions. All UK companies should have one and it should be displayed on its website. This could give you information about how long the company’s been in operation, its ethical stance, and its mission statement.Ī company registration number (CRN) which shows that it is listed with Companies House (and checks out on the Companies House website). A physical address and landline number.Ī privacy policy and company history on the site. Poor English, or lots of typos and spelling mistakes are all signs that it’s likely to be an overseas operation masquerading as an English business. Check out its websiteĪ company’s own website can also give you a good idea of whether or not it is truly legitimate. You can use this site to search the millions of limited companies trading, or once registered in the UK, and listed in Companies House. The “loans company” mentioned above had an “FCA registration” number on its website, but that number didn’t actually correspond to anything on the register itself.Īnother good resource is the government's Companies House website. And remember to check any number on the website. If a financial services company isn’t listed on the FCA register, avoid it at all costs. You can search for a company by entering its name and/or postcode. This is a database which holds details of every financial company that’s registered and regulated by the FCA. All you have to do is look it up on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register. If you’re looking at a company that deals in financial services, there’s a very simple way to check its credentials. You can decide how good or bad the company really sounds.Ĭheck a company on Google. Other reviews might reveal problems with customer service or product quality. For example, some people might give a negative review because an item was delivered a day late. If you read any negative reviews, you can use your own judgment too. Remember that what’s said on forums isn’t ‘gospel’ but it can act as a useful indicator when you aren’t sure about a company. Equally, you might discover that the company has a good reputation, which will demonstrate that it’s a legitimate firm. If someone speaks of a bad experience with the company or warns against dealing with them, you’ll know to steer clear. Sites like Trustpilot and Google reviews can reveal a lot about a company before you interact with them. Using a search engine like Google can give you all sorts of information on a company, including what people are saying about them. When we called the barber to double check there wasn’t an office upstairs, they had no knowledge of the so-called “bank” either. In one case we’ve seen, the address of a “loans company” was in fact a barbers’ shop. However, if no-one answers or you’re put through to an anonymous call centre, this may be your first warning sign that the company isn’t legit. If an employee of the company answers the call, you may be able to get some reassurance and a feel for the business. The contact phone number should ideally be a landline – call it and see who answers. This is a good way to verify that the business actually exists. ![]() If there is an address listed, you can use Google Maps to search for the premises. Ideally, this will be a proper address and a phone number, rather than a ‘contact us’ form. ![]() If you can’t see this at first glance, check in the ‘contact us’ section or on the terms and conditions page.Ī legitimate company will always give you a way to get in touch with them. If the address is a registered office, even better. To do this, look for an address on the company's website. The first thing you should do is check that the company you are dealing with has a physical location. One of the easiest ways to spot a fake company is if there is no evidence of their existence in real life. In 10 easy steps we show you how to check whether a company is legitimate and conforming to UK regulations to help you work whether you can trust it with your money and data. Wise up to ensure you’re not their next victim. If you’re considering spending money with a company you’ve never heard of, it’s sensible to find out as much about them as you can before you proceed.Ĭon artists use fake companies to make their scams look more real and it’s easy to be duped.
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