RecoupIQ
Sterling Digital Agency Ltd
- Subject company number
- 12345678
- Generated
- 24 September 2026
- Report identifier
- RIQ-SAMPLE7E5T
- Sections
- 19
Confidential · Prepared for the named recipient only
RecoupIQ Ltd · Companies House 16947526 · ICO ZC077511
RecoupIQ Forensic ReportContentsi
Contents
- 01Important Information2
- 02Executive Summary3
- 03Company Identification4
- 04At-a-glance Indicators5
- 05Directors & Directorships6
- 06Group Structure7
- 07Negative Information8
- 08Payment Data, Days Beyond Terms9
- 09Financial Statements10
- 10Directorate Network Scan (Officer Graph)11
- 11Phoenix Pattern Detection12
- 12Detection Engine (Multi-Signal Sweep)13
- 13BBL Exposure (COVID-Era Lending)14
- 14Solvency Assessment (Fiduciary Diagnostic)15
- 15Company Overview (Entity Context)16
- 16Report Scope & Data Coverage (Qualification)17
- 17Statutory Recovery Estimate (Capital Discovery)18
- 18What To Do Next (Recommended Actions)19
- 19Report Verification & Integrity (Evidence Shield)20
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§1 · Important Information2
Section 01
Important Information
This report draws on publicly available data from Companies House, the London Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ network, but the value is not in the raw data. RecoupIQ runs purpose-built machine learning models trained on millions of UK company filings to detect patterns, correlations, and early warning signals that no human could spot by reading filings alone. The risk scores, detection signals, and financial health assessments in this report are the output of these models, not simple lookups of public records. This report is provided for informational purposes only. It is NOT financial advice, NOT legal advice, and NOT a regulated credit rating. The information should not be used as the sole basis for any business decision. We recommend consulting a qualified accountant, solicitor, or licensed insolvency practitioner before taking action. RecoupIQ is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Important, please read
This report draws on publicly available data from Companies House, the London Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ network, but the value is not in the raw data. RecoupIQ runs purpose-built machine learning models trained on millions of UK company filings to detect patterns, correlations, and early warning signals that no human could spot by reading filings alone. The risk scores, detection signals, and financial health assessments in this report are the output of these models, not simple lookups of public records. This report is provided for informational purposes only. It is NOT financial advice, NOT legal advice, and NOT a regulated credit rating. The information should not be used as the sole basis for any business decision. We recommend consulting a qualified accountant, solicitor, or licensed insolvency practitioner before taking action. RecoupIQ is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§2 · Executive Summary3
Section 02
Executive Summary
3 findings require attention. Click any finding below to jump to the relevant section.
Key Findings
| Finding | Detail | Section | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvency score: 41/100 | Financial indicators suggest this company may be under stress. Review the full assessment. | Solvency Assessment → | |
| ML distress probability: 34.2% | Moderate distress signal from our ML model, not critical but worth noting. | Solvency Assessment → | |
| Detection engine: 4 patterns fired | 4 of 11 detection patterns triggered, review each flagged signal. | Detection Engine → | |
| Negative information: 4 items | Gazette notices, HMRC defaults, or petitions were found, review details. | Negative Information → | |
| Phoenix pattern: clear | No phoenix-pattern links found between this company and dissolved predecessors. | Phoenix Pattern Detection → | |
| Recovery estimate: £14,400 | Estimated statutory entitlement under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. | Statutory Recovery Estimate → | |
| Top action: Review the negative information carefully | This company has Gazette notices and HMRC default entries on record. These are serious warning signs. | What To Do Next → |
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§3 · Company Identification4
Section 03
Company Identification
Sterling Digital Agency Ltd (private limited company), active. Incorporated 2017-03-14. Software development services, primarily B2B retail and finance clients.
- Registered name
- Sterling Digital Agency Ltd
- Status
- active
- Incorporated
- 2017-03-14
- SIC code
- 62012, Business and domestic software development
- Registered office
- The Old Print Works, 12 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD
- Company type
- ltd
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§4 · At-a-glance Indicators5
Section 04
At-a-glance Indicators
At-a-glance: status active · Gazette notices present · HMRC defaults present. Two material flags worth reviewing before extending new credit.
- Active status
- active
- Age (years)
- 9
- CCJs
- none recorded
- Gazette notices
- present
- HMRC defaults
- present
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§5 · Directors & Directorships6
Section 05
Directors & Directorships
3 active officers. 1 of 3 active officers holds positions in companies showing elevated distress signals, review for cross-company risk exposure.
