Before you extend credit to a new supplier, you need to know whether their directors have verified who they are: 602-company monitor shows why 0% worsening is not a free pass

This month’s read is stable, but stability alone is not a clean bill of health. In a 602-company assessment to 29 July 2026, 0% showed worsening in how late they are filing. At first glance that looks reassuring. The catch is that 595 companies, or 98.84%, sat in the insufficient data tier, so most names still do not have enough history for a firm trend call.

What this month’s monitor shows The aggregate picture is thin rather than strong. Of the 602 companies assessed, 4 were classed as mixed, equal to 0.66%. Just 1 company, or 0.17%, was always clean. Another 1, or 0.17%, was mixed history, and 1 more, or 0.17%, was stabilising. That matters because routine Companies House filing duties still apply across the board. The Companies House annual filing requirements remain one of the simplest external checks on whether a business is keeping basic governance in order. A result of 0% worsening is only useful when enough companies have a long enough record to judge whether filings are arriving on time.

Why it matters for UK SMEs and credit checks The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is the 2023 law that now requires directors to verify their identity with Companies House. Under Companies House guidance on identity verification, that requirement has been mandatory since 18 November 2025.

Run a full forensic check on any UK company. recoup-iq.tech/forensic-report (£167) For SME creditors, the practical point is straightforward. If a business has a thin filing record and you cannot build a clear picture of whether filings are arriving on time, you should lean harder on identity verification checks before offering terms. Post-deadline non-compliance can be a sign of fronting or phoenix behaviour, where one person stands in for another or a failed business reappears in a new shell. Treat this month’s monitor as a warning against over-reading a headline number. Zero worsening is not the same as low risk when 98.84% of the sample is still too immature to judge. Check ECCTA verification status on any UK Ltd: recoup-iq.tech/check-a-debtor

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