How it works
You give us a company name. We read the official record so you don't have to, and give you one clear answer.
The three questions we answer
| Are they real and trading? | Registered status, company age, type, and registered office, the basics that a fake "Ltd" fails. |
|---|---|
| Are they in trouble? | Overdue accounts and confirmation statements (the earliest distress signal), plus any winding-up or insolvency notice published in The Gazette. |
| Who's behind it? | Every active director's other companies, how many are still going, how many have failed, and whether the pattern looks like a serial "phoenix". Plus the Disqualified Directors register. |
Where the data comes from
| Companies House | The official UK register, profiles, officers, filing history. |
|---|---|
| The Gazette | The UK's official public record of insolvency and winding-up notices. |
| Insolvency & Disqualified Directors registers | Court-ordered disqualifications and insolvency events. |
All published under the Open Government Licence. We turn it into one verdict; we don't change the facts.
What the verdict means
TRADE
Established, filed on time, no flags. Standard terms look reasonable.
CAUTION
A few flags. Consider part-payment up front for a first order.
AVOID
Serious red flags on the record. Don't extend credit.
What we are not
We are not a credit reference agency. We don't hold a credit score, and we can't see CCJs or bank data. What we do is read the public record faster and more clearly than you can, and tell you plainly what it says. The verdict is guidance to inform your own decision, not financial advice.