Industry ranking
Score of 87.3/100 qualifies for PaymentCheck Certification
The average time taken for LOTHIAN BUSES LIMITED to pay invoices to suppliers has fluctuated between 25-32 days over the past three periods. There has been a slight overall decrease in the average time to pay over this time frame.
The volatility of LOTHIAN BUSES LIMITED's payment practices can be seen in the fluctuations of the % of invoices paid within 30 days and % of invoices paid between 31-60 days. These percentages have varied by 5-8% over the past three periods, indicating some instability in the company's payment processes.
From Jan 2018 to Jun 2023, LOTHIAN BUSES LIMITED's average time to pay invoices has ranged from 25-32 days. The company has consistently paid the majority of their invoices within 30 days, with percentages ranging from 56-71%. However, the % of invoices paid between 31-60 days has varied, with a high of 40% in the first half of 2020. The lowest % of invoices paid within 30 days was in the second half of 2023, at 65%. The company's % of invoices paid later than 60 days has remained relatively consistent at 2-4%.
| 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 - 30 Dec 2025 | 26 Jan 2026 | 25 | 67% | 32% | 1% | 1% |
| 01 Jan 2025 - 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Jul 2025 | 22 | 76% | 23% | 1% | 1% |
| 01 Jul 2024 - 31 Dec 2024 | 30 Jan 2025 | 23 | 75% | 24% | 1% | 1% |
| 01 Jan 2024 - 30 Jun 2024 | 18 Jul 2024 | 23 | 74% | 25% | 1% | 1% |
| 01 Jul 2023 - 31 Dec 2023 | 23 Jan 2024 | 25 | 71% | 27% | 2% | 2% |
| 01 Jan 2023 - 30 Jun 2023 | 24 Jul 2023 | 26 | 71% | 27% | 2% | 2% |
| 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Dec 2022 | 27 Jan 2023 | 29 | 65% | 31% | 4% | 4% |
| 01 Jan 2022 - 30 Jun 2022 | 27 Jul 2022 | 28 | 65% | 32% | 3% | 3% |
| 01 Jul 2021 - 31 Dec 2021 | 25 Jan 2022 | 27 | 68% | 30% | 2% | 2% |
| 01 Jan 2021 - 30 Jun 2021 | 30 Jul 2021 | 28 | 66% | 30% | 4% | 4% |
| 01 Jul 2020 - 31 Dec 2020 | 28 Jan 2021 | 27 | 66% | 31% | 3% | 3% |
| 01 Jan 2020 - 30 Jun 2020 | 23 Jul 2020 | 32 | 56% | 40% | 4% | 4% |
| 01 Jul 2019 - 31 Dec 2019 | 08 Jan 2020 | 30 | 59% | 39% | 2% | 2% |
| 01 Jan 2019 - 30 Jun 2019 | 30 Jul 2019 | 28 | 61% | 37% | 2% | 2% |
| 01 Jul 2018 - 31 Dec 2018 | 09 Jan 2019 | 30 | 64% | 34% | 2% | 2% |
| 01 Jan 2018 - 01 Jul 2018 | 06 Jul 2018 | 31 | 61% | 37% | 2% | 0% |
This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.
Standard payment terms
Standard payment terms are end of the month following the invoice date. This can range from 31-60 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
60
Disputes with suppliers are handled by the department manager responsible for ownership of the supply of goods/services, liaising with the procurement manager and the accounts payable team when necessary. On-going disputes will subsequently be referred to the Engineering Director (responsible for procurement) and the Finance Director.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No information available
Lothian Buses Limited operates public bus services across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Trading as Lothian Buses, it runs more than 70 routes with around 700 buses, including city services, the Airlink Airport Express, NightBus overnight routes, Lothian Country, East Coast Buses, and Park and Ride connections. The company also offers private hire coach services under the Lothian Motorcoaches and Eve Coaches brands, and provides special transport for large events and visitor attractions. Customers can pay via contactless, the TapTapCap capping scheme, Ridacards, NECs or the M-Ticket app. The business also runs TravelHub outlets for tickets and information, alongside a CoffeeHub café. It has provided passenger transport in the region for over 100 years.
Generated from the company's website and Companies House records. Sources: lothianbuses.co.uk · lothianbuses.co.uk