There seems to be an abundance of Debt Recovery companies on LinkedIn, all telling businesses when and how they should take offensive action against debtors and non-paying customers. But perhaps more attention should be given to Company Credit Checks before the credit is granted in the first place.
Yes, NPD are Debt Recovery specialists. But we also provide a full Credit Vetting Service.
This morning we were asked to credit check a particular company — one already well known to us and a real star on the NPD Credit Information Database.
To sum up what we found: 10 County Court Judgments (CCJs) over the last four years totaling more than £90,000, a winding-up petition earlier this year which was withdrawn — we assume paid — and another winding-up petition which is currently still in play.
We first came across this company in 2019, when we were chasing a substantial debt. The director tried to deny liability, but we were able to prove otherwise. We eventually recovered the debt in full through a negotiated payment plan. It proved hard work, but we got there in the end.
Our enquiries at the time also identified a previous failed company which had traded from the same address and had a common director.
Fast forward to today and we can see the carnage of the last four years. We can also see a further company, registered earlier this year, with a similar name, trading from the same address and with the same-named director.
So it would seem that the circle of life of one company may be approaching its end, while a new life looks like it is commencing.
Now look at the judgment history:
03/03/2022 — £5,000
09/06/2022 — £2,900
05/01/2023 — £19,000
09/01/2023 — £1,300
27/01/2024 — £159
27/05/2025 — £1,700
03/07/2025 — £18,600
13/02/2026 — £17,700
01/04/2026 — £8,400
02/04/2026 — £16,000
The judgments start in 2022 and continue through 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. So how did somebody get caught in 2023, then somebody else in 2024, 2025 and again in 2026?
Companies like this can only continue to cause this level of carnage because suppliers are not carrying out the most basic Credit Checks. Imagine sitting with a £19,000 bad debt, only to discover afterwards that information which could have had alarm bells ringing was available before you supplied them.
And the cost of checking as low as £5.00.
Our customers have checked this company five times over the last four years and, as a result of the information supplied, all chose to offer pro forma facilities only.
The NPD Credit Information Database has now been running for more than 20 years. During that time, our customers have shared information about their customers — good and bad — and that shared information has prevented so many problems.
But we can do more with your help. If you have a customer who is a persistent late payer, has left you with a bad debt, or simply gives you cause for concern, report it and share that information with us. The information you provide today could prevent another supplier from getting caught tomorrow.
Debt Recovery is important — we do it every day. But sometimes prevention is the only cure.
Many years ago, a Trade Magazine asked me for one sentence to sum up good due diligence. My answer was deliberately humorous, but the point was serious:
“If my Mother asked me for a loan tomorrow, I would have her credit checked.”
It’s nothing personal. It’s business.
The Credit Control Room Portal gives UK businesses direct access to NPD’s Credit Vetting facilities, including Company Credit Reports and the NPD Credit Investigation Database on a Pay As You Go basis. No contracts. No monthly fees. Simply pay for the services you use. Sometimes spending a few pounds before supplying credit can save you thousands of pounds — and a great deal of aggravation — afterwards.
Q. Why is this company such a good example of the importance of Credit Checking?
A. Because the adverse information did not suddenly appear. The CCJs started in 2022 and continued through 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, eventually exceeding £90,000.
Q. Could suppliers have seen the warning signs?
A. Yes. Much of the information was available through basic Credit Checks and public records. The important point is not what decision a supplier should have made, but that they should have had the information before deciding whether to risk their money.
Q. Does NPD tell a customer whether they should grant credit?
A. No. We provide the information. The decision whether to offer credit, how much credit to offer, or whether to insist on pro forma terms is entirely the customer’s decision.
Q. What happened when NPD customers checked this company?
A. Our customers have checked the company five times over the last four years. Based on the information supplied, all chose to offer pro forma facilities only.
