How do you know if a compnay has gone bust?

BeckyArch

I had booked a company to drive my OH from his house to the wedding venue in a ferrari, and then for the car and dirve to wait until after the ceremony so that we could have photos with it etc..

I have been having a few worries about the company recently as I have heard nothing from them really since paying the deposit, apart from the odd email..

Yesterday I thought i'd check their website again and found it was no longer working. I then tried their phone number which again was not working. This monring I emailed the guy I had been dealing with to ask what was going on, and that was returned as undeliverable..

My OH works for in finance and can check if compnaies are listed as dissolved, but apparently it is still listed as an active compnay..

All we can think is that they have gone bust but havne't filed any paperwork about it yet.. can anyone thing of any other way to check?

I only paid 50 depost, so its not like i've lost 100s of pounds (and I do have insurance so will claim it back if it turns out the compnay has gone bust...) Just want to know whats going on! hmmm

thanks in advance!
Becky

JCS1

It can take a while for docs to be filed at Companies House.

It might be worth downloading their last Annual Return and checking the names of the directors in case they have gone bankrupt personally:

http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/eiir/

If the company has ceased trading they may have given personal guarantees which can result in them going BR if they can't repay.

BeckyArch

Forgot to say. Company is called South Bucks Supercar Hire.

Thanks in advance!

JCS1

Doesn't look promising at Companies House - only incorporated February 2009 and no accounts ever filed.

They did file an Annual Return in May this year though - can your OH download this for free via work? If not, it can be downloaded for £1 from companies house. I'd then be tempted to search for the directors on the insolvency link I posted earlier.

BeckyArch

Not sure. Will check with him. He did say the when he checked the address was different to that I sent the cheque to, and the the nature of business was listed as electrical wiring or something. Couldn't fine the company on the link you posted. Will do some more checking tonight before I get on to wedding insurance! Looks like oh will be driving himself to the wedding!

JCS1

BeckyArch wrote: »

Not sure. Will check with him. He did say the when he checked the address was different to that I sent the cheque to, and the the nature of business was listed as electrical wiring or something. Couldn't fine the company on the link you posted. Will do some more checking tonight before I get on to wedding insurance! Looks like oh will be driving himself to the wedding!

Noticed the electrical wiring thing too. Small companies often use their accountants address as a registered office rather than a trading address.

Once you get hold of the directors names from the annual return, check them on the link and see if they have gone BR or not.

pelirocco

JCS1 wrote: »

Noticed the electrical wiring thing too. Small companies often use their accountants address as a registered office rather than a trading address.

Once you get hold of the directors names from the annual return, check them on the link and see if they have gone BR or not.

Why would the directors have gone bankrupt? , they are protected by the limited company

pelirocco

one director , also director of
BLE CONTRACTORS LTDCompany Number06830393Registered AddressYORK HOUSE CHURCH LANETrading Address


CHALFONT ST. PETERGERRARDS CROSSSL9 9R

JCS1

pelirocco wrote: »

Why would the directors have gone bankrupt? , they are protected by the limited company

Unless they gave personal guarantees as part of setting up the limited company. Limited company folds and the bank usually calls in the PG's.

BeckyArch

Hmmm. Well thanks for helping guys. So far I still don't know what is really going on. I have searched the Internet but to no avail and the link to their company has disappered from a few wedding websites. Will get onto the wedding insurance tomorrow but as I have only lost 50 pounds and the exess for claims is 25 pounds is it really worth it?

JCS1

Depends how much paperwork there would be to fill in for the £25! It's also extra hassle with your wedding approaching.

Did you pay by credit card? Might be worth contacting them for a chargeback though not sure if there's a minimum amount before that applies. Worth a phone call though.