Business/Home address on website

my clients are worried...

[Harley_m]

Im just finishing off a site for a fashion house, and they have shown concern looking at it that their address is on the site. Its a fashion business that is based at their home, and does invite people to come a view their range on appointment...they are afraid people might start just turning up, and since they live in a nice house, with nice things in it - are worried.

What should i do? i dont want them to leave it on their if it puts their home in risk - but surely anyone can simply get their address off the whois documentation anyway?

are they at any risk? should it simply be taken off and only have Tel no.s? but then anyone can get an address from a number anyway...

hmmm...any thoughts would be valuable

Harley

[Quinn]

I would definitely recommend a PO box. I think you may be able to get them in some places for as little as $10/month in the US.

[mivox]

If it makes them nervous, just put their City/State and business phone number on the site... that gives enough info that the website visitors should be reassured as to the businesses legitimacy, without making the client feel their security is compromised.

Tweak the text to make it sound like it's very exclusive to have a viewing appointment, and that will make the lack of a posted address seem appropriate.

Anyone can find anyone's address if they know how to look, but there's no reason to go trumpeting it if they're uncomfortable with the idea.

[SlyGuy]

I would definitely recommend a PO box.

Gee, Quinn, I don't know if that would help the siuation or not. I've always been weary of PO boxes, when associated with a company I am buying from.

I mean they're just so easy to get, and like you pointed out, they're cheap!

I would rather show the address of the house, but prefix it with "By Appointment ONLY"

- Chad

[korkus2000]

just put their City/State and business phone number on the site

I am working with a large business now where their warehouse is not open to the public. We did pretty much what mivox advises. It said something like:

Our warehouse is not open to the general public so please make an appointment to view our wonderful widget products.

on the contact page above the location and phone:

770-555-5555
Atlanta, Ga 000000

[Harley_m]

so you guys dont think that the address should be on the site...? its on there at the moment, and they are ok with it i think, im just wondering if i gave the wisest advice...

its in the UK by the way...

surely no thief will 'need' it on there, as they can get it if they want anyway...

hmmm

maybe just Tel xxxxx Suffolk, UK is best...

[Quinn]

I think it depends on the person. If they're ok with it, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[buzzmaster]

The only possible problem would be if you need a Yahoo listing. I think I remember that Yahoo requires a street address.

[rogerd]

A street address definitely conveys a greater air of legitimacy, but I'd be kind of reluctant to put a home address out there.

I don't know about the UK, but in the US there are various businesses like MailBoxes Etc. that offer a non-PO Box address. Traditionally, they have allowed a street address followed by a "Suite No. ___". Now, I believe, US postal regulations have changed to require greater clarification. Depending on what's allowed and available in the UK, this could be yet another option.

[Quinn]

Good point rogerd. I've been lucky enough to have access to a small, private post office box provider who is willing to put the mail into my box without any prefix PO #, PMB #, or Suite#. So nobody knows this isn't the location of the business.

Of course I pay a little extra for this service. ;)

[highman]

Why not just use the street name / town / city / phone / fax etc, but avoid the house number itself

[Crazy_Fool]

i believe that in the uk there is now a legal requirement to provide a full postal address, so partial addresses are a no no. i say i believe because i've never had to build a site where someone doesn't want their address listed etc and also because the distance selling regulations and the new e-commerce directive may have changed the information requirements.

best is to look in a business start up book at the information you need to provide for the legal status of your business (sole trader / partnership / ltd co etc), and to check the DTI website for the distance selling regulations and the e-commerce directive (both very important).

once you've checked this out, you'll know whether you must use the full home address or whether you can give a PO Box or a business mailing address or your registered company address (if elsewhere) or whatever.

[NeedScripts]

I don't know if that would help the siuation or not. I've always been weary of PO boxes, when associated with a company I am buying from

I am not 100% positive, but still this will be *worth* to try out. I have heard that if you get a mailbox from *Mail Boxes & Etc*, the mailbox you get does not have P.O.Box number, but they have Suite Number. Most people would *never* be able to detect it. ;)

I have never used their services personally, but it would be worth a call to check it out :)

--- edit ---

its in the UK by the way...

Do you guys have *Mail Boxes & Etc* there?

[KakenBetaal]

Lets say you've got your home address in the whois db, already. Is there any way this can be updated to reflect a business address instead?

Next question - some of my domains registered through my new web host have their name, address, and contact details on the whois. Does this define the domains as being owned by my webhost? How do I prove such a domain belongs to me?

[Staffa]

For UK websites : E-Commerce Regulations 2002 in force since end august 2002

These requirements include providing your end users with:
the full contact details of your business
details of any relevant trade organisations to which you belong
details of any authorisation scheme relevant to your online business
your VAT number, if your online activities are subject to VAT
clear indications of prices, if relevant, including any delivery or tax charges.

you can get a copy at the DTI website
[dti.gov.uk...]

[crash]

US Postal regulations do require the fact that it's a PMB to be clear. The mail still has to go thru the Post Office and they know what addresses are PO's, PMB's, and mailboxes etc. The law was made due to mail and internet fraud.

While I understand your concern, ideally they would leave the address with the disclaimer. If someone wants their address there are other vays to get it besides their own site ;) esp if they own their own domain name. If they are really that concerned, a good alarm system should be in place. Basically, if someone wants to find the they are going to.

They could opt for the PO/PMB and provided the real address upon appointment as an alternate.

Yes I believe Yahoo does require full contact info on the site and that it must be easy to find.

[SlyGuy]

I have heard that if you get a mailbox from *Mail Boxes & Etc*, the mailbox you get does not have P.O.Box number, but they have Suite Number

Good point. I forgot that they use suite numbers now..I guess it's been awhile since I have used a PO box, but surprisingly I still see a few companies using the old style.

<Rushes off to nearest Mail Boxes Etc>

Cheers,

- Chad