Following a security issue with the Companies House website Companies House have issued the following statement.
“On Friday 13 March, Companies House was made aware of a security issue with our WebFiling service. We closed the service while we investigated and resolved the issue. The service has been independently tested and is back online as of 9am on Monday 16 March.
For more information, please read our statement on GOV.UK
Please share this information with your clients and customers. We are also emailing every company’s registered email address to make them aware of this issue and explain what steps to take if they have any concerns.
You can view a copy of this email on GOV.UK
We recognise that this incident will have caused concern and inconvenience to many of the companies and individuals who rely on our services. Companies House takes its responsibility to protect the data entrusted to us extremely seriously and we have taken swift action to secure and restore our service and are committed to doing everything in our power to support those affected.”
Suggested Director’s Checklist.
- Verify Your Registered Office: Ensure your registered office address has not been changed without your knowledge.
- Audit Your Officers: Confirm the list of current Directors and Secretaries is accurate; check for any unauthorized appointments or resignations.
- Review Filing History: Look for any unexpected filings, such as “Change of Details” or “Allotment of Shares” forms (e.g., Form SH01).
- Check PSC Register: Ensure the “Persons with Significant Control” information remains correct and hasn’t been tampered with.
- Update Authentication Codes: If you have any concerns, consider requesting a new Company Authentication Code from Companies House to reset access permissions.
- Enable PROOF (Protected Online Filing): If you haven’t already, sign up for the free PROOF scheme to prevent unauthorised paper filings being submitted against your company.
Need Assistance?
If you identify any discrepancies during this check, contact Companies House immediately.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. We cannot accept responsibility or liability for any actions you may take, or not take, based on this information.