Investigating Foreign Firms

**Mr.M** · 03-31-2009 10:27 AM

Given that there are fraudulent companies abroad, I was wondering if anyone knows how to investigate the credibility of foreign companies? Are there any agencies or firms that can help one with this? Are there any recommended steps that should be taken?

Mr. M

**GriZzly** · 03-31-2009 10:56 AM

I'd advise you never to deal with a foreign company that you can't get a local reference from. In other words, you should try to use foreign companies that are recommended by other businesses from your own country.

**WebHoster** · 03-31-2009 11:24 AM

The housing sector problems have been around for awhile. The subprime problems have been around for awhile. The dollar has been falling vs. other currencies, including the yen, for awhile. The market has been talking about, but otherwise ignoring those very real issues for months and continuing to rise.

**mtheory** · 03-31-2009 11:26 AM

Do a Dunn & Bradstreet on them.

I think the basic check is 14.95

**mthomas** · 03-31-2009 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by GriZzly

I'd advise you never to deal with a foreign company that you can't get a local reference from. In other words, you should try to use foreign companies that are recommended by other businesses from your own country.

Or you can also establish some trusted contacts in your target country. Do you know of any friends or relatives in your target country or at least friends of friends? Sometimes just talking to a local whose not necessarily in business can shed at least some light on which of the larger companies are trustworthy.