Score of 82.9/100 qualifies for PaymentCheck Certification
First Central Services (UK) Limited demonstrates a strong overall payment speed, with an average settlement time of 21 days and 87% of invoices paid within 30 days. The concentration of late-bucket payments falls predominantly in the 31–60 day range (12%), with minimal exposure beyond 60 days (1%), suggesting that when delays occur, they are relatively contained and do not escalate into prolonged defaults. This distribution indicates a generally prompt payment profile with a consistent tendency to resolve most obligations well within standard commercial terms.
Despite the favourable average payment time, the 47% late payment rate represents a significant reliability concern, indicating that nearly half of all invoices are not settled on their originally agreed due dates. This disconnect between a low average payment time and a high late rate suggests that a substantial portion of invoices may carry short agreed terms (e.g., 7–14 days), making technical lateness common even when absolute payment speed remains acceptable. Suppliers should treat this metric as a flag for cash flow planning purposes, particularly if operating under tight liquidity conditions or short payment terms.
Overall, First Central Services (UK) Limited presents a moderate-to-acceptable payment risk profile, best suited to suppliers who can tolerate occasional short delays without material financial impact. The key decision factor is the misalignment between contracted payment terms and actual payment behaviour, which warrants proactive management rather than avoidance. Suppliers are advised to negotiate realistic payment terms (30 days net), build buffer periods into cash flow forecasts, and consider early payment incentives to improve on-time settlement consistency.
| Reporting Period | Filing Date | Average Time to Pay (days) | Paid within 30 days | Paid 31-60 days | Paid after 60 days | Not Paid within Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2025 | 30 Jan 2026 | 21 | 87% | 12% | 1% | 47% |
This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.
Standard payment terms
First Central Services UK (FCS UK) standard payment terms are 30 days from the date of the invoice, unless otherwise agreed in the contract. Some contracts have payment terms shorter than 30 days.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No information available
Any other information about payment terms
No additional information
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
30
All invoices which are processed by FCS UK are processed against an approved Purchase Order, which has been approved by an authorised signatory. If there is a dispute relating to the payment, the Purchase Order Raiser or relevant Business Contact will contact the supplier to discuss the query and payment will be made once the query is resolved. This is normally once a credit note or a revised invoice has been received.
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices?
For example, signatories to The Prompt Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
❌
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
❌
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
❌
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
❌
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No information available
First Central Services (UK) Limited is a UK-registered company with the stated business activity of other business support services. Evidence indicates it forms part of First Central Group, a Guernsey-registered group trading as 1st Central Group, which operates as a UK personal lines insurer offering motor and home insurance under brands including 1st Central and Picnic. The group states it built its own technology and data platform, serves around 1.4 million customers, and works with UK price comparison websites and a network of repairers. This entity's own registered role sits within that wider group structure, supporting its UK insurance operations, rather than acting as the insurer or technology owner itself.
Generated from the company's website and Companies House records. Sources: firstcentralgroup.com · firstcentralgroup.com · firstcentralgroup.com