I am looking for the legal entity behind a particular business, all they give is their vat no and the name of the business. But I cannot find any information about if it is a ltd company that just trades using the public facing business name.

I have searched companies house using the business name and there is nothing, but I do have their vat no.

You can use this http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vieshome.do?selectedLanguage=EN

to verify a vat no, but for this business again the vat no info only gives the public name and not anything related to a ltd company or a sole trader.

I did pay for the goods using a credit card, do you think the payment might give me that info?

Are there any specialists who might be able to point me in the right direction???

The VAT check returns the registered name not trading name AFAIK. If there’s no entry on CH then they’re not limited so must be sole trader or partnership.

Have you got a web address so you can run a WHO IS?

duedil might help? it is a search on CH but there might be other information – especially if you know any directors details..

https://www.duedil.com/

ZILOG – whois brings back the same name, no further info.
They could well be a ltd company, ie toys19 ltd trading as Zilog is a perfectly legal thing to do. I could put a sign up on my door and a web address saying zilog, but run the entity through toys19 ltd.

Nothing on duedil either, but good link cheers

I have some names will search on them.

HMRC?
I once traced a dodgy builder down this way..

bikeybouy how?

They could well be a ltd company, ie toys19 ltd trading as Zilog is a perfectly legal thing to do. I could put a sign up on my door and a web address saying zilog, but run the entity through toys19 ltd.

Yes but the VAT number must be in their registered company name, which you’ve verified with that EU website, and if that name is not on CH then they’re not a ltd company surely?

Have they ripped you off, or is it something else? Presumably you’ve gone via your credit card company if it’s the former.

martinhutch, cc company is next move, its a big sum, I only want partial refund..

Do an experian or equifax credit search on the business name. It will show you if they have debts etc, might show directors and company secretaries and a home address.

I’m a fraud investigator so I use them all the time but I have more access than the public records so I’m not sure what it will show you but its a good place to start.

You also need to speak to your credit card company asap and register an interest with them and take their advice.