Before you pay a Turkish vendor, check three things in order: whether the company name on the registry matches the name on the quote, whether the invoice will be issued under that same name, and whether the bank account belongs to that same entity. If all three agree, the payment can go ahead. If one disagrees, hold the payment and ask for a written explanation. A boutique hotel operator, a small publisher or an agency client can run this check in a short working session with nothing but official pages and the vendor's own documents.
The information to collect before the first payment
The check starts with what you ask the vendor to send. Put the request in your first reply to the quote, in writing, as a short form the vendor fills in. A vendor that invoices for business activity already uses every one of these details when issuing an invoice, so the request is routine.
| Detail to request | Why it matters | What you compare it with |
|---|---|---|
| Full trade name | Contract and invoice must carry the same name | Trade registry record, invoice |
| Tax office and tax number | Shows who will issue the invoice | Invoice sample, quote letterhead |
| MERSİS number | A single identifying number for the company | Registry extract, company documents |
| Registered head office address | Confirms the correspondence address is the registered one | Trade registry record |
| Name of the person who signs | Shows who commits the company | Signature circular or registry document |
| Holder of the receiving bank account | Confirms the money goes to the contracting entity | Bank letter with account details |
Practical suggestion: attach this table to your reply and return any row the vendor leaves blank. A blank row is itself information, and it is better to learn that before the contract than after the first invoice.
Brand name, trade name and individual traders
The name on a vendor's website is a brand. The trade name is the one that appears on the registry and the invoice, and the two can differ. A freelance writer or a small site owner may also be an individual trader rather than a company. The question stays the same for both: who issues the invoice, and who receives the money.
What the MERSİS page says and what it leaves out
The Turkish Ministry of Trade's MERSİS page (Opens in a new tab) presents the system as a central information system with two functions. The first is carrying out registration, amendment and deletion transactions for companies and commercial enterprises electronically, with the trade registry records stored and presented online. The second is bringing all legal entities and other economic units together under a single unique number, so that public bodies can obtain the information they need from one source.
The home page shows "Yardım", "İletişim" and "Giriş" in the top navigation, and the footer carries links including "Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi", "Kullanım Kılavuzu" and "Belge Doğrulama", together with guides for login, incorporation and amendment procedures. If you use the interface in English, label names may differ. The home page shows no company search field, and the documentation has no statement on looking up a company by MERSİS number there.
Treating the number as a shared key
Since the page describes the number as a unique identifier, the sensible use of it in a purchase is as a key that appears on several documents. The number on the quote, on the registry extract and on the company's own papers should agree. Do not rely on the page as a public lookup tool.
When the "Belge Doğrulama" link is useful
If the vendor sends you a document issued through MERSİS, the "Belge Doğrulama" link in the footer is the obvious place to start verifying it. The documentation has no statement on which document types the link covers, so treat it as a starting point and ask the vendor which document it relates to.
The trade registry in the Turkish Commercial Code
The Turkish Commercial Code, Law No. 6102 (Opens in a new tab), says in article 35, second paragraph, that anyone may inspect the contents of the trade registry. For a buyer, that is the right to compare what a vendor says about its name, address and signers with the recorded entry.
Practical suggestion: compare the six-row table the vendor returned with the registry entry line by line, mark each line "match" or "difference", and write the date of your inspection in the file. Names and addresses can change, so a comparison without a date carries little weight later.
| Question for the registry | What a match tells you | What a mismatch calls for |
|---|---|---|
| Is the quoted name recorded? | The entity exists under that name | A written explanation and a document |
| Is the head office address the same? | The correspondence address is the registered one | A question about which address is current |
| Is the signer one of the recorded authorised people? | The signature can bind the company | A signature circular or authority letter |
| Has the name or address changed recently? | The documents you hold are current | The document showing the change |
Inspecting the registry tells you about identity. It says nothing about how well the vendor works. The documentation has no statement tying registry data to reliability or service quality.
From the registry name to the invoice
When the quote name matches the registry, move to the invoice. Before signing, ask the vendor for a sample or draft showing how the first invoice will look. The aim is to see, before paying, that the party issuing the invoice is the party on the registry.
Five fields to read on an invoice sample
- Is the invoice name the same as the registry name?
- Are the tax office and tax number the same as on the quote?
- Does the address match the registered head office?
- Does the service description match the items in the quote?
- Do the amount and currency match the quote?
If any of the five differs, ask the vendor in writing before the invoice enters your records. Settling a difference before booking is easier than asking for a correction afterwards.
An invoice issued under the brand name
The brand shown on a website can differ from the name on the invoice. If an invoice arrives under a brand, ask in writing which company owns that brand and ask for a document. An invoice that does not carry the registry name means one of the three matches has failed.
