Don't have a Company Number! What do I do?

[Lanark]

Logging in today, I was told that I needed to update my account details to fall in with EU legislation. After spending a while filling in the details (it would have been easier to just say it was an individual or Sole trader's account) I was asked for a Company Number. I have a partnership, there's only two of us - as far as I'm aware, we don't HAVE a company number, but I'm not allowed to finish the procedure without one.

What do I do?

[Lanark]

Okay - I know what's happened here and it's all to do with Paypal's definition of Partnership.

In the UK, under tax law, a small business can legally be a partnership - i.e. two people are classed as owning the business, so it isn't a Sole Trader business - but not incorporated or registered with Companies House as a limited (or otherwise) company. Therefore it's quite common for UK small business to be a Partnership but not have a Company Number.

The forms that you have to complete to add the information for EU compliance offer Partnership as an option, but then DEMANDS a Company Number. I could select Sole Trader, but then it wouldn't be true.

What can I do - it's impossible for me to truthfully complete your form, PayPal. I need you help here.

[edintourguide]

I'm having similar issues. My business partner set up as a sole trader maybe 10 or so years ago and for a while I picked up the scraps from his table. Increasingly, though, the business has migrated towards more of a partnership. I still operate as a sole trader under the business name "Bespoke Entertainments", but most of my business is representational of edinburghtourguide.com and we have a gentleman's agreement along these lines. Because customers are generally coming to me through the above website, I set up the PayPal account under an edinburghtourguide.com email so that both my partner and I can use it. To make matters slightly more complicated, my partner is in Malaysia at present and – following a series of unfortunate events – has been uncontactable.

My tax returns are in the name of "Bespoke Entertainments", though I believe my partner does file his tax returns under Edinburgh Tour Guide.

How can I make progress in my partner's absence? We are not a limited partnership, we have no formal written agreement and are not registered at Companies House.

[PayPal_david]

Hi there Lanark,

I realise that when you select partnership when providing information about your business that you are asked for a company registration number. This seems to be a technical issue and our technical team are aware of this problem.

Even though you are selecting partnership when providing the information to us, we still require information in order to verify that you are a partnership within the UK. We can accept one of the following three things:

- A partnership agreement.

- A VAT certificate (if you are VAT registered).

- Tax return documentation.

You should be able to provide this information through the Resolution Centre on your account. Once we have received this information, we should be able to resolve the issue that you are having.

I hope this helps,

David.

[Lanark]

Thanks for replying, David. The problems with the three options that you give are that a) we don't have a partnership agreement as such, because as husband and wife there was no legal partnership paperwork when the business was set up, b) we're not VAT registered and c) we get the Tax Return Paperwork in April and submit it in September (because we're not allowed to submit it electronically) so we don't have a physical copy of the partnership tax return.

[PayPal_david]

Hi again Lanark,

I understand where you are coming from but if it is a husband and wife partnership, you may not be able to provide any of the required documentation in order to have this resolved.

My best advice for you would be to change the partnership option to Individual and this would resolve the issue that you are facing on your account. 

I hope this helps,

David.

[bunglethreads]

hi , im having the same problem with not having a company number, -just me and my boyfriend set upa asmall business so aren't a registered company but are technically classed as a partnership. We do have a very simple partnership agreement- one that we made ourselves from a template off the internet - Would this be valid proof for paypal? We are also a very new company and haven't been issued with any tax returns as we only started this may but we do have letters stating our partnership UTR? if i can't use any of these documents for verification and it would be easier to change the status from partnership to sole trader- how do i do this as it stated on paypal when i updated my account info to being a partnership that i wouldn't be able to change it in the future- will paypal change the status if i ring them? ( I did actually ring paypal on 4/8/12 to inform them i didn't have a comapny number but was just told that it would be refered to a diff department and reveiwed)

any info would be great

thanks

Bunglethreads

[PayPal_Maria]

Hi bunglethreads,

Welcome to the UK Community Forum and thanks for posting!

When you contacted on Aug 4^th and advised that this was escalated, did you receive an update from our Compliance department regarding the request for a company number? Normally they come back within 24 to 72 hours to an escalation. If you are not operating a partnership in a legal or official capacity, they may require you to update to account type on PayPal to either an “Individual” or “Sole Proprietor”.

Please repost and let us know if this has now been resolved

Thanks,

Maria 

[Fitcatgirl]

I actually do have a ompany number, but Paypal say it isn't valid. My emails have gone unanswered and i have been unable to access significant funds for over a year! Tearing my hair out - any recommendations?

[PayPal_paula]

Hi Fitcatgirl, 

I do regret to hear that you have been having these issues. 

Can I ask that when you are entering your company number that you try adding a zero at the start of the number to see if that helps. 

Please let me know how you get on.

Paula