Find the Company on Companies House
Every limited company in the UK is listed at Companies House, and the register is free to search at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. You can search by name, but the company number is more reliable. A UK company must show its registered name and number on its website and its paperwork.
Check that the number and the name belong together, that the company is shown as active, and that its registered office is consistent with what you have been told. Our guide to checking a company on Companies House goes through each part of the record in more detail.
Read Its History, Not Just Its Name
The filing history shows when the company was formed, whether it files its accounts on time, and any changes of name or address. A business that describes years of experience but was registered a few months ago has given you two accounts of itself that cannot both be true.
The list of officers shows who runs the company. Since November 2025 new directors have had to verify their identity with Companies House, but the register still relies largely on the information each company files. A listing confirms that a company exists; whether the business is honest is a separate question.
A Real Company Can Still Be Impersonated
Fraudsters often borrow the name and number of a genuine company, because a search then appears to confirm their story. The company is real, but the person contacting you has no connection with the company.
The question that matters is whether the website, email address, telephone number and bank account you were given belong to that company. Find the company's own website independently and compare the details. If anything differs, contact the company using details you have found yourself and ask whether the approach came from them.
Check Whether the Business Needs FCA Authorisation
A company offering investments, pensions, loans, insurance or help with a financial claim will usually need to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as well. Companies House does not check this, so search the firm on the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk too. Our FCA firm checker guide explains what to look for on the register.
Make the Final Check Before You Pay
Before you send money, use your bank's Confirmation of Payee check to see whether the account name matches the company. A genuine company takes payment into an account in its own name.
A MetaAshes assessment cross-references the company with Companies House, the FCA Register and other official records, together with the contact and payment details you were given, and records the evidence behind its verdict.
How MetaAshes Examines This
A MetaAshes assessment cross-references a firm's details against the official record in a single pass. For this question, the most relevant checks include:
- Company existence and identity
- Company status
- Incorporation date
- Filing and insolvency record
- Serving directors
- Registered office
- Payee name verification
Frequently Asked
Is it free to check a company on Companies House?
Yes. Searching the register and viewing a company's status, officers and filing history is free and needs no account.
Does being on Companies House mean a company is legitimate?
It means the company has been registered. Companies House records what companies file and does not vet their business, so a listing is where a check begins.
How can I tell whether a company is a scam?
No single record answers that question. The clearest signs appear when records are compared: a company formed very recently, contact details that differ from the official ones, or a request to pay an account in another name. The FCA Warning List also shows firms the FCA has already warned about.
This guide is provided for general information and does not constitute financial or legal advice.