Conflicting Chinese supplier business licences
Keep every licence version and compare its Chinese name, credit code, address and labelled dates with the official public registry as displayed when you check. Ask the supplier to explain each difference in writing and retain a dated discrepancy record before approving payment. Cambridge China Bridge can help with these checks through its own staff in China.
Preserve the versions before choosing one
Save the original attachments and messages, including who sent each document and when. Ask for a complete, readable copy if a photograph is cropped or blurred. Give each version a descriptive file label and keep translations separately. Do not overwrite an earlier copy when the supplier sends a replacement.
This guide addresses conflicting documents rather than the full supplier assessment. Use supplier verification before payment for the wider checks. A newer-looking document or a clearer scan is a reason to investigate, not enough to choose which details to rely on.
Compare with what the registry currently displays
Use the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System named in our verification guide. Search using the credit code on each conflicting copy and compare the Chinese company name as well. Save the record you actually open, its page address, your search terms and the date and time of access. Keep a supplier's screenshot separate from your own retrieval.
Copy field labels and values exactly before adding translations or comments. Where a field is absent, record “not displayed”. If access fails or the search is inconclusive, record “not verified” and arrange a fresh check. Do not treat a failed search as proof that the company does not exist.
| Field | Comparison | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese company name | Compare every character; keep English trading names separate | What evidence connects any former name or trading name to this company? |
| Unified Social Credit Code | Copy the full code from each document and the retrieved record | Is the difference a copying error, or are different companies involved? |
| Registered address | Compare the complete address under the corresponding field label | Is the explanation a registered-address change or a separate production location? |
| Dates | Keep establishment, issue, approval and term dates separate wherever labelled | Which event does each date describe, and what supports the claimed sequence? |
Ask for explanations supported by documents
Send the supplier the exact differences, rather than asking whether its licence is valid. Request a written explanation for each field, the copy it says is current, and documents supporting any claimed name change, relocation, replacement or copying error. Ask when the claimed change occurred and which company will accept your order.
Treat explanations as claims until checked. If the supplier says the registry has not updated, record that statement and arrange another lookup; do not assume the delay is established. A factory address and a registered address should be recorded separately. A shared contact, logo or owner is insufficient for your purchasing decision to treat different companies as interchangeable.
Keep a dated discrepancy record
Use a shared record with an entry for each mismatch. Include the field, exact value in each licence copy, current registry value, retrieval date and time, saved evidence reference, supplier explanation, supporting document and unresolved question. Separate what you observed from what the supplier told you.
Assign an owner and an agreed follow-up date. Mark entries as unresolved, explained with supporting evidence, or awaiting a fresh registry check. Add dated updates while preserving earlier observations. Record who accepted the explanation, the evidence used and any remaining uncertainty. The supplier management guide covers communication and escalation.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
Decide what can proceed
Pause new payment approval while the identity of the company you would pay remains unresolved. Compare the proposed supplier identity with the contract, proforma invoice and bank beneficiary. Use safe supplier payments and reading a proforma invoice for those checks.
Close the discrepancy only when the evidence supports a documented purchasing decision. A registry comparison does not establish document authenticity, production capability or the legal effect of a change. Keep Chinese legal interpretation outside this record and seek qualified advice if that question matters. Cambridge China Bridge can help gather and compare evidence through its own staff in China; the buyer retains approval.
Frequently asked questions
Which supplier business licence should I trust?
Do not choose by appearance or file date. Compare every version with the current registry display, ask for supporting explanations and record the evidence behind your decision.
Does a different credit code mean supplier fraud?
The mismatch alone does not establish fraud. Check for a copying error or a different company, retrieve the relevant records and pause payment approval while the recipient's identity remains unresolved.
What if the supplier says the registry is out of date?
Record that as the supplier's explanation. Ask for documents supporting the claimed change, save what the registry currently displays and arrange a fresh lookup. Keep the discrepancy open pending evidence.
Should licence dates match the registry dates?
Compare dates under equivalent labels. An establishment date and an issue date describe different events. Keep the original labels and ask the supplier to explain the sequence rather than assuming a conflict.