VIES (ec.europa.eu) is the EU's free VAT validation service. It confirms whether a VAT number is valid but returns no enriched company data, has no UK coverage, and is often slow or unavailable. VeriCorp uses VIES as one of 8 data sources and adds caching for reliability.
| Feature | VeriCorp API | VIES |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | 28 countries | EU only |
| Enriched Data | 8 sources | None |
| VAT Validation | VIES validated | VIES (direct) |
| UK Companies House | Directors + PSC | No |
| Batch API | Up to 10 | No |
| Caching | 30-day cache | No |
| Free Tier | Free on RapidAPI | Free (gov) |
| Response Time | <200ms cached | Often slow/down |