Easiest and cheapest ( preferably free) way to find out company details

robnye

I have a situation which I think is best suited for small claims court, but I have a lack of information

We hired a hot tub for a week, full payment for the hire
which include
hot tub hire
gazebo hire
deposit

was paid end of September 2013, we received the hot tub on 1st November. We did not receive the Gazebo as the suppliers one was torn, also the extension lead he had supplied was faulty - meaning I had to arrange an alternative .

when we originally booked the hire, we were told that the refund would be 'posted through the letterbox' if we werent at home when the hot tub was collected, we were at home and the chap collecting didnt know anything about the deposit. the hot tub was collected on 7th November.

I have since spoken to the supplier and been told that If I gave him my bank account details he would arrange immediate bank payment this was on 11th November, plus he would include an additional £20 compensation. - so £100 due.

I waited and checked my bank account daily, also phoning him daily. On the 14th he said he would check with his bank...... on 15th he was unavailable.
on 18th I spoke to him at 16:50, to which he said send him a paypal money request, which I did, I then travelled home by train, when I got of the train I checked my papypal account no money - I phoned him and was told, he would deal with after putting kids to bed, so approx 2 hours - but I would have it by the time I got up in the morning.
Today no money - phoned no answer.

the issue is I dont have his surname - although I think I have found it (he is a webpage designer and had put a surname on one of his test pages - which he has released into the internet - doh).
I have tried tracking the company down via companies house and get an office address but listed under another companies name.... so I a little perplexed.

Any ideas.... as I believe I need his name and confirmation of the company address before I can write to him, giving notice on intention to send in the small claims form

shaun_from_Africa

Where did you find out about hiring the equipment, and if it was by way of an advert, do you still have the details?
If so, what might work is contacting him posing as a new customer (or get someone to do it for you) enquiring about hiring some stuff and asking if it would be possible to pay by cheque or postal order.
If they agree to this, they should give you an address to send the payment to.

How did you make the original payment?

robnye

we found the web site via internet search

yes the website is still online, with an address, i only have his first name (from a phone call), the address is also used by other companies which I think are linked - ie one of them created the website

original payment made via paypal - to give me cover in case he was a fraud. the hot tub was supplied, its just he seems to be messing about with giving the deposit/refund back

OlliesDad

robnye wrote: »

we found the web site via internet search

yes the website is still online, with an address, i only have his first name (from a phone call), the address is also used by other companies which I think are linked - ie one of them created the website

original payment made via paypal - to give me cover in case he was a fraud. the hot tub was supplied, its just he seems to be messing about with giving the deposit/refund back

Have you tried a WHOIS search to see if the website is registered to him? (I presume it would be if he is a Web Designer)

robnye

yes the website is registered to a similar address to what he has on the website - so I suppose that is confirmation...

also I phoned his home number... he wasnt there but got confirmation of his surname teehee


and searching on his proper full name..... ooo er he does sound a dubious chappie

hollydays

If he's listed on company's house , he'll be listed as a director somewhere surely.

robnye

erm - yes he does at several different addresses, several different companies.... some dissolved

i suppose now that I have his full name and the address of the company we hired the item from I can send a notice of pay now or else letter lol

sekrapa

If its a limited company, you can get financial info, structure and directors lists with addresses, and also the directors history from this website http://companycheck.co.uk/index

Handy to find out how long they have been trading, previous names, financial status etc, and its free.

robnye

funny i did find that website for checking, but hadnt looked at the tabs lol

this chap has 6 director entry numbers

with 6 dissolved companies
and 2 still operating

mmmm were to go now?