Stop freelancers losing large amounts of time and money each year to the UK's poor payment culture.
Policy recommendations
Reform the Small Business Commissioner with more resources and powers, including fines and the ability to compel companies to attend mediation
Write the Prompt Payment Code into law and reduce standard payment terms to 30 days
Make public sector payment practice the ‘gold standard’ for private businesses to follow
Build a UK Prompt Payment Index to track performance over time
The new Small Business Commissioner should lead a campaign to raise awareness of businesses’ late payment rights
Representing and supporting the self-employed
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Read our full report 'Pay up: how to end late payment for the self-employed'
We want to end the culture of late payment: We need to stop freelancers losing large amounts of time and money each year to the UK’s poor payment culture by giving the Small Business Commissioner powers to fine and ‘name and shame’ late payers.
Read the report
If you’re affected by late payment or want to know how to prevent it in future, follow IPSE’s practical checklist:
| Set your payment terms and conditions early and ensure these are in a written contract |
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| Know your rights when it comes to charging interest and debt recovery and be willing to use them: https://www.gov.uk/late-commercial-payments-interest-debt-recovery |
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| Contact the office of the Small Business Commissioner to get help and advice: https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/enquiries-and-complaints/ |
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| Check the payment practices of businesses before you contract with them: https://www.gov.uk/check-when-businesses-pay-invoices |
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| Consider investing in payment software - an automated system to send invoices and notify you once payment has been made |
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