Alerts

Warning: Tenancy agreement misusing the name Andersons Solicitors

24 March 2022

An assured shorthold tenancy agreement has been used, purporting to have been recently prepared by 'Andersons Solicitors' (with SRA ID: 46140).

What is the scam?

An assured shorthold tenancy agreement has been prepared misusing the name of 'Andersons Solicitors'.

The SRA has seen an 'Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement' which contains an unknown signature purporting to be a solicitor, and a logo on the document with the name 'Andersons Solicitors'. The logo does not provide any other name, address, or contact details but does state 'excellence through experience', with the agreement also claiming that the firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA ID 46140.

Any documents containing this logo claiming to be from 'Andersons Solicitors', without any additional contact details but stating 'excellence through experience' or using the SRA ID 46140, are not undertaken by a current solicitor’s practice authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA used to authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called Andersons Solicitors with the SRA ID 46140, but this firm ceased to practice on 30/09/2013. This firm’s address was 40 The Ropewalk, Nottingham NG1 5EJ.

The SRA does authorise and regulate a current, genuine firm with the name Andersons Solicitors. Its address is 14 Albert Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1JT. The genuine firm’s SRA ID is 71696.

The genuine firm has confirmed that it does not have any connection to the document referred to in the above alert.

What should I do?

When a firm's or individual's identity has been copied exactly (or cloned), due diligence is necessary. If you receive correspondence claiming to be from the above firm(s) or individual(s), or information of a similar nature to that described, you should conduct your own due diligence by checking the authenticity of the correspondence by contacting the law firm directly by reliable and established means. You can contact the SRA to find out if individuals or firms are regulated and authorised by the SRA and verify an individual's or firm's practising details. Other verification methods, such as checking public records (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.