General Terms & Conditions

1. General Terms and Conditions

Please read the following General Terms and conditions very carefully as they affect your use of the Website and your rights. We are 1st Advisory Ltd, our Registered Office is located at 13 Freeland Park, Poole, BH16 6FH, United Kingdom, UK Company number 12785570. Your engagement of our services and/or use of our website constitutes a binding contract between you and Us, governed by these General Terms & Conditions.

 

1.1 Your use of the Website

A. Your use of the Website, and all sub pages located within it, is subject to these General terms and Conditions together with any more specific terms we may draw your attention to before you purchase any products from the Website or from Us.

 

1.2 Definitions

The following definitions apply:

A. "Consumer" shall have the meaning ascribed in section 12 of the Unfair contract Terms Act 1977.

B. "General Terms and Conditions" means these terms and conditions

C. "Specific Terms and Conditions" means the Specific terms and conditions tailored to cover any product or service that you may purchase through the Website, and which take priority over these General Terms and Conditions to the extent of any conflict between them.

D. "Web site" "Website" or "Site" means the website you are browsing when you clicked on a link to these General Terms and Conditions, including all subsidiary pages.

E. "we" or "us" or "ourselves" refers to the organisation whose name is identified to you on the Website. Please note that because these General Terms and Conditions apply from time to time to more than one Web Site, references to "We" or "Us" in there General Terms and Conditions means the company, partnership, or other organisation that is identified on the home page of the Web Site you were browsing when you were referred to these General Terms and Conditions.

F. "Within 24 hours" or a "24 hour service" means the service will be delivered no more than 1 working day after purchase and submission of all required information. If purchased on a Friday or the day before a UK public holiday, the service will be delivered on the next available working day.

 

1.3 Information Contained on the Website

A. While we take all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained on the Website is accurate and up to date, we make no representations, warranties or undertakings about any of the information content or materials provided on the Website (including, without limitation, any as to quality, accuracy, completeness or reliability).

B. All material on the Website is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, accounting or other professional advice, and it must therefore not be relied upon as such. You should arrange your own advice from a qualified party before acting in reliance on any of the information, or purchasing any of the products or services, available on or from the Web Site.

 

1.4 Updates and Changes

A. The Website is being updated and improved on an ongoing basis. We reserve the right to change or remove (temporarily or permanently) the Website or any part of it without notice and you confirm that we shall not be liable to you for any such change or removal; and

B. Changes to these General Terms and Conditions or to the Specific Terms and Conditions shown below may be made at any time and your use of the Website, or the purchase of products or services, are subject to any such changes. You agree to check to see if any changes have been made to the General or the relevant Specific terms each time you visit the Website or purchase products or services from it.

C. You, the consumer, are responsible for providing and ensuring all information provided is accurate and the postal address on your account is correct. We accept no liability where incorrect spellings, dates, officer information or postal address has been provided or failed to be updated.

 

1.5 Exclusion of liability to you from the use of the Web Site

A. The Website [also "web site"] is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.

B. Any and all liability to you that may arise from your access to, and use of, the Web Site (whether due to negligence, breach of duty or otherwise), is excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law.

C. No warranty is given that the functionality of the Website will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected or that the Web Site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or anything else which may be harmful or destructive.

D. We are not responsible for the content of other Websites that link to the Website, nor are we responsible for the content of any Website to which links are provided from the Website. Links to other sites are provided purely for your convenience and do not imply that we approve of those sites.

E. Nothing in these General Terms and Conditions shall be construed so as to exclude or limit the liability of ourselves for death or personal injury as a result of our negligence or that of its employees or agents.

 

1.6 Copyright and trade marks (Intellectual Property)

A. The copyright in all materials on the Website, including their design, layout, text, graphics, photographs and the source code and software belong to their respective owners. Trade marks (whether registered or not), company names and the like are the property of their respective owners.

B. You are licensed to view and temporarily store Website pages and their content in your browser’s temporary cache, and also to print out for reference a single copy for non-commercial purposes and off-line review. You may not sell or re-sell anything available from the Website, save to the extent expressly permitted pursuant to any product or service purchased by you from the Web Site where such permission is either expressly given or is a necessary attribute of the product or service concerned.

 

1.7 Force Majeure –supply of goods or services ordered through the Website

A. In connection with the supply of any goods or services ordered by you through the Website, we shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of our obligations if the delay or failure results from events or circumstances outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to; acts of God, strikes, lock outs, accidents, war, fire, epidemy, pandemic, or failure of any communications, telecommunications or computer system. We shall be entitled to a reasonable extension of our obligations to you (to the extent we owe any such obligations) should a force Majeure event occur.

B. If a Force Majeure event to which this clause applies shall occur, we agree to notify you as soon as practicable. If the Force Majeure event continues for more than 14 days, either party shall have the right to cancel the agreement and where services have been paid for in advance but have not been rendered, you will be entitled to a refund from the date of cancellation for all such services.

