Information - Is your website displaying the correct information ?
As many of you will already know companies were and still are required to clearly disclose their name on documents such as business letters, notices, official publications, financial documents such as cheques, promissory notes and bills of exchange and invoices, receipts and letters of credit.
Companies were and still are also required to include the following information on business letters and order forms:
- place of registration (England and Wales),
- registered number; and,
- registered office address.
As of January 2007, companies are also now required to state the following on their websites:
- clearly state their name,
- state place of registration,
- state registered number; and,
- state registered office details.
You are also required to have the following information on your website:
- The name, postal address and email address of the website’s service provider.
- The name of any trade bodies or professional associations that the business is part of, including membership or registration details.
- Your VAT number, even if the website is not being used for e-commerce transactions.
- Any prices on the website must clearly state whether they are inclusive or exclusive of tax and delivery costs .
- Ensure that your company’s website and order forms include the company name as registered at Companies House.
- Check that the company website includes the place of registration, registered number and registered office details of the company.
- If your company details have been submitted to websites such as trade directory sites or portals and the information is under your control (i.e. can be edited), provide the additional information to those sites.
- If your company send business correspondence electronically (eg by email for fax) check that email templates, fax front sheets and any other electronic templates (including blackberrys) include the required information.
What happens if you don’t comply?
The penalty for non-compliance is a fine, which can be levied on any officer of the company or any person who authorised the issue of the non-complying document or website.
There are 4 checks which need to be made in order to comply with the additional disclosure provisions and these are as follows: