Business address on website - Business Forum UK

FutureEntrepeneur · 20-12-09, 10:12 PM

Hey all,

I'll get straight to the point. I'm starting a business website as a sole trader and have been reading through regulations.

I was looking at the e-commerce regulations that were updated on 1st Oct 2009. I understand that by law a sole trader must include 'their name trading as the business name' on their website and a geographic address where the business is established.

Yesterday while reading throughout it, it stated that these details had to be included unless the business owner has reason to believe that providing the details could potentially cause unwanted behaviour, loss, damages, consequences, etc (due to the nature of the business).

I'm pretty sure the article was from a reputable source, but now that I want to check I can't find it! Does anyone know if this is all true or not?

Indizine · 21-12-09, 07:41 AM

I very much doubt it was from a formal source - you could interpret that list in a thousand ways if you really wanted to find an excuse not to put your trading details. Check the BERR website.

RandomTemplate · 21-12-09, 07:49 AM

A simple way to look at it, if you have a branch or office for the business, then put it up since its specific to that.

If you work from home you could consider any contact from any potential site visitor is an unwanted disturbance on your personnal life.

simplisticdesigns · 22-12-09, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomTemplate

A simple way to look at it, if you have a branch or office for the business, then put it up since its specific to that.

If you work from home you could consider any contact from any potential site visitor is an unwanted disturbance on your personnal life.

Whilst this is true, it is indeed a legal requirement to put a business address on your website, whether or not it is a home or specific working premesis. I fully agree that if your working from home as I do, having a home address on your website is not always the most popular of ideas BUT if you don't comply with the rule, you can get into trouble. I had a friend who fell foul of this and his website was shut down due to him not displaying an address - as a result of this his business went under.

My guidance is to beware of this!

Ally McInnes.
***SNIP***

Big Pete · 22-12-09, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplisticdesigns

Whilst this is true, it is indeed a legal requirement to put a business address on your website, whether or not it is a home or specific working premesis. I fully agree that if your working from home as I do, having a home address on your website is not always the most popular of ideas BUT if you don't comply with the rule, you can get into trouble. I had a friend who fell foul of this and his website was shut down due to him not displaying an address - as a result of this his business went under.

My guidance is to beware of this!

Ally McInnes.
***SNIP***

Not a legal requirement on websites , who told you it was then ?

Can just have a phone number if you want ..

Indizine · 22-12-09, 09:49 PM

It is a requirement for the EC Directive, as well as for CH if limited.

openmind · 23-12-09, 07:49 AM

It's nothing to get stressed about. Having the address on the site will increase customer confidence in you immediately and if it is your home, then there are a number of virtual office companies out there who will forward mail.

We have a virtual office down in Coventry and operate from Edinburgh. All perfectly legitimate and legal.

FutureEntrepeneur · 23-12-09, 02:29 PM

First, thanks for your replies.

However, a virtual office address is not legal, the address has to be the central establishment where most of the business activities take place (if it takes place at more than one address).

Also, according to UK legislation, not having the address just means that any contractual agreements done via the website are not legally binding. They can only close it down if you are ordered to display your website by law and don't comply.

What if I started getting stalkers or burglars, would I be able to sue the government for forcing me to put up with it??

openmind · 23-12-09, 02:38 PM

Sorry but you are wrong on the virtual address. Our virtual office is the registered company address for our site, companies house and our VAT registration.

Any company information is sent to this address and then forwarded to our Edinburgh base.

Believe me, if this wasn't legal I would know about it by now

FutureEntrepeneur · 23-12-09, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by openmind

Sorry but you are wrong on the virtual address. Our virtual office is the registered company address for our site, companies house and our VAT registration.

Any company information is sent to this address and then forwarded to our Edinburgh base.

Believe me, if this wasn't legal I would know about it by now

I'm right, it's on the government website under the new E-commerce 2002 regulations that were updated on 1st October 2009 - it's there on the government's own website in black and white - how can you say I'm wrong?