 

1.8 Username and password

If our Website provides the facility to register in order to gain enhanced access privileges and to purchase products or services, and if you choose to register with us, it is your responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of your account details. On no account should you disclose your password to anyone else. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless for any loss or damage we may incur resulting from breach of this clause.

 

1.9 Data Protection

A. We take our obligations of confidentiality and the protection of your personal data very seriously. We will not, therefore, sell or make your data available to any third party without your prior consent, except for the following limited purposes:

Records of personal data obtained for the purposes of the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing are processed and kept in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and shall not be further processed in a way that is incompatible with those purposes. The Money Laundering Regulation (MLR) also gives various governmental or regulatory authorities (such as the HMRC, FCA and the NCA) rights to request access to such information and other relevant records for inspection. By accepting these terms and conditions you give consent to the disclosure of this information.

B. You may amend any information provided to us as part of registration on the Website at any time.

C. Please review our Privacy Policy in full, which explains how we treat your personal information and protect your privacy.

 

1.10 Cookies

Cookies are small data files that are stored locally on your computer and which enable us to tailor your experience in using our Website. Accounts and password information may be stored in cookies. The Website uses cookies, and you are deemed to consent to the use of cookies by using the Website. You can turn off the use of cookies in your Web browser. Please consult the help files for your browser for more information.

 

1.11 Terminating the use of the Website

We reserve the right to withdraw or suspend your right to access or use our Website at any time, without prior notice and without providing reason for doing so.

 

1.12 Waiver

No waiver by us (whether express or implied) in enforcing any of our rights shall prejudice our right to enforce such rights in the future

 

1.13 General

A. If any provision of these General terms and Conditions is held to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severed and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected

B. In the event of there being any conflict between these General Terms and Conditions and the Specific Terms and Conditions that apply specifically to the purchase of certain goods or services through the Website, the Specific Terms and Conditions shall prevail.

C. No person who is not a direct party to any agreement covered by these General Terms and conditions shall have any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of the Agreement.

D. Where you are a consumer, you have the right to cancel a contract for the provision of goods or services, by notice in writing, at any time before 14 days have passed from the day after the contract was made. If, however, we have started to perform our side of the contract before you exercise your right to cancel, then the right to cancel is lost.

E. 1st Advisory is responsible for referral fees from certain partners where lead information generates new business for those partners. 1st Advisory is not responsible for terms and conditions of our partners where lead information results in a contract between you and those partners.

 

1.14 Notices

A. This clause applies where these General Terms and Conditions or the Specific Terms and Conditions provide expressly or by implication for the service of notices.

B. Any notice required to be given under our Agreement with you or in connection with the matters contemplated by it shall, except where otherwise specifically provided, be in writing in the English language.

C. Any such notice shall be addressed to the usual business address of the other party and may be:

Personally delivered; in which case it shall be deemed to have been given upon delivery at the relevant address if it is delivered not later than 17.00 hours on a Business Day, or, if it is delivered later than 17.00 hours on a Business Day or at any time on a day which is not a Business Day, at 08.00 hours on the next Business Day; or

If within the United Kingdom, sent by first class pre-paid post, in which case it shall be deemed to have been given two Business Days after the date of posting; or

If from or to any place outside the United Kingdom, sent by pre-paid airmail, or by air courier in which case it shall be deemed to have been given seven Business Days after the date of posting in the case of airmail or two Business Days after delivery to the courier, in the case of air courier; or

Sent by facsimile, in which case it shall be deemed to have been given when despatched, subject to confirmation of uninterrupted transmission by a transmission report provided that any notice despatched by facsimile after 17.00 hours on any Business Day or at any time on a day which is not a Business Day shall be deemed to have been given at 08.00 on the next Business Day; or

Sent by electronic mail, in which case, it shall be deemed to be given when sent to an email address that was previously successfully used for mutual email  correspondence between you and 1st Advisory, but subject to the same provisions regarding receipt after 17.00 hours as apply to notices sent by Facsimile.

D. In all cases, notices shall be deemed to be given when received.

 

1.15 Governing law and Jurisdiction

A. Your use of the Website and the purchase of any products or services from it are governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

B. The English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute or difference whatsoever arising out of or in connection with your use of the web site or the purchase of any products or services from it.

 

2. Specific Terms and Conditions

 

2.1 Specific Terms and Conditions incorporation into General Terms and Conditions

These Specific General Terms and Conditions must be read together with the General Terms and Conditions above. The General Terms and conditions apply to any agreement between us and to your use of the Website generally, including for the avoidance of doubt, Clause 1.15, the jurisdiction and governing law clause.

 

2.2 Definitions

A. "1stAdvisory", "we", "us" or "ourselves" means 1st Advisory Ltd. The Registered Office is located at 13 Freeland Park, Poole, BH16 6FH, United Kingdom, UK Company number 12785570.