The tax administration e-Belge page
The Revenue Administration's e-Belge page (Opens in a new tab) gives access to the e-Fatura and e-Arşiv applications. Under e-Fatura it lists "Hakkında", "Mevzuat ve Teknik Mimari", "Yararlanma Yöntemleri", "Kayıtlı Kullanıcılar Listesi" and "Özel Entegratörler Listesi". Under e-Arşiv it lists, among other items, "e-Arşiv Fatura Sorgulama". The page also offers an "e-Fatura Görüntüleyici" tool whose stated purpose is to view and verify e-Fatura documents.
The page links to "e-Arşiv Fatura Sorgulama" without describing it. The documentation has no statement on which details the query asks for or what it returns, and none on what the "Kayıtlı Kullanıcılar Listesi" contains. If you use the interface in English, label names may differ.
Asking which invoice type to expect
Ask the vendor whether the invoice will be an e-Fatura, an e-Arşiv invoice or a paper one, and read the on-screen instructions to see whether the query link suits that type. How the query screens work is a matter for the instructions inside them.
Does the account holder match the invoice name?
The last of the three agreements concerns the money. Ask for the account details on the vendor's signed letter or a bank letter, and compare the holder's name with the invoice name.
| Registry name | Invoice name | Account holder | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same | Same | Same | Pay |
| Same | Same | Different | Hold until a document explains the difference |
| Same | Different | Same | Hold until a corrected invoice arrives |
| Different | Any | Any | Stop before signing and ask for a written explanation |
A changed account number mid-conversation
A message saying "our account number has changed" is a mismatch signal in its own right. Confirm it on a channel that was recorded before the message arrived, such as a phone number from the first quote, never by replying to the message itself.
Example scenario: a boutique hotel buys sponsored placements
Example scenario: a boutique hotel wants three sponsored articles on local travel sites to promote its weekend packages. The marketing manager receives three quotes. She sends the six-row table to all three vendors and sets the same reply deadline.
What came back
The first vendor filled in every row and attached a registry extract. The second used a brand name in the quote and gave no invoice name. The third supplied bank details in the name of an individual, although the quote came from a company. She compared the first vendor's name with its extract, invoice sample and bank letter, and all three agreed. She asked the second vendor for the invoice name, and the answer was a company name different from the brand. She asked the third why the account holder was a person.
How she decided
The first vendor was approved. The second vendor's registry record matched the company name it gave, so that quote stayed in the comparison. The third vendor sent no explanation, and the quote left the shortlist. The decision rested on a written table, which she saved with the three quotes.
What the check cannot tell you
Identity checks are narrow. They do not show how fast a vendor delivers, how good the writing is or how a site is regarded. The documentation has no statement on those points.
- A registry match does not show that a vendor will keep its promises.
- An invoice match does not show that the work will follow the scope in the quote.
- A correct account holder does not show that the article will go live on time.
- Three matching items show one thing only: the payment goes to the right party.
Combine the identity check with references, sample work and written delivery terms.
Keeping a verification file per vendor
A check you cannot show later counts for little. Keep a small file for each vendor.
| Document | Source | How to store it |
|---|---|---|
| Registry extract or certified document | Trade registry directorate or the vendor | Dated file |
| Quote and completed table | Vendor | With the original email |
| First invoice | Vendor | Accounting record plus copy |
| Bank details letter | Vendor or bank | Signed copy |
| Explanations exchanged | Vendor | Email thread |
Identity papers and signature documents contain personal data. Share them only as long as the check needs and only with the people who carry it out. Leave out anything you do not need.
Link sellers need more than an identity check
If the vendor sells links or sponsored articles, identity is only the first screen. Read the wording of the offer itself, starting with red-flag phrases in a backlink seller quote. For questions about sourcing and reporting, see the SEO agency supply chain transparency checklist, and for separating inflated metrics, fake traffic and inflated SEO metrics.
Who does what inside a small team
If the check lives in one person's memory, it gets skipped when that person is away. Write it as a short workflow: who requests, who compares, who approves payment.
| Role | Task | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer | Sends the six-row table and collects replies | Completed table |
| Checker | Compares the table with registry, invoice sample and bank letter | Agreement table |
| Approver | Releases payment only after seeing the agreement table | Approved payment instruction |
| Bookkeeper | Checks each invoice the day it arrives and reports any mismatch in writing | Invoice record and mismatch note |
One person in all roles
In a very small business one person may play every part. In that case send the agreement table to the owner or a second person before the payment instruction goes out, and keep their reply with the file.
First payment and repeat payments
For the first payment, check all six details. For later payments, check only what can change: the invoice name, the account holder and the person who signs. Where nothing changed, a one-line note is enough; where something did, run the first-payment check again.
When the vendor is new, very small or outside Turkey
The sources cited here cover companies registered in Turkey. What they say about a vendor registered in another country: the documentation has no statement. For such a vendor, ask for an extract from that country's own company register and apply the same three-way match.
A newly founded company
A new company may have no track record, which counts neither for nor against it. It does make the three matches more important, because nothing else vouches for it. Practical suggestion: start with a small scope, accept the delivery, then widen the work.
An individual who is not a company
When the seller is a person rather than a company, agree in writing who issues the payment document and into whose account the money goes. The documentation has no statement on the payment document for sellers who are not required to issue an invoice, so settle it before the first payment.
Wording for the three messages you will send
Keep each message short, factual and dated. The aim is to complete the record, not to accuse.
- Request: "We received your quote. For the contract and invoice, please send in writing your full trade name, tax office and number, MERSİS number, registered head office address and the holder of the account to be paid."
- Mismatch: "The name on your quote differs from the name in the registry record we hold. Please explain the difference with a document. Payment is on hold until we hear from you."
- Account change: "We received your request to change the account details. We will confirm by phone, using the number recorded earlier, before paying."
Reading the reply
A reply with a document can be compared with the registry or the invoice. A reply that only says "no problem" and attaches nothing is not an explanation. File the reply and its attachment together.
Cosmetic differences
Capitalisation, abbreviations such as "Ltd. Şti." against the full form, punctuation and stray spaces are formatting. Different words in the name, a different address or a different tax number are real differences and need a written explanation.
Practical suggestion: when a difference is real, give the vendor a date for the reply that fits your own calendar, and record the date in the file. If the answer takes weeks, that delay is also a data point for the comparison table, because it shows how the vendor will behave when a delivery problem comes up later.
Adding a verification row to the shortlist
When you compare several quotes, add a verification row beside price and scope. A vendor that will not state its identity then shows up in the first round, however low its price.
| Row | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name stated | Yes or no | Yes or no | Yes or no |
| Matches registry | Compared, matches | Compared, differs | Not yet compared |
| Invoice sample received | Yes or no | Yes or no | Yes or no |
| Account holder matches | Yes or no | Yes or no | Yes or no |
| Open question | None | Asked in writing | Awaiting reply |
Moving the check before the contract
A check done on payment day creates time pressure. Ask for the details at quote stage and finish the registry comparison before signing, so that payment day only involves the invoice and the account. A contract sentence saying the invoice will be issued under the name written in the contract settles the invoice question in advance.
Repeating the match on the final payment
On a long job, the name, address or account can change between the first and last payment. Run the name and account comparison again on the final payment and ask in writing about any difference.
Checklist before you pay
- Does the quote name equal the name in the registry record?
- Are the tax office and number written on the quote?
- Is the MERSİS number given and consistent with the registry?
- Does the head office address match the registry?
- Is the signer's authority documented?
- Will the invoice carry the name in the contract?
- Is the invoice type known?
- Does the account holder equal the invoice name?
- Did the bank details arrive on a signed or bank letter?
- If details changed mid-conversation, was it confirmed on a separate channel?
- Was every open question answered with a document?
- Is the result stored in a dated file?
Each line has a yes or no answer. A single no is reason enough to hold the payment until a document closes it.
Mistakes that cost buyers money
Believing the logo and the website
A polished website shows a brand. It does not show which legal entity will invoice you.
Confirming a new account by replying to the same email
The sender of the request and the source of the confirmation must be different channels, or the confirmation proves nothing.
Booking an invoice unread
An invoice with a wrong name or description is harder to correct once it is in the records. Compare name, amount and description with the quote before booking it.
Skipping the check on a small first order
A small first payment is the one that starts the relationship. Finish the check before it.
Reading a registry match as a quality mark
A matching name proves identity. Quality needs references and written delivery terms.
Leaving no record
If no document shows the check happened, treat it as not done. Create the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask a Turkish vendor to send before I pay?
Ask in writing for the full trade name, tax office and number, MERSİS number, registered head office address, the name of the signer and the holder of the account to be paid.
Can I look up a company on the MERSİS home page?
The Ministry of Trade page presents MERSİS as a central information system. The documentation has no statement on a company search on the home page.
Who may inspect the trade registry?
Under article 35, second paragraph, of the Turkish Commercial Code, anyone may inspect the contents of the trade registry.
Must the invoice name equal the registry name?
In the pre-payment check, the invoice name is compared with the quote name and the registry name. If it differs, hold the payment and ask in writing for a document that explains the difference.
The invoice name differs from the account holder. What now?
Hold the payment and ask in writing for a document that explains the difference. A reply with no document does not count as an explanation.
Does a successful check mean the vendor is good?
No. It shows that identity items agree. The documentation has no statement on service quality or delivery times.
Conclusion
Verifying a vendor comes down to three agreements checked in order: the registry name, the invoice name and the holder of the account. A buyer who knows the right to inspect the registry can finish the check quickly, and it keeps the payment from going to the wrong party. Store the result in a dated file for each vendor, so that you do not ask the same questions twice and the person who approves a payment can see what the approval rested on. When something does not match, ask in writing, ask for a document and keep the answer.
Use the same table, the same rule and the same file layout with the next vendor. When every check is done in the same way, the record also shows which vendors left which details blank.
If you plan to buy links from a vendor whose identity you have verified, you can review the backlink packages.
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