UK businesses saw a 27 percent surge in the number of adverse debt judgments last year, according to national statistics issued by TrustOnline. Over the same period, the number of online searches by people checking judgment status grew by ten percent.
During 2017, 109,000 judgments were registered against businesses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the highest total since 2014. But the average value of a judgment fell by almost a quarter year-on-year, leading to a continued fall in the total value of business judgments. These statistics cover county court judgments registered in England & Wales; ordinary cause and small claims decrees registered in Scotland; and default and small claims decrees from Northern Ireland.
Malcolm Hurlston CBE from TrustOnline said “More people are realising the need to check the judgment status of firms they are doing business with. A trader who has form with judgments may not be reliable to receive deposits or still be around to finish your job.
Judgments against businesses 2017 (compared with 2016):
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Total: 108,639 (up 27 percent)
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Total value: £329.07m (down two percent)
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Average value: £3,029 (down 23 percent)
