Payouts to help UK firms survive unpaid bills now at their highest since 2009

The figures highlight the support trade credit insurers are providing to help firms during the challenging trading climate.

In 2018:

• The value of claims paid by trade credit insurers to help businesses due to non-payment of debts were £251 million, the equivalent of £5 million every week. This is up a significant 12 per cent on 2017, and the highest amount since 2009.
• There were 17,500 claims, up 60 per cent on 2017. This equates to over 300 firms being helped every week, or 50 helped every single day.
• The number of trade credit insurance policies is at its highest since 2008, with nearly 14,000 policies supporting British businesses.

Continued Brexit uncertainty, competition from online sales, weaker consumer spending, rising business rates, and increased operating costs due to a weaker pound have all contributed to create a very challenging and difficult trading climate.

High profile company failures in 2018 included Carillion; the wholesaler Palmer and Harvey, on which trade credit insurers paid out £30 million to help suppliers; electrical retailer Maplin, on which insurers paid out £11 million, and Toys R’ Us, with insurers paying out nearly £3 million. The British Retail Consortium has estimated that 85,000 jobs in the retail sector were lost in 2018.

Mark Shepherd, the ABI’s Assistant director, head of general insurance policy, said: “Trade credit insurers are helping many UK firms through tough times. Uncertainty around Brexit is only adding to the challenges faced by many firms. Despite this, trade credit insurers continue to support businesses, with their risk appetite remaining high, even in the volatile economic climate.

“While protecting against non-payment is essential, the expertise and support of trade credit insurers is also helping firms to grow and trade with greater confidence, reducing the risk of facing bad debts. Having this cover can also improve access to funding from banks and other financial institutions. While the number of firms with this protection is rising, too many firms remain at the mercy of bad debts. So, we must do more to raise awareness of the importance of trade credit insurance.”