Subcontractors call goverment line to complain about payments
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Subbies have overwhelmed the government with calls recagrding govement contacts and late payments by large contractors like Cariilion and Mitie about their procurement process.
The mystery shopper line which enables contractors to report those companies holding payments later than the 30 days outlined in government contracts.
The Government has now decided to keep its Mystery Shopper complaints scheme running through 2014 and introduce a new regime of spot-checks on public bodies to make sure their procurement is small business friendly.
The line open to the public was launched three years ago, subcontractors and suppliers have made 540 complaints in total about bad payment and procurement practice, and most recently several cases of late payment by main contractors.
The complaints which are anonymous have triggered Government investigations into its departments procurement practices, with 80% of cases resolved, many leading to changes in procedures by council and public procurers, like NHS trusts and other infrastructure projects like roads and railways.
If you telephone number if you are experiencing difficulties in getting payments please use the email MysteryShopper@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning the Government Service Desk on 0845 000 4999.
Matthew Hancock who is the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise commented : ”As part of major public procurement reforms to be implemented in 2014 we will go even further.
“We will make sure small firms get treated fairly by mandating prompt payment terms all the way down a public procurement supply chain, and ensuring public bodies report on their prompt payment performance.
