Directors back plans for stronger late payment powers

Over a third of company directors polled by the IoD said they had faced an increase in late payments during the pandemic, with almost one in ten reporting they had experienced significantly more problems than usual. The directors’ institute warned that the challenge could worsen as restrictions continue.

To help solve the problem, business leaders polled by the IoD were most likely to favour stricter penalties to penalise late payments, followed by giving the Small Business Commissioner powers to issue binding monetary awards in connection with disputes, and enabling the Commissioner should have a role overseeing complaints between small businesses.

Despite the negative overall impact of the virus, some IoD members reported seeing fewer payment problems than usual, with one respondent noting that key clients had even paid them early as a means of support.

Roger Barker, Director of Policy at the Institute of Directors, said:

“Sadly, late payments are a perennial issue for SMEs, and the pandemic certainly hasn’t helped things. With so much pressure on cashflow, many companies have been left in the lurch through no fault of their own.

“Many directors are eager for the Small Business Commissioner to get to make a mark on the problem, but it needs more firepower. The ability to issue binding awards could make companies think twice before delaying payment.

“The reality is that there’s no silver bullet to solving late payments. The challenge is cultural, and won’t be fixed by one specific power or another. However, giving the Commissioner real teeth could send a strong signal that malpractice won’t be tolerated.”

Survey results

769 respondents, conducted between 30 October – 13 November 2020.

Has your organisation experienced any change in the number of issues with late payments during the Coronavirus pandemic?

Survey results

799 respondents, conducted between 26 November – 7 December 2020 [‘Don’t know’ removed]

Which of the following additional powers would you support the Small Business Commissioner having to support small businesses with the issue of late payments?