B. "FAQ’s" mean Frequently Asked Questions for 1stadvisory.com accessed here: support.1stadvisory.com.

C. "Account credit" can be purchased by the customer or added to the customer's account by 1stAdvisory. If added by 1stAdvisory it could be part of a special offer/incentive or selected as an alternative to a refund or cashback. Account credit can be used as an alternative payment method for purchase of any 1stAdvisory product or service.

D. “Secure payment token” consists of a random set of characters that replace sensitive payment information such as credit card numbers. This is to replace actual card information being stored, if applicable.

 

2.3 Ordering through Website

A. All orders that you place through this Website are deemed to be an offer by you to purchase the products or services that we supply subject to these Terms and are subject to acceptance of the order by ourselves. We may choose not to accept any order without providing a reason.

B. You can be presented with a range of choices during the ordering process. It is your responsibility to ensure that you read and understand these choices before you proceed with any purchase. Please contact us during usual UK office hours if you are unsure about anything before you proceed with a purchase (please note that while we endeavour to respond to enquiries promptly, we cannot guarantee to do so. It remains your responsibility to take advice about the product you intend to order before the order is placed)

 

2.4 Service Updates and Changes

A. Service Modifications: We reserve the right to update, amend, or change any product or service provided, including functionality, pricing, or features, at any time. This may be done to maintain, improve, or expand the service offering or to comply with new requirements or legislation from any UK Governing body. Any such significant updates or changes will be communicated in advance through our website or by email. Your continued use of our services following this notification will constitute your acceptance of the changes.

B. Free Trials: From time to time, we may introduce a free trial of a new or related service that complements an existing active service plan or subscription. These trials may be automatically applied to your account without the need for an explicit opt-in, provided they are associated with a service you are already subscribed to.

C. Trial Communication and Cancellation Rights: Full details of any free trial will be clearly communicated to you by email before the trial begins. This communication will include the timeframe, features, renewal terms (if applicable), associated costs, next steps, and cancellation process. Crucially, you will always be given a reasonable timeframe to review the changes and will retain the right to cancel or unsubscribe from the trial or any subsequent paid renewal at any time through your account or by contacting our support team.

 

2.5 What you receive

A. 1stAdvisory are specialist CEO-as-a-service agents, that provide outsourced CFO, controller, and other senior financial positions. We also make use of electronic filing facilities available from the Registrar of Companies, from the HMRC, and from other UK Government bodies.

B. Provided you have complied with the formalities necessary to retain services from us (as explained in more detail in the FAQ’s) and our our SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) service or Delegated representative for HMRC service, the Registrar of Companies, HMRC, and other UK Government bodies will generally complete the update of their records within approximately 24 hours during normal operating times. However, we have no control over this process, which may take longer.

C. If you order from us an incorporation of a company, then upon successful incorporation at Companies House, you will also receive the contents of your purchased package; including your company incorporation documents.

D. In addition to the formation of the company and company documents described above, you may optionally order through our Website additional products (prior or post company formation) which may include, but are not limited to:

Address Assistance services;

Confirmation Statements;

Annual Accounts Filing Services;

Seals, Stamps and Statutory Company Registers Service;

VAT/ PAYE Registration;

VAT/ PAYE Filing Service;

Mail Scanning & Forwarding Services.

 

2.6 Conditions for use of our Address Assistance service

By purchasing our Address Assistance service (or a package which has this service included) you will be provided the right to use our registered business address as your Registered Office address and your company officer or officers’ correspondence (or service) address. For details about the use and functions of our Address Assistance services, see section 3.

 

2.7 Conditions for use of our Mail Forwarding service

A. By purchasing our Mail Forwarding service you will gain the right to use our address as your Registered Office address and/or your company officers’ correspondence address, also known as Service Address. The actual address may be provided by one of our subcontractors or through a referral service to a third-party address provider.

B. The Mail Forwarding service will not be activated until the necessary ID checks are completed.

C. By signing up for our Mail Forwarding service, you automatically opt-in to our digital mailbox system. This means both statutory and business mail, excluding promotional items received at our address will be securely opened, scanned, and stored in your online mail & scans handling account via your dedicated "Company Inbox."

D. Letters received must be addressed to the limited company name as registered at Companies House to ensure the safe processing of your mail.

E. The Mail Forwarding service is renewed on a monthly or annual basis and will continue until terminated.

F. A single purchase of the Mail Forwarding service entitles the use of the address for one company and its officers. If the address is required for multiple companies, a separate service must be purchased for each. We cannot accept mail in a company’s trading name if the trading name does not match the name registered with Companies House.

G. Upon purchase of the Mail Forwarding service, you will have the choice of how we process letters and parcels received at our office address. You will have the option to select additionally to scanning whether original items are to be collected or forwarded from our offices.

H. Mail Handling Preferences: Mail and parcel handling preferences (e.g., forwarding or collection) must be specified in advance via your account in your Company Inbox settings.

