Category: <span>Small Businesses</span>

Service Charge Dispute

How to handle a service charge dispute Service charge disputes can be costly and time-consuming if not handled efficiently. Landlords have a responsibility to maintain the condition of all their residential and commercial properties. They may be able to recoup some of the costs of doing so by issuing tenants with service charges. There are…




FCA says credit card companies are not doing enough to aid those in persistent debt

The FCA has told credit card companies that they must do more to help customers who are in persistent debt. In 2018 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced new rules aimed to help those customers who had been in persistent credit card debt for the last 36 months. Their recent research though has found that…




‘Buy now, pay later’ credit options pushing consumers into high-cost debt

Buy now, pay later loans have been around for many years, but recent deals have been accused of pushing young consumers into unaffordable debt. Buy now, pay later credit allows consumers to acquire items without paying for them upfront, instead they spread the cost over a set period of time. Sometimes referred to as shop…




How and why your business should consider tightening up its credit terms

Tightening up your business’ credit terms could help to save you time and money on chasing up late and non-paying customers. Businesses across the UK are facing serious financial consequences due to the late payment culture that is leaving them waiting months for the money owed to them. If you’re struggling to get your invoices…




How to improve your business’ cashflow at Christmas

Use the tips and advice in this blog to help your business to maintain a healthy cashflow this Christmas. Most businesses will experience some level of seasonality over the Christmas period. For many retail and catering businesses it is their busiest time of year, but for businesses in other industries, sales can come to a…




Why do so many people get into debt over Christmas?

The demand for debt recovery services is expected to surge in the new year as businesses struggle to collect money owed by customers who have fallen into debt over Christmas. A 2017 article in the Independent found that more than three quarters of UK families with children make financial sacrifices at Christmas in order to…




How is economic uncertainty in the UK affecting debt?

According to a recent study, bad debt write-offs have gone up from 1.5% to 2.5% year-on-year due, in part, to economic uncertainty. The Western Europe Payment Practices Barometer research report, carried out by trade credit insurer Atradius, examined how today’s economic uncertainty is affecting payment practices in the UK. Key findings from the study included:…




What is the difference between bad debt and doubtful debt?

Knowing the difference between bad debt and doubtful debt can help to prevent financial loss to your business. Today’s uncertain economic climate is having a negative effect on UK business payment practices, with a recent study finding that 35% of invoices remain overdue on their due date. Late or non-payment of an invoice is an…




3 common late payment excuses and how to handle them

Learn how to deal with these three common late payment excuses efficiently to get paid quicker. If your client is constantly deflecting your requests for payment and you’re beginning to worry that your invoices are never going to get paid, it’s time to tackle the problem head-on. Before you make another phone call to chase…




Funeral debt rises as funeral costs continue to soar

Funeral debt rises as the average cost of a funeral in the UK continues to increase. According to SunLife Insurance, the cost of funerals has risen every year for the last 14 years, equating to a 122% increase since 2004. In 2019, the average cost of a funeral in the UK stands at £4,271, and…