Checking a company's bank account details are legitimate

RebeccaPlant

Hello MSE-ers,

I'm about to pay a company just under £20k but I want to confirm in advance that the account number and sort code are attached to the company I'm paying, to make sure I'm not being scammed!

Is there a way to confirm this without contacting the company itself?

Thanks in advance!

glentoran99

RebeccaPlant wrote: »

Hello MSE-ers,

I'm about to pay a company just under £20k but I want to confirm in advance that the account number and sort code are attached to the company I'm paying, to make sure I'm not being scammed!

Is there a way to confirm this without contacting the company itself?

Thanks in advance!

Surely the best and most sensible way is contact the company itself? Why are you opposed to this?

RebeccaPlant

glentoran99 wrote: »

Surely the best and most sensible way is contact the company itself? Why are you opposed to this?

Thanks for your reply! We've been struggling to find contact details for the company (aside from silly contact forms) apart from the one person we've had contact with directly. We just want to make sure that the account details are for the company and not been replaced by this one person to go to his personal account.

glentoran99

RebeccaPlant wrote: »

Thanks for your reply! We've been struggling to find contact details for the company (aside from silly contact forms) apart from the one person we've had contact with directly. We just want to make sure that the account details are for the company and not been replaced by this one person to go to his personal account.

Not sure id be happy sending 20k to a company I couldn't contact, Try typing the account details into google and see what it brings up.

RebeccaPlant

glentoran99 wrote: »

Not sure id be happy sending 20k to a company I couldn't contact, Try typing the account details into google and see what it brings up.

Yeah I know what you mean - that's why we're trying to be cautious! I have found a telephone number now which I'll try in the morning. Did try googling but nothing of interest came up...

lovinituk

I'd be very cautious. A company asking for £20k by bank transfer who don't appear to make themselves easily contactable sounds very suspicious.

Check them on Companies House.
Check their domain registration details.
Both of those should provide some sort of contact details.

colsten

RebeccaPlant wrote: »

Thanks for your reply! We've been struggling to find contact details for the company (aside from silly contact forms) apart from the one person we've had contact with directly.

Do you mind me asking how you would ensure you get whatever it is you are paying £20k for if you can't contact the company? What if that person you spoke to leaves the company tomorrow?

Sparx

What service is this for may I ask? e.g. if it's a builder/service who seems hard to contact and has little presence... Sending them £20k via bank transfer would put me on the uhhh side of hell no!

Zanderman

If you're having difficulty contacting the company and don't entirely trust (you seem to imply this) the only person you've had contact with then why would you trust the company? I wouldn't!

And why pay £20k by bank transfer? Why can't this company accept other means?

Card payment or even old-fashioned cheque would be better. I know it's fashionable to dismiss cheques but in this sort of scenario they do still have relevance!. And if you don't have a cheque book you can ask your bank for one.

maninthestreet

OP - is it related to this thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5646848

dj1471

It's a legal requirement for UK companies to provide a postal address. If the website really only has contact forms as you suggest I wouldn't be giving them a penny and definitely not by bank transfer.