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One of the most frequent questions businesses ask before instructing a debt collector is: "Can I claim the cost of using your service back from my debtor?"

In this episode of Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash, Top Service CEO Emma Reilly is joined by Bethany Creswell from the commercial collections team to provide the definitive answer.

The short answer is YES—but how you do it depends on your terms and conditions.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Contractual Interest vs. Statutory Rights: The difference between relying on your own T&Cs versus using government legislation.

• The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Interest Act 1998: How this legislation allows you to claim interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate .

• Compensation Entitlements: How to claim fixed compensation sums ranging from £40 to £100 per invoice depending on the debt size.

• Recovering "Reasonable Costs": How the legislation allows you to claim costs incurred over the fixed sum—meaning your debtor often foots the bill for the debt collection agency.

Stop writing off collection fees as a business expense. Listen now to learn how to make your debtor pay for the cost of their own delay.

Featured Guests:

• Emma Reilly (CEO, Top Service)

• Bethany Creswell (Commercial Collections, Top Service)

Keywords: Debt Recovery Costs, Late Payment Act 1998, Commercial Debt, Interest Calculator, Statutory Interest, B2B Collections, Credit Control.

Resources:

• Use our Late Payment Interest Calculator on the Top Service website to calculate exactly what you are owed.

Subscribe to Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash for your monthly construction credit update.

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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In this season finale of the Managing Retentions mini-series, Emma Reilly (Top Service CEO) presents our panel of industry heavyweights giving their single most important piece of advice for credit professionals.

Moderated by Philip King, this episode distills hours of debate into four actionable takeaways that can save your business thousands in lost retention payments.

The Golden Rules of Retention Management:

• Back to Basics: Simon Howell (Tarmac) explains why "measuring it to manage it" is the only way to succeed—if you don't record it separately, you can't collect it.

• Due Diligence is Key: Charlie Barratt-Meade (Top Service) urges businesses to thoroughly research who they are contracting with before signing on the dotted line. Know the company, know the contract.

• Don't Rely on Friendship: Giuseppe Parla (Menzies) warns that while relationships are vital, they often falter when insolvency hits. His advice? Keep your books and records immaculate so you aren't relying on a "best friend" who can no longer pay.

• Power of the Network: Debbie Nolan (CICM) reminds listeners to utilize the credit community—someone else has likely faced the same retention battle you are fighting right now.

Whether you are a subcontractor fighting for your final 5% or a credit manager looking to tighten your processes, this episode provides the essential toolkit for securing your cash.

Featured Guests:

• Philip King (Moderator)

• Simon Howell (Tarmac)

• Charlie Barratt-Meade (Top Service)

• Giuseppe Parla (Menzies)

• Debbie Nolan (CICM)

Keywords: Retention Collection, Construction Contracts, Insolvency, Credit Management, Record Keeping, Due Diligence, CICM, Tarmac, Menzies.

Subscribe to Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash for your monthly construction credit update.

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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Welcome to the April 2026 edition of the Minimize Debt, Maximize Cash podcast. Host Emma Reilly—Top Service CEO, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), and CICM Council Advisory Member—delivers a vital update on the UK construction landscape and the critical regulatory changes taking effect this month.

In This Episode:

As the industry moves into the second quarter of the year, credit managers are navigating a "perfect storm" of economic pressure and new legislative requirements. Emma breaks down the "boots on the ground" intelligence you need to protect your cash flow.

35 Years of Top Service: Celebrating our 35th anniversary! Emma reflects on the evolution of construction credit and our continued commitment to our members.

The Record Growth Paradox: While the macro outlook feels heavy, Top Service has seen a record number of new customers joining our community this quarter as firms seek real-time trading data to mitigate risk.

Insolvency Watch: Construction continues to account for nearly 17% of all UK corporate insolvencies, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of the sector.

New CIS Legislation: Essential information on the April 6th CIS legislation changes and the increasing compliance burden now facing construction firms.

Smashing Collection Records: How the Top Service collections team is achieving fast and full payments for members, even as industry-wide "Days Sales Outstanding" (DSO) figures creep upward elsewhere.

Emma’s Advice for April 2026:

Leverage the "Seal": Using the Top Service brand on an overdue account acts as powerful leverage to get things done right and fast.

