At Total Accounting Kent, we would like to raise awareness of a scam currently doing the rounds. These letters arrived at our office and even made us look twice.

For a new business owner, this can be a real danger, as you may not yet know what is normal and what looks suspicious.

We urge clients to send us any letters or emails they are unsure about, so we can help check whether they are genuine.

What Is the Scam?

The latest scams target new businesses that have recently incorporated at Companies House.

The first letter claims to be from Companies House and looks very similar to official Companies House correspondence, so please be vigilant.

This letter asks for additional payment for “Web Filing Access”. After you have successfully incorporated a new company with Companies House, you should not be asked to pay an additional fee for this.

You pay the relevant fee when registering your business, and you will not normally need to pay Companies House again until your confirmation statement is due a year later.

Companies House does not send payment codes by post, and it does not charge for enhanced web filing access.

The second letter is designed to make a new business think it has not completed the incorporation process by stating that the business is “unclaimed” or “pending”.

This is misleading. Companies House sends reminders free of charge, so there is no need to sign up or pay for this type of service.

How to Report a Companies House Scam

If you receive a letter or email you are not sure about, the easiest way to check is by visiting the Gov.uk guidance on scams pretending to be from Companies House.

If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete the email.

If you are unsure whether something is genuine, please send it to us before making any payment or clicking any links.