Checking your client companies

Add a client's Companies House number (on the client's page, Edit) and PaidStraight checks public records for that company once a day:

• Companies House: whether the company is active, in liquidation, in administration, dissolved, or being struck off, and whether its accounts or confirmation statement are overdue.
• The Gazette: insolvency notices from the last 12 months, such as a petition to wind the company up or the appointment of liquidators.

What the warnings mean

• Red: check before you do more work. The company is in an insolvency process, closed, or about to be struck off. You may not be paid for new work, and chasing an old invoice works differently: you usually claim from the liquidator or administrator instead. PaidStraight emails you the first time this happens.
• Amber: something to keep an eye on. Usually overdue accounts. Often harmless, sometimes an early sign of trouble.

PaidStraight doesn't stop or change your reminders because of a warning. That's your call.

Good to know

• Only limited companies and LLPs have a Companies House number. Sole traders and partnerships can't be checked this way.
• The number has 8 characters, like 01234567, or two letters and six digits, like SC123456. You'll find it on the client's website, invoices or letters, or by searching Find and update company information.
• This is public information, used as it's published. It can be out of date. If something looks wrong, check the company's page at Companies House.
• Not sure what to do about a client in trouble? An accountant, a business adviser, or an insolvency practitioner can tell you how to claim.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.