CRO REFUSES TO REGISTER MY BUSINESS NAME

suey71

Hi, I want to register a business name so that I can buy a domain name for a business that I am in the process of setting up. The thing is, I will be selling some adult products online, not sleazy ones, but of an adult nature all the same. When I was filling out the neccessary forms online I was asked where would the business be operated from. I wrote down "from home". Which is where my computer is (online business). My stock will be stored in a storage facility elsewhere.

The CRO said that "given the nature of your business it would seem more appropriate that your business would be better located at a commercial premises".

What do I do?

drunkmonkey

did they refuse because of the business name?

suey71

No, just because of the adult nature of some of the products that I'll be selling online. The name was ok.

I have edited my first post and wrote down exactly what they said.

drunkmonkey

Could you not start off the business selling fancy goods or something and then change the product lines as you go..
You could also set up a virtual office, you can use company like this http://www.dublinofficecentre.ie/ but there should be a cheaper way to do it starting off...

Can you re apply and leave out the from home bit?

suey71

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Could you not start off the business selling fancy goods or something and then change the product lines as you go..
You could also set up a virtual office, you can use company like this http://www.dublinofficecentre.ie/ but there should be a cheaper way to do it starting off...

Can you re apply and leave out the from home bit?

Thanks Drunkmonkey.
Thanks for the above advice.
Would it be possible to use the address of the storage company?

Maybe I was too honest in my description of what I'll be selling.

If I put down "fancy Goods" do you think I'd get away with it?

Thanks again.

kenbrady

suey71 wrote: »

I wrote down "from home". Which is where my computer is (online business). My stock will be stored in a storage facility elsewhere.

I assume "from home" is actually "123 House, Street, Town" ie(the address)

suey71 wrote: »

The CRO said that "given the nature of your business it would seem more appropriate that your business would be better located at a commercial premises".

What do I do?

The cro has no powers in this matter, they cannot dictate where you register your business. Tell them under what act they are refusing your application and report then to the relevant ombudsman.

suey71 wrote: »

If I put down "fancy Goods" do you think I'd get away with it?

Put down toys/clothes what ever you like.

There has to be more to this than your saying

JohnK

Did you highlight the fact its an online business and that you'll never have customers on the business premises? They're probably afraid you're running a sex shop in a residential area with the stereotypical dirty old men calling at all hours. I wouldnt be surprised if thats what they're thinking.

policymaker

Hi Suey,
I can understand why the CRO is issueing caution. You are selling adult products from home, this means that people will have easy access to your home address as they can type in your business registration number and find such details. So if you are selling adult sex products etc they may be assuming you know this.

Perhaps you could set up a virtual business office or a PO Box number.

If you are sure you want to use your home address and are not concerned by people being able to access your home address, then by all means inform them, if you have time you could attend in person to their office also. Go into cro website and type in a business registration number into their search and will see what I am saying.

suey71

Thanks for all the advice.

Kenbrady, I was totally honest with my post and CRO and CORE, nothing hidden or unsaid, but I do understand where your coming from.

I will get back onto CORE and submit an ammended form, putting down Toys/clothes and see what happens.

JohnK, No I didn't put down that it was an online business and after reading the above posts I kind of understand where they were coming from when they refused my submission. Never crossed my mind that I'd have people knocking at my door looking for Adult Toys.

Thanks for all your help, I'll take everything on board.

conolan

Cannot understand why CRO would be interested in whether your business was from home or elsewhere. They register business name, company names, ensure compliance with annual returns etc.

Sorry, but something makes me wonder about whether you aren't mis-reporting. Civil servants do what they are allowed to do by regulations. They'd never put in writing something that they are not allowed to do. it's drilled into them.
Are you reporting a phone conversation?

EDIT: Eating humble pie

suey71

I am not reporting a phone conversation.

The letter I recieved was very consice, below is what it said.


My address.

Dear Sir/Madam.
The following documents are sent back for the reasons stated below;

Submission Type REGISTRATION OF BUSINESS NAME-INDIVIDUAL, for "my business name", received on 06/11/09, effected date 06/11/09 has been sent back for the following reason(s);

1 It appears that your business is located at your residential address. Given the nature of your business it would seem more appropriate that your business would be better located at a commercial premises.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL AMENDMENTS MUST BE MADE ONLINE.THE SIGNITURE PAGE MUST THEN BE REPRINTED AND SIGNED BY THE OWNER.

The enclosed documents should be amended as requested and resubmitted within 14 days.

If you have any queries in relation to this letter please contact the undersigned.

Yours sincerely

<name snipped>.



I am not misreporting anything. I am an honest guy who is trying to start up his first business. The words written above are from the letter I received, no changes.

I have since amended my application online and will submit it on Monday.

Thank you for all your advice it was much appreciated.

tombull82

Going by that I would assume they think you are going to be running a bricks and mortor SHOP from your home. Make sure to state it is an Internet business ONLY on the re-app.

antoinolachtnai

A trademark solicitor told me some years ago that the RBN people will occasionally refuse to register on legally spurious (though sometimes apparently sensible) grounds. For example, they might not let you register as the 'Coca Cola Bottling' if you appear not to be associated with the great american corporation with a similar name. This seems like a sensible reason to refuse, but it is not. The RBN confers no rights, and the CRO has no authority to refuse on this basis.

You could complain. Ultimately you could find yourself having to go to the District Court to require the clerk to register it. But that would be a total waste of time, obviously. Also, the CRO could go into Court and say that they didn't believe that you really intended to trade from that address, and that the information you had provided was false - and the judge might believe them, making it a rather expensive day out.

So the course of action suggested above is probably the best.

suey71

Thanks Antoinolachtnai.
I have sent the amended form back into the CRO so we'll see what happens next. If they refuse me again I'll get in touch with <snip> and look for a good/better explanation, and if that doesn't work then I will get a solicitor involved.
Fingers crossed.

kenbrady

suey71 wrote: »

I have sent the amended form back into the CRO

What did you amend ?

suey71

Hi Ken, I amended the section where I write my main place of business.
Origionally I put down my home address, seeing as it was an online business, but after being refused I've changed the main place of business to where they'll be stored.