In short: £150 covers customer due diligence on a UK company's directors, shareholders and people with significant control (PSCs). We verify identities and addresses, screen each person against politically exposed person (PEP) and sanctions lists, review the company's public records and ownership, and send you a documented report. Most checks are completed within 2–3 working days of receiving the documents.
What's included
- Every director and person with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House. As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) we can do it for you remotely and give you your personal code.
- Proof of address checks
- Politically exposed person (PEP) screening
- UK and international sanctions list screening
- Adverse media check
- Review of the Companies House record and filing history
- Ownership structure and PSC review
- Risk rating with reasons
- Written due diligence report (PDF)
- Record kept on file for future reference
What this service is
Due diligence means checking who you are dealing with. Under UK anti-money-laundering (AML) rules, banks, accountants, lawyers, formation agents and other regulated businesses must carry out customer due diligence — often called KYC, "know your customer" — before they work with a company. Many unregulated businesses also run these checks before signing a contract, taking on a supplier or bringing in an investor.
We carry out those checks on a company's key people and give you a report that shows what was checked, what was found and when.
Who it is for
- Companies opening a bank or payment account that have been asked for documented checks
- Businesses vetting a new partner, supplier, customer or investor
- Founders taking on a new co-director or shareholder
- Overseas owners who want a clear record of their own company's compliance
What we check
- Identity: each director, shareholder and person with significant control (PSC) is checked against official identity documents.
- Address: proof of residential address for each person.
- PEP screening: whether anyone is a politically exposed person, or a close family member or known associate of one. Being a PEP is not wrong, but it means extra checks are expected.
- Sanctions screening: against UK and other major sanctions lists.
- Adverse media: public news reports linking a person to financial crime.
- The company itself: its Companies House record, filing history, registered office and ownership chain, including any corporate shareholders.
How it works
- Order online and tell us which company and people to check.
- Each person uploads their ID and proof of address to their secure client account.
- We run the checks and contact you if anything needs explaining.
- You receive a written report with the results and a risk rating.
What you need to provide
- Company name and number (or full details if it is a non-UK company)
- A list of the directors, shareholders and PSCs to be checked
- A clear copy of each person's passport or national identity card
- A recent proof of address for each person, such as a bank statement or utility bill
How this differs from Companies House identity verification
Since November 2025, directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House and receive a personal code. That is a legal filing requirement. Our due diligence is wider: it adds PEP, sanctions and media screening and gives you a report you can show to a bank or partner. It does not replace Companies House verification — but as a Companies House ACSP, we can also complete that verification for you as a separate step.
Important limits
Our report records the checks carried out and their results at that date. It is not a legal opinion or a guarantee about a person's conduct. If you are a regulated business, you remain responsible for your own AML compliance and risk assessment.
Related services: a Certificate of Incumbency confirms a company's officers and shareholders for overseas use, and a Certificate of Good Standing confirms it is active on the register. If the checks lead to a change of officers, see Director Appointment and Resignation.
Frequently asked questions
What does AML/KYC mean?
AML stands for anti-money laundering and KYC for know your customer. Together they mean checking who you are dealing with, to prevent fraud and financial crime.
Who is checked?
The company's directors, shareholders and people with significant control. For corporate shareholders, we follow the ownership chain to the individuals behind it.
What is a PEP?
A politically exposed person holds, or has held, a prominent public role, such as a minister or senior judge. Their family and close associates are also covered. It is not a problem in itself but calls for extra checks.
Does this replace Companies House identity verification?
No. Companies House verification is a separate legal requirement for directors and PSCs. Our due diligence adds screening and a written report. As a Companies House ACSP, we can complete the Companies House verification for you too.
Will my bank accept your report?
Many banks and partners accept a documented third-party report as supporting evidence, but each makes its own decision and may run its own checks.
What do I get at the end?
A written due diligence report (PDF) listing each person checked, the documents seen, the screening results and a risk rating, dated so you can show when the checks were made.
Related services
Certificate of Incumbency
A signed certificate listing your company's directors, secretary and shareholders, for banks and partners abroad.
Certificate of Good Standing
Official Companies House certificate showing your UK company is registered and up to date with filings.
Director Appointment and Resignation
Add a new director or remove one who is leaving, with the Companies House filing and paperwork done for you.
Registered Office Address
Use our Edinburgh or central London address as your company's official registered office, with mail scanning.