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For insolvency practitioners

An additional realisation your estate may be overlooking.

Where a company was paid late by public sector bodies, the right to claim statutory interest and compensation under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 remains an asset of the estate, totally separate from book debts. We buy that right outright. Fixed payment, no ongoing IP involvement.

We work with national and regional insolvency practitioners across England, Wales, and Scotland.

The statutory basis
Interest and compensation on every invoice a public sector body settled late.
8%+
Statutory interest rate 8% over Bank of England base rate, accruing from the payment due date
£40–
£100
Fixed compensation per invoice Set by statute. Amount varies by invoice value. Separate from the interest entitlement.
6 years
Limitation window Six years in England and Wales, five in Scotland. From the date each invoice became overdue.
Both rights vest automatically on late payment. On insolvency, they remain an asset of the estate, available to be realised for creditors. Neither requires prior pursuit by the company.

A statutory right, not a contractual one.

These aren't trade debts. They're a distinct category of statutory entitlement, created automatically under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 on every invoice that a public sector body settled outside the agreed or statutory payment terms.

The right to claim is not extinguished by insolvency. It remains an asset of the estate, assignable under an office holder's statutory powers and available to be realised for the benefit of creditors.

We assess claims using publicly available data. We do not need access to company records to make an offer. If records are available however, we can make a higher offer.

Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998
Statutory interest

8% over Bank of England base rate, accruing on each invoice from the date payment was due until it was settled.

Fixed compensation

£40, £70, or £100 per late invoice, determined by invoice value. Set by statute and separate from the interest entitlement.

Not included
Not included

We don't buy trade debt, including factored or discounted receivables which may interfere with collection processes or complicate secured creditor positions. This is an entirely separate exercise.

Routine to miss.
Rarely realised.

Late payment rights rarely surface in standard asset identification. They're easy to miss — and that's exactly why they so often are. Four reasons below, none of which affect recoverability once a claim is identified.

01

They don't appear in standard asset schedules

Statutory late payment rights are not recorded in company accounts. They don't appear in balance sheets, debtor books, or management accounts. Without specialist identification, they're invisible to a standard asset review.

02

Quantification requires specialist analysis

Assessing a claim means a detailed, time-consuming review of debtor records against the relevant statutory framework. Such a review may identify little or no claim, burdening the estate with a cost it cannot recover.

03

Nobody chases them once the company ceases trading

When a company stops operating, no one is actively pursuing the entitlement. The limitation clock continues regardless. Without action, the asset expires quietly, taking with it the realisation for creditors.

04

Collection is complex and not guaranteed

Collecting out these claims is different to traditional invoice debt. It requires specialist knowledge of the legislation and the common objections raised by public bodies. Recovery is not guaranteed and the cost of pursuit may exceed any eventual recoveries for the estate.

Five steps. Minimal IP input.

The process is the same whether the estate is in liquidation or administration. Your involvement ends at step four.

1

Tell us the company details

Company name. That's all we need to get started.

Takes minutes
2

We assess the estate's position

We check our records against publicly available payment data. No input required from the office holder.

No input required
3

We make a fixed offer

Where a claim exists, we offer a fixed, guaranteed purchase price for the rights from the estate.

Fixed amount, agreed upfront
4

Assignment documents by email

We send our standard-form assignment documents for signature and request the estate's bank details for payment.

Straightforward documentation
5

Payment to the estate within 24 hours

On receipt of signed documents and bank details, we pay within 24 hours and take full responsibility for all subsequent claims activity.

Immediate payment, zero ongoing obligations

Common questions answered directly.

These are the questions we hear most often from office holders. Detailed answers are in the IP FAQs. The short versions are below.

"Does assigning these rights affect the liquidation or administration?"
No. The assignment transfers a statutory right, not a debt or liability. It does not affect the office holder's ability to pursue debtor recoveries, realise assets, adjudicate creditor claims, or otherwise administer the estate.
"We already use collection agents. Does this conflict?"
No conflict. Collection agents pursue unpaid principal. We pursue statutory interest and compensation on invoices that were paid, but paid late. The two exercises are entirely distinct.
"If assets were sold via a pre-pack, do these rights remain with the estate?"
In most cases, yes. Statutory late payment rights generally remain with the insolvent estate rather than transferring with the business assets. We'll confirm the position before making any offer.
"Does this affect debtor collections or a factored receivables book?"
No. These rights arise from the Late Payment Act, not from outstanding principal. The assignment has no effect on any debtor collection activity, factoring arrangement, or secured creditor position.
"What if there are no company records available to the estate?"
Not a problem. We assess from publicly available payment data without requiring records from the estate. If records are available and provided, our offer is higher.

These rights expire. And the clock starts the moment each invoice becomes overdue.

The limitation period runs from the date each invoice became overdue: six years in England and Wales, five years in Scotland. It doesn't run from the appointment date. From the moment of your appointment, the value of any claim can only move in one direction.

As the limitation period runs, invoices fall out of scope, reducing the recoverable pool with each passing month. An assessment costs nothing and takes minutes. The sooner you act, the more of the claim you preserve.

Once we take assignment, we manage the limitation period and the recovery process entirely. The estate takes the purchase price upfront. The risk, the work, and the ongoing responsibility pass to us.

6
Years in England & Wales.
Five years in Scotland.
After that, the entitlement is lost.

We completed the assignment in a single afternoon. One document, one call. The funds were with the estate the same day. I wasn't expecting it to be that straightforward, but it genuinely was.

Insolvency Practitioner UK-based firm, name withheld by request

Ready to discuss a specific estate?

Send us the company name. We'll assess the position against our records and come back to you with a view within a working day. No paperwork, no obligation on your part.

If you'd prefer to talk through the process first, we're happy to arrange a brief call.

Talk to the team
Direct contact
Response time Within one working day