Check a supplier in Ludhiana before you pay
The surest way to learn whether a supplier is real is for someone to go to the address and look. Relay sends a local person to do that and report back with notes and photographs.
Relay is not open to everyone yet. Email us the supplier's address and we will tell you whether we can help during our small test.
What you can check yourself first
- Look up the GST number. Use "Search Taxpayer" on the official GST portal. The status should be active, and the legal name should match what the supplier told you.
- Match the bank account name. The account you are asked to pay should be in the same business name. Be careful if it is a personal account.
- Ask for a live video. Ask them to walk through the workshop on a call, showing today's date and the item you want.
- Start with a small order. Pay for a sample before you pay for the full quantity.
Warning signs
- A demand for 100% advance, with no stages or balance on delivery.
- A price far below what other sellers quote.
- Pressure to pay a personal account, or to pay urgently before you can check.
- Refusing a live video or a visit to the address they gave.
What a visit adds
Documents and calls show what a supplier says. A visit shows what is at the address on that day. You can ask the person to check:
- Whether the workshop or shop exists at the address given.
- Whether the name board matches the business you are dealing with.
- Whether work is really happening, and whether the stock you were told about can be seen.
- Photographs of the outside and of whatever the supplier agrees to show.
What a visit cannot tell you
The person reports what they saw. This is not a credit check, a legal check or a quality audit, and it cannot promise that a supplier will deliver. Keep your own checks and payment terms in place.
What it costs
You agree the price directly with the person who takes the task, and pay them directly. Relay takes no cut during the test.
Common questions
How do I know a supplier in Ludhiana is genuine?
Check that the GST number is active and matches the name, that the bank account is in the same business name, and that someone has seen the address in person. No single check is proof, so start with a small order.
Can I get a workshop checked without travelling to Ludhiana?
Yes. A local person can go to the address, say what they saw and send photographs if the supplier allows it. That is what a Verify it task on Relay is for.
Is a visit the same as a factory audit?
No. A Relay visit is one person reporting what they saw on that day. For a formal check of quality or compliance, use a professional audit firm.