Closing a LTD company and then becoming a sole trader?

[W4NTED]

Is the above scenario even possible? I am about to place an order for a bespoke item and upon doing some google research before handing over my money I can see that the LTD company name for the company I was about to hand over a deposit to was dissolved in 2010. Their website etc does not state XXX LTD it just states XXX. There is no trading as or alias coming up either,

They have already told me they are not VAT registered so not VAT to be paid however I find it weird that they are using the same trading name as the LTD company that was shut down in 2010 and are openly using social media accounts (with a lot of followers!!) to drum up business. I have done an online director search on the person who is the front of the business using various platforms such as Duedil and it comes up showing this person having been a director of 5 other companies and has resigned from all in the past 4 years.

Am I being over cautious or do you too smell a rat?

[W4NTED]

Thanks Eric. It seems like there is an open loophole here that people can exploit for tax evasion!

Almost anyone can open a LTD company, close it and continue trading using the same name and not register as a sole trader? Who knows if they have registered as a sole trader or not....hmm...Strange.....

Edited by W4NTED on Wednesday 19th October 17:19

[W4NTED]

dartissimus said:

Pay by Paypal or credit card not debit to have protection

He wants Payment by Bank transfer or cash only!