"Updating is free of charge" says the email ... but read the fine print and you'll see that submitting information and signing it commits you to a spend of 995 euros per year for three years. Curiously, the fine print wasn't very legible to me, so I've extracted the text to help you read it, and taken it out of "all caps" ... here's their text, reproduced here for critical review:

The signing of this document represents the acceptance of the following conditions and the conditions stated in the terms and conditions for insertion on web page www.worldcompanyregister.com. The signing is legally binding and gives you the right of an insertion in the online database of The World Company Register, which can be accessed via the internet, and a cd rom with worldwide businesses is granted, all in accordance with the contract conditions stated in the terms and conditions for insertion on web page www.worldcompanyregister.com. The validation time of the contract is three years and starts on the eighth day after signing the contract. The insertion is granted after signing and receiving this document by the service provider. I hereby order a subscription with service provider international directories group ltd world company register. I will have an insertion into its database for three years. The price per year is euro 995. The subscription will be automatically extended every year for another year, unless specific written notice is received by the service provider or the subscriber two months before the expiration of the subscription. Your data will be recorded. The place of jurisdiction in any dispute arising is the service provider's address. The agreement between the service provider and the subscriber is governed by the conditions stated in the terms and conditions for insertion on web page: www.worldcompanyregister.com

The text also says "PLEASE RETURN TO: P.O. Box 3079 [82][c2][b7] 3502 GB [82][c2][b7] Utrecht [82][c2][b7] The Netherlands World Company Register is a product of International Directories Group Ltd., P.O. Box 3079 [82][c2][b7] 3502 GB [82][c2][b7] Utrecht [82][c2][b7] The Netherlands"

I believe that this is a spam email ... false advertising ... misleading ... bad value for money. Don't fall for it!

Doing a bit more research ... trying to make sure I'm being fair / looking for information on the company's site about their traffic levels, I found none. I did find a second PO box - C/ Azcona, 58, local, BOX 252, 28028 MADRID, SPAIN, and the statement "The World Company Register online is product of International Directories Group Ltd., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of BVI." - That's British Virgin Islands. You can read about the advantages and protections that a company in the British Virgin Islands has [here] and ask yourself why a directory provider needs such extreme secrecy and protection.

Update - June 2010. There's further correspondence and suggestions on the World Company Register just added [here]. It seems that I am far from alone in questioning whether the register is worthwhile for anyone except the people who run it.

Update - July 2010. I have received several emails which ask me to put various people who feel that they have had a raw / poor deal from this company in touch with each other, and that includes one contact who's email address I am cleared to give out. In any such circumstance, I have to ask "is this someone who is genuinley concerned, or the company involved looking to find out who the troublemakers are", and I'm pretty sure it's the former. Please email me (graham@wellho.net) if you would like the details (or to have your details forwarded to this person / company).
(written 2010-03-23, updated 2010-07-16)

 G910 - Well House Consultants - Scams
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  [2988] Not mugged in London! - (2010-10-08)
  [3222] Clickjacking - another way to get you to follow a malicious link - Facebook issue - (2011-03-29)
  [3291] Pay and refund scam - alive and kicking against Melksham businesses - (2011-05-16)
  [3480] Direct Message: Really horrible blog about you ... a clever phishing trip, said to be from an MP - (2011-10-14)
  [3859] Youve Been Selected for the 2012 Edition of the Global Registry - (2012-09-16)
  [4385] A booking that looks too good to be true? It probably is too good to be true! - (2015-01-05)
  [4651] Pressure selling in the fire safety business - (2016-02-19)

Back to Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze!

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Forward to New brochures for the Melksham area

Multiple processes (forking) in Python
Methods that run on classes (static methods) in Python
Flexible search and replace in Python
New brochures for the Melksham area
The World Company Register - is it another scam?
Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze!
Security considerations in programming - what do we teach?
A lovely spring afternoon
Freedom of Information - consideration for web site designers
Stairs