Disruption to the Royal Mail Postal Service

Post Office unions have stated that there will be no further action until the New Year.

Should further industrial action ensue that impacts on postal deliveries please be advised, that where documents are subject to statutory time limits, it is the legal responsibility of company directors to ensure that they are delivered to the Registrar on time. If it can be demonstrated that the postal strike has directly led to a late filing penalty being imposed; the Registrar will consider using discretion to not collect the penalty. Appeals should be in writing and can be e-mailed to enquiries@companies-house.gov.uk.

In view of this we would advise customers to consider taking the following precautions:

Wherever possible use our WebFiling or Software Filing Services to file your information electronically. For WebFiling, please note that a security and authentication code is required to be able to use the service. If you are not already registered please allow plenty of time in which to receive these codes. The WebFiling Service can be accessed via the home page of the Companies House website at: www.companieshouse.gov.uk.

If you are unable to file electronically then please consider using alternative methods of delivery including couriers and delivering the documents by hand.

Our offices can be found at:

• Crown Way, Cardiff CF14 3UZ
• 21 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3XD
• 4th Floor, Edinburgh Quay 2, 139 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9FF
• Waterfront Plaza, 8 Laganbank Road, Belfast BT1 3BS

If you have concerns that you will be unable to meet the filing deadline for a company’s accounts, please contact us on 0303 1234 500 for advice. Although we can consider extending the filing time in exceptional circumstances, any extension request must be received by the filing deadline. It cannot be considered after the deadline. Please note that a decision on granting an extension cannot be given verbally via a telephone call. All decisions will be provided in writing; whenever possible, by email.

If we are provided with any further information regarding the disruption to the postal service we will issue updates via our website.

Companies House
November 2009