Companies House Glitch – What Directors Should Know


A recent issue with the Companies House website has raised concerns about the security of company information in the UK.

According to reporting in the Financial Times, Companies House temporarily suspended parts of its online filing service after a software glitch exposed confidential information and potentially allowed unauthorised changes to company records. 

What happened?

The problem related to the WebFiling system used to update company records.

Due to a bug in the website:

• Some non-public director information became visible
  
• It may have been possible to view or edit another company’s filing dashboard
  
• Potentially submit changes or accounts without proper authorisation.

The issue reportedly involved a technical flaw where users could manipulate the system simply by navigating backwards in their browser.  

Companies House responded by suspending the affected service while investigating the issue.

Why this matters for business owners

For most companies this is unlikely to cause any immediate problems, but it highlights an important point:

The Companies House register is largely based on trust and self-reporting.

While reforms are underway, historically it has been possible for incorrect information to appear on the register.

That means business owners should periodically check their company record.

Practical steps for directors

If you run a limited company, it is good practice to:

1. Check your Companies House record regularly

Look for:

• incorrect director details
  
• unexpected filings
  
• changes to registered address or PSC information
  
• 
  

2. Protect your authentication codes

The Companies House authentication code allows filings to be made for your company.

Treat it like a password.

3. Be alert for fraud

Watch for:

• unexpected confirmation statements or accounts
  
• Companies House emails you were not expecting
  
• notifications about changes you did not make
  

Final thought

The UK company register is one of the most open corporate databases in the world. That transparency is valuable — but it also means directors should take a proactive role in monitoring their company records.


If you would like help reviewing your company records or understanding your filing obligations, feel free to get in touch.

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