 Jo wrote: | Just to clarify things, if someone has a siret number, does that guarentee that they are registered? Someone did mention to me it doesn't automatically mean they are, and I would like to know if I am, inadvertantly, employing someone on the black.![Confused [8-)]](/cs/images/emotions/confused.gif)
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If they have a Siret or Siren N° it means that they have indeed registered a business of some kind. What that business actually is, and what they are registered for is another matter. The only real way to check if the trade or profession they are excercising is what they are registered for is to ask to see their insurance and or registration details. They should be able to produce; An attestation from their insurance company showing what they are actually insured to do; A registration document (or card) from their local Chambre des Metiers ( or Chambre de commerce if they are profession liberale); and an extract KBIS.
As a guide, we pay around 3000 euros a year just for our business insurance, and are pleased to show it to anyone who asks for proof of our full cover. Alarm bells should ring if someone comes to re-do your roof and their principle activity is gardening or cleaning for instance. This is the link for my business which I give to my clients ;
http://www.cofacerating.fr/portail/entreprise_identite/identite.asp?nscrl=19943789&metier=ALL&geo=ALL&J=28/08/2007&H=11:32:24
There are several sites for checking out a siret or siren number . This one is quite good because you can search just by telephone number or surname or other criteria.
http://www.cofacerating.fr/portail/recherche_entreprise_inter/recherche_entreprise.asp?nscrl=19943789&metier=ALL&geo=ALL&idnav=bf5fe5225e8779a676be23a40f37736e&J=29/03/2008&H=16:19:06&tp=1
Here are some more;
http://avis-situation-sirene.insee.fr/avisituV2/jsp/avis.jsp
http://www.cofacerating.fr/portail/general_accueil/accueil.asp?metier=ALL&geo=ALL&idnav=
http://www.societe.com/
The other important things to remember are that may of these sites only list the "activity principle" of the entreprise according to the APE code number they have been issued with, secondary activities are not always shown. A company may well be legally registered for a related actvity that is not listed.
Finally, having a Siren or Siret number is no gurantee of insurance or good workmanship- it only shows that a company is registered. Always try to get recommendations for any major works you require having done. There are many people using false or made up Siret numbers so at least by using the sites mentioned above, you can actually see if a company has a legal entity in France.
I Hope this is useful .
www.punchardrenovation.com
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