Stay Proactive: Don't just survive the market; set the standard for how construction business should be done by sharing data and staying connected.

Protective Action: If you are concerned about a specific account, reach out for an investigation before the risk escalates.

Connect with Top Service:

LinkedIn: Search "Top Service Limited"

YouTube: Watch the video version of this update on our official channel

Web: www.top-service.co.uk

Register for our newsletter for regular updates of events and webinars. https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

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"I've done the work, so why aren't they paying?" It is the most frustrating question in construction. In this episode of Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash, Emma Reilly continues the October "At the Coalface" review, tackling the difficult subject of clients who simply ignore payment requests.

Moderated by Philip King, our expert panel discusses the tactical steps you can take when a client goes silent, refuses to release retentions, or delays payment without cause.

Key Strategies Discussed:

• The "Pre-Emptive Strike": Simon Howell (Tarmac) explains why waiting for the due date is a mistake. Learn why you must start the dialogue 4 weeks in advance to "flush out" disputes before they delay payment.

• Leveraging Future Business: How to use the promise of future work as a bargaining chip: "I won't sign the next contract until the old retention is paid" .

• The Insolvency Paradox: Guiseppe Parla (Menzies) reveals a surprising truth—retentions are often easier to recover from an insolvent company than a trading one, provided your paperwork is perfect.

• Separate Ledgers: Why keeping retentions on a separate ledger (or purely administrative separation) is the single best way to ensure they don't get "lost" in the system.

• The "Easy Money" Tactic: Why using an external debt agency to clear low-value, high-volume debts frees up your skilled credit team to handle the complex disputes.

Whether you are dealing with a "ghosting" client or trying to secure your final 5%, this episode provides the commercial strategies you need to enforce payment.

Featured Guests:

• Philip King (Moderator)

• Simon Howell (Tarmac)

• Guiseppe Parla (Menzies)

• Debbie Nolan (CICM)

• Charlie Barratt-Meade (Top Service)

Keywords: Non-Payment, Retentions, Construction Law, Insolvency, Debt Recovery, Credit Control, Commercial Leverage, Tarmac, Menzies.

Subscribe to Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash for your monthly construction credit update.

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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"If I don't sign it, I can't start work on Monday." It's the dilemma every subcontractor faces. In this episode of Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash, Emma Reilly brings you the next installment of the "Managing Retentions" webinar, focusing on the legal clauses that can make or break your cash flow.

Moderated by Philip King, our panel of experts—Simon Howell (Tarmac) and Guiseppe Parla (Menzies)—dissects the contract clauses used to withhold payment and how you can protect yourself.

Key Topics Covered:

• The "25-Page Contract" Trap:

Philip King shares a cautionary tale of a roofer who signed a complex contract just to get on site, only to face non-payment later due to technicalities he didn't understand.

• Pay Less Notices:

Simon Howell explains why monitoring these notices is critical—if a contractor fails to issue one in time, you may have a legal right to full payment.

• Suspension of Work:

Learn when you legally have the "power" to stop work due to non-payment and why exercising this right

before

you lose leverage is crucial.

• Insolvency Strategy:

Guiseppe Parla advises on when to be aggressive with collections versus when to nurture a relationship, noting that once a relationship is broken by insolvency, you must act fast to recover debts.

Whether you are negotiating a new contract or dealing with a client refusing to pay, this episode equips you with the knowledge to stand your ground.

Featured Guests:

• Philip King

(Moderator)

• Simon Howell

(Tarmac)

• Guiseppe Parla

(Menzies)

Keywords: Construction Contracts, Pay Less Notice, Non-Payment, Suspension of Work, Insolvency, Subcontractor Rights, Tarmac, Menzies, Legal Clauses.

Subscribe to Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash for your monthly construction credit update.

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

Music by Purple Planet

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Retentions are often written off as "lost profit," but they don't have to be. In this episode of Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash, Emma Reilly continues the deep dive into managing retentions with actionable advice on how to successfully collect these aged debts.

Moderated by Philip King, our expert panel reveals why some businesses fail to collect retentions while others achieve high success rates.

Key Strategies & Insights:

• The 71% Success Rate: Charlie Barratt-Meade (Top Service) reveals that their team successfully collects 71% of retention debts and explains why documentation and open communication are the biggest factors in winning those battles.

