Correcting information on the company register

An error on the company register needs a correction route suited to the problem. A mistyped detail, an inconsistent document and an appointment made without permission are not the same issue. Start by identifying the exact entry and why it is wrong before submitting replacement information.

Record the error precisely

Download or note the affected filing, company number, date and document type. Compare it with the source evidence, such as an appointment decision, identity record or share transaction document. Explain what the correct information should be and how that conclusion is supported.

Preserve the original evidence. Editing an internal copy of a filed document does not change the public record, and destroying the earlier version can make the correction harder to explain.

Distinguish correction from a new event

If a director genuinely changed address yesterday, report the new address. If the address was wrong when originally filed, check the appropriate correction process. Filing a later event merely to conceal an earlier error may leave a misleading chronology.

Companies House has powers and procedures concerning inconsistent, inaccurate and improperly delivered information. The required application, replacement document or supporting evidence depends on the circumstances. Use the current registrar guidance rather than assuming every issue is resolved by the same form. ^[1]

Handle unauthorised use separately

If a company has used someone's name or address without permission, Companies House provides a dedicated reporting route. Explain the connection to the company and provide the requested evidence. The registrar may ask for further information before deciding whether details can be removed. ^[2]

A person who never consented to an appointment should not casually describe the problem as an ordinary resignation. The report should accurately explain that the underlying appointment is disputed or unauthorised.

Prepare a correction pack

• Exact company and affected filing details.
• A short factual explanation of the error.
• Reliable documents supporting the correct position.
• The current form or reporting route required.
• Contact details for follow-up questions.
• A record of submission and the resulting decision.

Check the outcome and related records

A correction at Companies House may require corresponding changes to internal records, lender information or a due diligence pack. Check what was actually removed, replaced or annotated rather than assuming the whole filing history has disappeared.

Describe the requested result precisely

A correction request should identify what you want the registrar to do and why the relevant process applies. Distinguish replacing an inaccurate document, removing unauthorised particulars and reporting a genuine later change. Asking for the entire company history to be deleted when only one appointment is disputed can obscure the issue and delay a useful response.

Use the company number and filing reference rather than relying on the company's current name alone. Where several documents repeat the same error, list each one and explain the connection. Keep a copy of the public material as it appeared when the problem was identified, together with the evidence supporting the requested correction.

Reconstruct the chronology without making assumptions

For a date error, compare the signed resolution, appointment notice and submission record. A document prepared in advance may carry a different date from the event taking effect. Establish which date has the relevant legal significance before asking for a replacement. If the evidence conflicts, state the conflict and obtain advice rather than selecting the most convenient date.

For an ownership disagreement, separate the parties' competing positions from clerical mistakes. The fact that one shareholder disagrees with a filing does not establish that an administrative correction can decide the dispute. An adviser may need the articles, transfer documents, correspondence and company register to identify the appropriate legal route.

Use a controlled response file

Keep the application, attachments and subsequent correspondence together. Record what was sent, when and through which official channel. If further evidence is requested, respond to the specific question and retain the new version. Avoid submitting several inconsistent explanations through different routes without a person coordinating the account of events.

Sensitive material should be limited to what the official process requires. Where identity misuse is suspected, verify the contact route independently before sending identification. Do not publish a passport or personal code in a general company document in an attempt to prove that an entry is wrong.

Check what the decision actually changes

After the registrar responds, compare the result with the original request. The outcome may involve an annotation, replacement or removal of particular information. It does not necessarily erase copies held by other organisations or settle every connected contractual issue. Notify relevant advisers where their records or transaction papers rely on the corrected information.

Maintain the original chronology and decision evidence internally. The company should be able to explain both the error and its resolution to a later reviewer without presenting the corrected record as proof that no error ever occurred.

For unauthorised appointments, use Removing an incorrect company appointment. Companies House filing review can help organise the company-record work, while a contested underlying legal event may require a separate professional assessment.

Where the problem concerns a contested legal event, such as director removal or share ownership, professional advice may be necessary. The register's administrative correction process should not be treated as a guaranteed substitute for resolving the underlying dispute between the parties.