I. See section 3.2.3 for information on how 1stAdvisory handles received letters and parcels.

J. See section 3.3.2 for information on handling and additional charges that may apply.

K. Please refer to Section 3 for a detailed outline of the mutual responsibilities between you (the customer) and our company regarding mail handling and the provision of services.

L. You may terminate your Mail Forwarding service at any time.

 

2.8 Services not included in product purchased by you from us online

A. Our products do not include any of the following in respect of any of the packages we offer for sale online: Accountancy services, Advisory services, Financial and Tax Advice, Auditing of your books, Any advice on the suitability or adequacy of any company you may purchase from us for your intended purposes, or other services not expressly mentioned. Provision of these services is contingent upon the execution of a formal Engagement Letter between you and Us, and receipt of an appropriate retainer. Please note that packages that include maintenance of the Statutory Books of the company do not include any of these services. You will need to arrange these separately.

B. You are strongly advised to seek independent advice before you purchase any services from us. We assume that you have done so. If you have not yet taken such advice, please do not proceed with any purchase until you have done so.

C. The purchase of any service from Us, including but not limited to our Address Assistance services (including Registered Office Address, Service Address and/or Mail Forwarding Address) does not entitle the customer to list the address as a physical location on Google Maps, Google My Business or any other similar tool used for advertising a physical location.

D. The purchase of any Address Assistance, including but not limited to our Delegated Representative for the HMRC, Registered Office Address, Service Address, SAIL address and/or Mail Forwarding Address does not entitle the customer to register any motor vehicle at our address with the DVLA. We will not be held liable for any penalty charge notices issued to a vehicle registered at our address.

 

2.9 Price of goods and Services

A. The price for any goods or services that you purchase from us is as set out under the option you select from our website and unless otherwise stated, all prices exclude VAT at the prevailing British rate.

B. The total purchase price, including VAT (if any) will be displayed in your shopping cart prior to confirming the order.

C. We reserve the right periodically to update the prices on the Website and to add to, amend, or withdraw the products and services that we offer, without prior notice. Every effort is made to ensure that the prices are correct, but in the event of serious error, any transaction shall be voidable by us and you would then be entitled to a full refund.

D. We shall not be liable to anyone for withdrawing or amending any of the products we sell, or for refusing or failing to process an order.

 

2.10 Renewals of Address Assistance services

A. Address Assistance Services (Delegated representative for HMRC, Registered Office, Service Address, SAIL Address) automatically renew every year on the anniversary of the purchase date. Payment is due unless the service is cancelled at least 24 hours before the renewal date.

B. If you choose to pay for the Address Assistance monthly, these will consist of 12 monthly instalments which will renew automatically for another 12 monthly instalments unless otherwise cancelled.

C. Address Assistance services can be cancelled at any time. The records of your Registered Office Address, SAIL Address and/or Service Address will need to be updated at Companies House before the service can be cancelled. Your obligation to pay for the Address Assistance continues without interruption until all purchased Address Assistance records have been removed by the UK Government registries.

D. See section 3.3 for more details on Address Assistance payments.

 

2.11 Refund Policy

A. If you purchase our bundled, pre-packed or pre-paid services and change your mind within 14 days (and before submission of the record change to UK Government bodies), we will refund all monies paid to us, minus card processing & ID verification fees (where applicable). Refunds cannot be given once the filings have been submitted.

B. Address Assistance service orders: See section 3.5.3

C. Other products and services will be refunded minus card processing fees where applicable and minus the value of the service that is provided up to the point you cancel provided we are notified within 14 days of the purchase taking place.

D. No refunds are available in respect of parts of a package or bundled service.

E. Any account credit over £20 purchased by the customer (ie. not part of a special offer or incentive) is eligible for a refund if requested within 30 days of purchase. Account credit expires after an account is inactive for 12 months.

F. All refunds must be requested via the 1st Advisory Refund Request Form.

 

2.12 Proof of Identity

A. As a duly authorised and licensed UK professional company, we are legally obliged to comply with the following laws and regulations designed to combat money laundering, terrorist, and proliferation financing.:

Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017)

London Local Authorities Act 2007 - Section 75

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

 

B. Customers who purchase any of our Services must provide valid photo ID and proof of address in accordance with the legislations named above in section A.

C. Provision of our services is subject to receipt of this information. Customers who purchase our service package must provide valid photo ID and proof of address for the account holder, company director and person with significant control in accordance with the legislations named above in section A.

D. Provision of Address Assistance services are subject to receipt of this information. See Section 3.4.2 for more information.

 

2.13 Ready Made Companies

A. Customers who purchase a Shelf Company (also known as a Ready Made Company) from us must provide valid photo ID and proof of address for the account holder, company director and person with significant control in accordance with legislation.

B. You should not use or trade with the Shelf Company name in any way until the ownership has been transferred over to you.

C. Once the Shelf company has been transferred over, the customer is responsible for all filing obligations, such as confirmation statements, accounts and corporate tax - with immediate effect.

D. The filing of the confirmation statement to register the transfer of shares should be done at the appropriate time by the new owners of the company unless the services are otherwise included in a package offer.