• The Insolvency Surprise: Guiseppe Parla (Menzies) shares a counter-intuitive truth: retention recovery rates can actually be higher during an insolvency than in normal trading—provided your books and records are in perfect order.

• Leverage "Future Work": Simon Howell (Tarmac) explains how to use upcoming contracts as a bargaining chip to force payment on old retentions: "I ain't going to agree to that next contract because we are still owed this money" .

• Resource Management: Why getting an external agency (like a DCA) to clear out the "easy money" allows your skilled credit team to focus on the difficult, high-value disputes.

Whether you are a subcontractor struggling to get your final 5% or a credit manager looking to clean up your ledger, this episode offers the tactical advice you need.

Featured Guests:

• Philip King (Moderator)

• Charlie Barratt-Meade (Top Service)

• Simon Howell (Tarmac)

• Guiseppe Parla (Menzies)

• Debbie Nolan (CICM)

Keywords: Retention Collection, Debt Recovery, Insolvency, Construction Finance, Credit Control, Subcontractor Rights, Tarmac, Menzies, CICM.

Subscribe to Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash for your monthly construction credit update.

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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In this episode of Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash, Top Service CEO Emma Reilly brings you key insights from the "Managing Retentions" webinar, featuring industry heavyweights Philip King, Simon Howell (Tarmac), and Guiseppe Parla (Menzies).

Retention payments remain one of the most contentious issues in construction finance. Our panel discusses whether they are here to stay, how to safeguard them, and the critical processes you need to ensure you get paid.

Key Topics Covered:

• Retention Trends: Are retention clauses appearing more or less frequently in contracts? Simon Howell notes a shift in government contracts but warns that Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets still heavily rely on them.

• Risk vs. Reward: Guiseppe Parla highlights the danger of removing retentions entirely, as they often ensure quality, but warns that holding onto them without proper accounting is a major risk if insolvency hits.

• Best Practice for Subcontractors: Why recording retentions in a separate ledger and automating diary reminders is the #1 way to ensure successful recovery.

• The Profit Margin Reality: Philip King reminds us that for many small subcontractors, the retention amount equals their entire profit margin—losing it is not an option.

Whether you are a contractor negotiating terms or a credit manager chasing final payments, this episode provides the expert advice you need to manage retentions effectively.

Featured Guests:

• Philip King (Moderator)

• Simon Howell (Tarmac)

• Guiseppe Parla (Menzies)

Keywords: Retention Payments, Construction Contracts, Insolvency, Credit Management, Subcontractor Finance, Tarmac, Menzies, Cash Flow.

Subscribe to Minimise Debt, Maximise Cash for your monthly construction credit update.

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

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Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the Minimize Debt, Maximize Cash podcast. Host Emma Reilly—Top Service CEO, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), and CICM Council Advisory Member—provides an essential briefing on the shifting economic landscape of the UK construction sector.

While official statistics suggest a slight decline in overall insolvencies, the reality "on the ground" remains incredibly challenging for credit teams. Emma breaks down the current trends and offers actionable advice to protect your business's cash flow.

• Market Reality Check: Why "Volume is Down and Insolvencies are Up" has become the defining phrase of 2026 so far.
• Sector Watch: An analysis of why construction remains the most affected sector in the UK, despite marginal improvements on paper.
• The "Forewarned is Forearmed" Strategy: How to utilize the Top Service member support team to investigate companies with no visible trading history.
• Early Escalation Success: A look at a recent case study where Top Service recovered over £50,000 (plus interest and compensation) in just eight hours while preserving the commercial relationship.
• Insider Intelligence: How our team gathers up-to-the-minute trading experiences to help you make more informed credit decisions.

• Don't Stop at the Report: If a credit report lacks recent experience, call or email Top Service for an active investigation.
• Speed Matters: Early intervention is proving critical in avoiding significant business losses this year.
• Professional Recovery: Utilize skilled debt recovery services that prioritize maintaining your long-term business relationships.

Connect with Top Service:

• LinkedIn: Search "Top Service Limited"
• YouTube: Watch the video version of this podcast on our official channel
• Web:

Register for our newsletter for regular updates of events and webinars. https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

(newsletter link at bottom of page)

To enquire about Top Service services for your Business, go to https://www.top-service.co.uk/contact-us/

Music by Purple Planet

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

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