All company website and emails must contain details of full registered company name, registered office address, registration number and place of registration and if offering items or services for sale, then the VAT registration number.

The new regulations apply, brought in by European law, to all companies with web sites and not just those seeking to sell on-line. Similar provisions, though considerably more ambiguous in the legislation, apply to partnerships and sole traders in that the proprietor or partners behind the “trade name” must be declared.

While this information must be easily accessible on the web site it does not have to be on each page. It can be contained on the home page or the 'about us' page. The registered office address must be included even if this is at the 'accountants' or remote from the dealership.

In addition where the company is a registered member of a trade association such as the RMIF, MVRA,VBRA etc then it appears that the details of the association together with the company’s registration number or other identification must also be given.

The same applies to those who are a member of any local authority licensing scheme, have an MoT authorisation, a Consumer Credit Licence or are FSA registered.

If any companies fail to provide this information then it is open to any recipient to enforce by suing for damages for breach of statutory duty.

  • Visit www.lawgistics.co.uk for more information