Companies House WebFiling Service Issue: What should Companies do?
Companies House has confirmed that it identified a security issue affecting its WebFiling service on Friday 13 March. The Companies House WebFiling service was temporarily suspended to allow a full investigation to take place. Although the issue has now been resolved and the service restored, companies are advised to take proactive steps to ensure their information is correct.
What happened?
The incident meant that some Companies House WebFiling service users, in certain circumstances, were able to access private and confidential information which is ordinarily not available to the public such as:
- Dates of birth;
- Residential addresses; and
- Company registered email addresses.
It also created potential for unauthorised filings to made on behalf of the company including amendments to directors’ details.
Importantly, Companies House stated that it has received no confirmed reports of data having been accessed or changed without permission. It also confirmed that no passwords were compromised, no identity verification data was affected, and historic filings could not be altered.
Recommended actions for businesses
Although no misuse has been detected (so far), companies are advised to review, and continue to monitor, their registered details and filing history to check that the information filed against them at Companies House is correct and as it should be. Companies can do this by using:
- The ‘Companies House WebFiling’ service – check filing access and monitor who can submit documents;
- The ‘Find and update company information’ service - review the public register; and
- The ‘Follow’ service, which is particularly helpful as it sends notifications to companies when filings are made.
How the Corporate and Commercial team at TSP can help
Security issues like this highlight how important it is for companies to maintain accurate filings and monitor changes regularly. Our Corporate and Commercial team advises businesses across the region on corporate governance, Companies House compliance, and risk prevention. If you are concerned about the recent Companies House WebFiling service incident or would like support reviewing your company records or filing procedures, our specialist team are here to help.
Get in touch with TSP’s Corporate and Commercial team by calling 01206 574431 or by emailing enquiries@tsplegal.com.