E. Ownership details and ID must be returned within 14 days of the purchase taking place. Should the conditions not be met within 14 days of your order we reserve the right to cancel the order and make the company available for sale to the public. Any possible refunds or partial refunds will be at our discretion.

 

2.14 Continuous Payment Authorisation

A. Your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions means you are granting us continuous payment authority of the card used to purchase the original service, or an alternative one, if supplied, using the “secure payment token” for the following:

Renewable services - fees due will be processed on the card originally used to purchase the service, or an alternative, if supplied on the date of expiry. Notice will always be given in advance of the expiry date of our intention to take payment, and you will have the right to cancel the service.

Subscription services - the cost of subscription will be taken on the card used to purchase the service, or an alternative if supplied but will be processed automatically on a monthly basis.

B. Your total price will include the price of the product plus any applicable VAT in effect on the day of purchase.

 

3. Address Assistance Agreement

3.1 General Terms of Agreement

3.1.1 Agreement

A. Subject to you observing these Terms of Agreement, we agree to provide you with an Address Assistance services, such as the Registered Office, Service Address, SAIL service, or delegated HMRC service, for the term, at the premises specified in the agreement, upon receipt of the payment.

B. Our contract with you is made up of these Conditions and the General Terms and Conditions of 1stAdvisory. These Conditions shall prevail notwithstanding any conflict with the terms and conditions of any order or contract in respect of the mailbox service or any other services we provide.

 

3.1.2 Definitions

 

1stAdvisory: Service provider of the Address Assistance services.

Account Holder: the owner of our client account and recipient of our communications.

Address: 1st Advisory Ltd. 13 Freeland Park, Poole, BH16 6FH, United Kingdom

Address Assistance Services: Delegated representative for HMRC, Registered Address, Service Address, SAIL Address service, and other similar services rendered by 1stAdvisory.

Business Day: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England.

Business Mail: General business mail addressed to the company excl. leaflets, magazines and other promotional items.

Charges: the charges payable by the Customer for the supply of the Services in accordance with clause 3.2.

Customer: The person/s purchasing our services and agreeing to our terms of service.

Delegated representative for HMRC: individual or business, such as a chartered accountant whom a taxpayer formally authorises to act on their behalf in dealing with their tax affairs.

Director: A person, or company, that runs and makes important decisions for the company.

Letters: any item of post received in an envelope that would fit through a standard letterbox.

Mail Forwarding Service: Handling and forwarding of mail received at the Registered Office Address according to the selected tier.

Mailbox Tiers: Service levels that define the scope of mail handling and forwarding.

Parcels or Packages: any item that is not considered a letter.

PSC: A PSC (Person with Significant Control) is someone who owns or controls a company.

Registered Office Address: The address provided for use as the company’s official Registered Office address with Companies House.

SAIL Address: Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) is an address a company can provide to Companies House for the public inspection of its statutory records, instead of keeping them at its registered office.

Service Address: The address provided for use as the company officer’s correspondence address with Companies House.

Secure Payment Token: consists of a random set of characters that replace sensitive payment information such as credit card numbers. This is to replace actual card information being stored.

Statutory Mail: Letters from an official UK Government body.

"We" or "Us" or "Ourselves": refers to 1st Advisory Ltd, the service provider.

Website: the website of 1st Advisory Ltd, www.1stadvisory.com.

"You” or “Your”: the person taking out the agreement and any additional individuals authorised by you to collect post from the premises (if applicable).

 

3.1.3 Force Majeure

A. In connection with the supply of the Registered Office service ordered by you through the Website, we shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of our obligations if the delay or failure results from events or circumstances outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to; acts of God, strikes, lockouts, accidents, war, fire, epidemy, pandemic, or failure of any communications, telecommunications or computer system. We shall be entitled to a reasonable extension of our obligations to you (to the extent we owe any such obligations) should a force Majeure event occur.

B. If a Force Majeure event to which this clause applies shall occur, we agree to notify you as soon as practicable. If the Force Majeure event continues for more than 14 days, either party shall have the right to cancel the agreement and where services have been paid for in advance but have not been rendered, you will be entitled to a refund from the date of cancellation.

 

3.2 Provision of Service

3.2.1 Conditions for use of our Registered Office address, Service Address and SAIL Single Alternative Inspection Location address service (hereinafter referred to as Address Assistance)

A. By purchasing our Registered Office address service, or a package that includes this service, you will gain our limited license to use our address as your Registered Office address and/or your company officers’ correspondence address, also known as Service Address. By purchasing our SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) address service, or a package that includes this service, you will gain our license to use our address as your SAIL address and/or your company officers’ statutory mail correspondence address for the purposes of correspondence with the UK Government bodies, including the HMRC.

B. The Address Assistance service will not be activated until the necessary ID checks are completed.

C. By signing up for our Address Assistance you automatically opt-in to our digital mailbox system. This means both statutory and business mail, excluding promotional items received at our address will be securely opened, scanned, and stored in your online repository of scanned incoming mail via your "Company Inbox." The handling of your mail will depend on the mailbox tier you have selected, see clause 3.2.2.

