We are sad to see our competition stooping to new depths. We have been made aware that there are two companies trying to pass themselves off as London Blind Company. Both of these companies have chosen similar internet web addresses to ours, and one of the has clearly copied the layout and ideas shown on our site.

We were shocked to find out that one of these companies has even been letting people believe that they are the real London Blind Company, and allowing them to place orders with that knowledge. London Blind Company have official partners, who recommend us to their customers because they know us and trust us to look after thier clients. Sadly, when searching for our website, some clients who were recommended to us from Crown Windows in Belvedere, found the imitation London Blind Co, and then got in touch with them. The imitiation company then visited those clients and allowed the client to believe that they were dealing with us (the real London Blind Company). The worst thing is that we have knowledge of what those clients paid for their blinds and plantation shutters... and it wasn't a low price. This is damaging to our good reputaion of offering genuine low prices and value for money.

Please be sure that you know who you are dealing with. Don't just believe a website... anyone can be convincing with a well designed site. Here are just a few practical things you can do to check on the company:

• You can check the company easily by asking for the registered company number. This number can be checked by clicking here. This is the Government Companies House Website. Simply search by name or type the company registration number in. Ours is: 5080103
• You can ask if the company is VAT registered. A VAT registered company is more likely to be a genuine company because it shows that they turnover at least £70,000 in business every year. Many not-so-serious companies claim to sell to you free of VAT, and indeed they may well do so, but that actually because they can't legally charge you VAT if they are not registered.
• Ask if the company is affiliated to the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA). If they say yes, then check them out on this website > BBSA
• Find out where the company are based. Get an address. Does it match the address on the companies house website? Check out the address on google maps.... are they working from a house?
• Does the company have a showroom? Whilst a showroom is a large financial overhead for any business, it shows that the company is committed to what they do, and it gives you somewhere to visit is you have a problem.
• Pay on a credit card, then you know you are protected by the credit card company.... note: a debit card is not the same!
• If you're making a large purchase, you can download a report on a company's trading position form the companies house website. This will tell you if there are any CCJs against the company, and whether they've files their accounts recently or not. Beware a company that hasn't kept its accounting up to date!

If you have any information relating to these companies, please get in touch. We cannot give you the business names unfortunately.