Charity 'could close' due to government admin error

A charity has said it may have to close due to an error by Companies House which means it is unable to submit required annual statements.

Hailsham-based Computers for Charities (CfC) said its director Simon Rooksby's date of birth was entered incorrectly when it was registered with the government body in 2005.

Rooksby said the error had prevented the charity from filing necessary paperwork and it was "being threatened with what they call strike-offs, which is being closed down with Companies House".

The government body said in a statement: "We're sorry to hear of the troubles Simon is encountering and we'll reach out to provide the necessary support."

Rooksby said each year the charity had to file accounts and send a "confirmation statement" advising of any changes in the year.

He said a new security system had been introduced last year to verify the identity of directors, which given the incorrect date of birth, has prevented CfC from filing.

He said: "You would think to be able to resolve a typo or simple error would be easy, but I have now been trying to get this thing changed since November last year."

He said the postage costs alone of trying to verify his identity were nearing £200.

"If they are going to have to close us down as a limited company so be it. The anxiety has been phenomenal. I just feel like giving up," he said.

"I'm appealing to Companies House to please, sort it out!"

Companies House said in a statement: "We are sorry to hear of the troubles Simon is encountering, and we will reach out to provide the necessary support.

"Identity verification is a key component in making the company register more reliable and provides more assurance about who is setting up, running, owning, and controlling companies in the UK."

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