D. All letters and parcels received must be addressed to your company name exactly as registered at Companies House to ensure correct processing of your mail.

E. The Address Assistance service carries a 12-month term, payable in monthly instalments or annually. The 12-month term will continue automatically unless terminated, see clause 5.1.

F. A single purchase of the Address Assistance entitles the use of the address for one company and its officers for the purpose defined in your service agreement. If the same address is required for multiple companies, a separate Address Assistance service must be purchased for each. We cannot accept mail in a company’s trading name if the trading name does not match the name registered with Companies House.

G. The Address Assistance always includes the receipt of statutory mail issued by UK Government bodies addressed to the company, but SAIL and delegated HMRC service must be purchased sperately. Notifications will also be sent for general business mail received under the company’s name. Mail processing, forwarding, or storage will be conducted in accordance with the selected mailbox tier, see clause 3.2.2.

 

3.2.2 Digital Mailbox

A. The Digital Mailbox included within the Registered Office service offers several tiers. Refer to our promotional materials and website for details.

C. One mailbox tier will always be selected when a Registered Office service is active. The basic option, also known as the "Lite" Address Assistance service, is a free option using a pay-as-you-go model. Higher tiers require an additional charge unless included as part of a package or special offer.

D. If your Address Service becomes inactive, cancelled, or unpaid, at any time, the mailbox will cease to function and no items will be able to be processed or released until you bring your client account back to good standing.

 

3.2.3 Letter and Parcel Handling

A. Upon purchasing the Address Assistance service, you authorise 1st Advisory Ltd, its agents and subcontractors to act on behalf of your company in sorting, logging, and distributing mail received at our address.

B. We reserve the right to open any items received on our premises in delivering the Address Assistance service.

C. All business mail will be scanned and stored for 90 days, accessible via your online Company Inbox. Items older than 90 days will be securely removed for security purposes. Items that we cannot scan include, but are not limited to:

Items greater than A4 in size.

Magazines, books and other thick/ large documents.

Chequebooks and bank cards.

D. Notifications with links to scanned mail will be sent to the account holder. If the required Address Assistance service is not active, you will be redirected to a payment page. Upon successful payment, the mail will be released.

E. Physical mail will be held for a period that is defined in your Address Assistance contract before being returned to the sender or securely destroyed unless otherwise specified in your handling preferences.

F. Letters and parcels selected for collection will be held for a period that is defined in your Address Assistance contract. Items uncollected after the expiry of the period that is defined in your Address Assistance contract will be securely destroyed. A storage charge applies for collection items, see clause 3.3.2.

G. Mail forwarding is processed within 1 working day and charged based on the current Royal Mail fee plus a handling fee per item processed, unless included in your mailbox tier, see clause 3.3.2.

H. Parcels, courier mail, and served notices will only be accepted and processed if:

The parcel is addressed to the official company name registered at Companies House.

The parcel weighs no more than 2kg and does not exceed "shoebox" dimensions (30cm x 20cm x 10cm approx.).

You have an active Account Assistance service plan in good standing with 1stAdvisory, that covers handling of parcels.

I. 1stAdvisory may occasionally forward items deemed "important" at our discretion, regardless of specified preferences. Such items may include bank cards, cheques, or certificates, and related charges will apply.

J. We reserve the right to withhold from forwarding and/or to pass to any relevant authority any mail delivered to you, without notice to you, provided we are required to do so by law or regulation.

K. We reserve the right for any letters or parcels received whilst the relevant service/s are inactive, postponed, or unpaid, may be returned to sender or securely destroyed.

L. Envelopes will be securely removed at the time of processing. Letters forwarded will not contain the original envelope.

 

3.2.4 Supply of Services

A. 1st Advisory will supply the services as per the purchased package, bundle, or service. We reserve the right to update, amend, or remove services if required by regulatory or legal changes. Customers will be informed of any such updates.

B. By purchasing an address service, you authorise us to receive, sort, and forward mail on your behalf. We are not responsible for items once they leave our premises.

 

3.2.5 Fair Usage Policy For Address Assistance Service

Fair usage is capped at 600 scanned items annually or 50 items monthly. Exceeding this cap will prompt a review and may result in additional charges or service adjustments.

 

3.3 Payments

3.3.1 Payments for 12-month Service plans

A. The 12-month Service plans are payable beforehand for an annual term but may be paid in monthly instalments with a 12-month commitment.

B. You must provide valid credit or debit card details or set up a direct debit for the duration of the Service. Notifications of the payment amount will be sent to your registered email address before each payment due date.

C. If any payments are outstanding, we reserve the right to place a lien on received items until payment is made. Late payments may incur additional fees (see clause 3.3.2).

D. If a payment remains outstanding for 28 days, we will initiate credit control procedures. The company could face serious legal consequences if not resolved promptly.

E. If you are notified that a Companies House RP07 dispute form has been filed against you for improper use of our Address Service, please contact us to discuss next steps or potential resolutions.

F. If we fail to collect payment for the monthly subscription to our top tier Address Assistance services, your service will automatically downgrade to the basic Lite package. Charges will still apply. If you require a higher ties Address Assistance service package which includes greater support options, an upgrade must be purchased.

G. 1st Advisory reserves the right to increase the charges for 12-month plans on an annual basis with effect from each anniversary of the commencement of Service.

 

3.3.2 Payments for non-recurring service contracts

A. Definition and Scope: A Non-recurring service contract represents a single, discrete provision of services, explicitly defined in an Engagement Letter between you and 1st Advisory. This service is separate and distinct from any ongoing relationship. Its scope is limited and specific, focusing exclusively on the particular defined work outlined in the Engagement Letter.

B. Payment terms: Payment for a non-recurring service contract is typically required in full and in advance. If you have established credit within the UK, payment may be arranged through monthly installments. Regardless of the schedule, a full commitment to the entire scope of work, as defined in the Engagement Letter, is mandatory. Opting for monthly installments requires the submission of a retainer, the amount of which will be specified in the Engagement Letter.

C. Retainer: The Retainer is a fee you pay in advance to 1st Advisory. Its purpose is to secure or reserve 1st Advisory's services for your benefit when required. Retainer is held by 1st Advisory throughout the service period, is used as a security and is applied to the last installment or the final balance due after the scope of work is complete.

 

3.3.3 Handling Charges

A. By agreeing to this service agreement, you authorise us to charge your stored secure payment method for applicable fees, including but not limited to forwarding charges, handling fees, storage charges, exceeding allocated limits within your purchased Address Assistance, and late payment fees.

B. Handling charges apply in the following scenarios:

Exceeding the allocated scan or post limit.

Items that cannot be scanned will be forwarded to the customer’s registered address, with associated costs.

Items posted or collected from our address outside the scope of included tier options.

 

3.3.4 Continuous Payment Authorisation

A. By accepting this service agreement, you grant us continuous payment authority for the card used at the time of purchase (or an alternative card if subsequently provided). Payments will be processed as follows:

B. For the Address Assistance services, fees will be charged on the expiry date of the current term. Notice will be given before the expiry date, and you may cancel the service at any time. If paying in instalments, recurring payments will be processed automatically.

C. For other services, the subscription cost will be charged upon expiry of the current monthly term until cancellation.

D. Your total price will include the product price plus any applicable VAT at the rate in effect on the purchase date.

 

3.4 Customer Compliance regarding Address Assistance services

3.4.1 Customer Responsibilities

A. You may use our Address Assistance services at Companies House and HMRC, provided that you comply with Companies House and HMRC requirements and pay us a recurring fee for each company registered.

B. It is your responsibility to ensure the correct address for the company is listed at Companies House for the Registered Office, Service Addresses, SAIL Address, and HMRC records. Additionally, you must ensure the correct physical address is provided in your account to enable safe delivery of forwarded items. 1st Advisory will not be held liable for non-delivery of items due to incorrect address details supplied by you.

C. You agree not to use the mail forwarding service for the receipt or forwarding of prohibited or illegal items, including but not limited to contraband, hazardous materials, or any items restricted by UK postal regulations that may pose a danger to you, our staff, or others.

D. You must comply with all UK postal laws and regulations.

E. The use of our address does not entitle you to list it as a physical location on Google Maps, Google My Business, or any similar tool used to advertise a physical location.

F. You must not give the false impression that our Address Assistance location is your actual office or trading location, nor indicate that you are physically situated at our address.

G. It is your responsibility to ensure the full company name (as registered with Companies House) is included on all mail received at our office to guarantee its safe processing and delivery.

H. We will endeavour to ensure that parcels are handled with consideration; however, we cannot offer guarantees or compensation for items which may be damaged in transit.

I. Upon Cancellation, the Customer shall forthwith notify Companies House, HMRC and any other relevant authority (the Relevant Authority) that it no longer operates from the Address within 5 Business Days of termination.

 

3.4.2 Identification Verification

A. We are legally obliged to comply with the following laws and regulations to combat money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing:

 

Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017)

London Local Authorities Act 2007 - Section 75

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

 

B. To activate your Address Assistance service, you must provide a valid photo ID and proof of address as required by relevant regulations. We will conduct a background check using this documentation and reserve the right to decline providing Address Assistance services without further explanation, even if all requested documentation has been submitted.

C. Customers who purchase Address Assistance service (or a package including this service) must provide valid photo ID and proof of address for the account holder, company director(s), and any persons with significant control (PSC).

D. 1st Advisory reserves the right to disclose this information if requested by an appropriate authority or required for legal proceedings.

E. If identification checks for all relevant parties have been completed and remain valid, further checks will not be required upon service renewal. However, you must notify us immediately if any information changes, as additional checks may be required in accordance with UK regulations. Furthermore, if the identification checks for any relevant party were completed more than two years ago, we reserve the right to request a full re-verification, at our discretion.

F. The provision of address services is subject to receipt of valid identification. Failure to provide valid photo ID and proof of address when requested will result in termination of the service. In such cases, we will apply to remove our address as your Registered Office address at Companies House via an RP07 form. We reserve the right to levy an administration fee for verifying ID and processing service termination.

 

3.5 Termination of Services

3.5.1 Cancellation - Address Assistance Services

A. You may terminate your Address Assistance service at any time. Your public record, including the Registered Office Address, SAIL address and/or Service Address must be updated in the registries of UK Government bodies before the service can be cancelled.

B. If the Address Assistance service is terminated, any further items received at our address will not be released unless the service is reactivated within 28 days.

C. If the Address Assistance service is cancelled before the end of the 12-month period and you are paying via instalments, the remainder of the balance will be due upon cancellation.

D. Following termination of the service, the Customer is prohibited from using the address provided via Address Assistance. The Customer is obligated to remove all references to the Address from any public record, marketing material, stationery, websites, or similar resources forthwith, and in any event, no later than five (5) business days following the date of termination.

3.5.2 Notice of Cancellation

Notice of cancellation must be provided in writing at least seven (7) days prior to the service renewal date. Any notice received after this deadline will result in the immediate liability for the next period’s full payment, which includes the following month’s payment or, if applicable, the entirety of the next twelve (12) monthly payments.

 

3.5.3 Refunds

A. If you purchase or renew an Address Assistance service, the following refund conditions apply:

(i) If your order has not been processed and we are contacted within 14 days of purchase, you will be entitled to a full refund, minus card processing fees where applicable.

(ii) If you request a refund within fourteen (14) days of purchase, and the address provided via Address Assistance is still actively in use (e.g., listed on the public register of your company at Companies House), you must first change all your records with UK Government bodies (including the Registered Office and Service Address for all officers) to an address that is substantially different from the address provided via Address Assistance to qualify for the refund.

(iii) If 14 days have elapsed, no refund will apply as the service will be deemed in use.

(iv)  Refunds will not be granted unless the service is cancelled. Cancellation requires the Registered Office and officer Service Address to be updated to an address other than the address provided via Address Assistance.

A.5 Refunds are not possible if 14 days have elapsed from the start of the annual term. For instalment payments, the balance for the remainder of the year will be due upon cancellation.

 

3.5.4 Breach of Contract

A. If you breach any of the terms or conditions of this service agreement, we reserve the right to terminate your service(s) with immediate effect.

B. 1st Advisory retains the right to cancel an Address Assistance service with immediate effect if your actions are deemed to pose a risk to our reputation and/or business operations. In such cases, we may file a dispute with Companies House using Form RP07 unless the customer rectifies the issue after receiving a written warning (via electronic or postal communication) from us. Any address changes made by RP07 or directly by the customer will be reflected on the public register.

 

3.6 General

3.6.1 General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (the Act)

 

Any personal information you provide us in connection with this service may be used to verify identity. Your information will be held securely on our systems, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

 

3.6.2 Confidentiality

A. 1st Advisory agrees to maintain confidentiality regarding mail received and personal information. Such information will not be disclosed to third parties unless required by law or necessary to assist investigations by official authorities (e.g., the police).

B. Personal details and identification documents will be securely stored and deleted upon the termination of the business-to-customer relationship, in compliance with relevant legislation.

 

3.6.3 Limitation of Liability

A. 1st Advisory shall not be liable for any damages arising from the provision of Address Assistance services. This includes, but is not limited to, the loss of profits, anticipated savings, business opportunities, or any indirect or consequential damages related to the handling of business mail.

B. Our total liability is capped at the amount of fees paid by the customer during the previous annual term.

 

3.6.4 Variation

We reserve the right to amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time.

 

3.6.5 Severance

If any provision within these Conditions is deemed unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed, leaving the remaining provisions unaffected and enforceable.

 

3.6.6 Third-Party Rights

No individual or entity, other than the parties directly involved in this agreement, has any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any terms of this agreement.

 

3.6.7 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

A. This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.

B. The courts of England and Wales shall hold exclusive jurisdiction to resolve disputes or claims arising from or in connection with this agreement, including its subject matter or formation (whether contractual or non-contractual).

 

These Terms & Conditions are current, last edited on November 13, 2025.

 

1st Advisory

We offer CFO-as-a-service and related financial advisory that includes flexible, executive-level financial leadership to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that are not yet ready or able to hire a full-time Chief Financial Officer.  Think of us as having an experienced, senior high-level finance executive on-demand or part-time.
 

Our Company

1st Advisory Ltd.
13 Freeland Park
Poole, BH16 6FH
United Kingdom

Registered, licensed, and insured in England.

UK Company number 12785570

© Copyright 1st Advisory Ltd. All rights reserved. 

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