Total active officers
3
1 of 3 active officers holds positions in companies showing elevated distress signals, review for cross-company risk exposure.
| Officer | Role | Appointed | Other directorships | High-stress holdings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr James Whitfield | director | 2017-03-14 | 4 | 2 |
| Ms Priya Patel | director | 2019-08-02 | 1 | 0 |
| Mr David O’Connor | company-secretary | 2020-01-10 | 0 | 0 |
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§6 · Group Structure7
Section 06
Group Structure
2 persons with significant control · 0 parent companies · 1 subsidiary mapped.
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§7 · Negative Information8
Section 07
Negative Information
3 negative signals surfaced across Gazette, HMRC, and winding-up petition feeds. Review each item before extending new credit.
Total negative signals
3
Gazette notices
| Type | Date | Petitioner | Debt (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| winding-up-petition | 2026-03-12 | TechStack Hosting Ltd | £18,450 |
HMRC defaults
| Period | Amount (GBP) |
|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | £24,300 |
| 2025-Q3 | £8,920 |
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§8 · Payment Data, Days Beyond Terms9
Section 08
Payment Data, Days Beyond Terms
Across 14 observed invoices, average days beyond terms is 23, on-time rate 31%. Sourced from the RecoupIQ network, peer software-agency observations, not supplier-feed extrapolation.
Sourced from the RecoupIQ network. Each invoice you and other UK software agencies process improves this signal, Creditsafe DBT comes from supplier feeds; ours comes from peer agencies.
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§9 · Financial Statements10
Section 09
Financial Statements
Latest period end 2025-03-31. Auditor noted material uncertainty over going concern relating to a major customer concentration risk and reliance on a single key engineering hire.
Latest period end: 2025-03-31
- Turnover
- £1,840,000
- Net assets
- £142,500
- Profit
- -£68,400
- Director loans
- -£89,200
- Current ratio
- 0.82
- Audit qualified
- yes
Going concern note
Auditor noted material uncertainty over going concern relating to a major customer concentration risk (top 1 customer = 42% of revenue) and reliance on a single key engineering hire.
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§10 · Directorate Network Scan (Officer Graph)11
Section 10
Directorate Network Scan (Officer Graph)
RecoupIQ has mapped 6 structural entity links. Detected 2 non-active entity links, verification of cross-company guarantee exposure recommended.
Linked entities
- Sterling Digital Labs Ltd · low risk
- Whitfield Holdings Ltd · low risk
- Capulet Studios (Dissolved) · high risk
- Stratford Software Ltd (Dissolved) · high risk
- Patel Consulting Ltd · low risk
- JW Ventures Ltd · low risk
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§11 · Phoenix Pattern Detection12
Section 11
Phoenix Pattern Detection
Phoenix-pattern signal: this company shares directors with 1 dissolved predecessor dissolved within the phoenix detection window. Review carefully before extending credit.
Phoenix verdict
Phoenix-pattern signal detected. Phoenix-pattern signal: this company shares directors with 1 dissolved predecessor dissolved within the phoenix detection window. Review carefully before extending credit.
Predecessor companies
| Name | Number | Dissolved | Shared officers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capulet Studios Ltd | 09876543 | 2017-01-08 | 1 |
Director phoenix history
- Mr James Whitfield · 2 dissolved companies
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§12 · Detection Engine (Multi-Signal Sweep)13
Section 12
Detection Engine (Multi-Signal Sweep)
RecoupIQ's detection engine ran 11 machine-learning-driven pattern checks. 4 detection patterns fired in combination, significantly elevated risk profile. Review each flagged signal before extending material credit. 4 signal sources are pending ingestion.
Signals fired
4 of 11
RecoupIQ's detection engine ran 11 machine-learning-driven pattern checks. 4 detection patterns fired in combination, significantly elevated risk profile. Review each flagged signal before extending material credit. 4 signal sources are pending ingestion.
| Signal | Status | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Gazette notices This company has published Gazette insolvency-related notices (winding-up petitions, striking-off, or administration). 1 Gazette notice on file for this company. | ● Fired | Live |
| Sentinel counterparty insolvency Same-day Companies House status-change in the officer-graph (24-48h ahead of Gazette publication). | ○ Clear | Pending |
| News counterparty distress A counterparty appearing in distressed UK news in the last 30 days, matched via officer-graph overlap. | ○ Clear | Pending |
| Director-network risk Active officers hold positions on dissolved or stressed companies, proxy for spread risk and phoenix-pattern history. 2 dissolved companies in the active-officer history. | ● Fired | Live |
| Phoenix pattern Shared-officer link to a dissolved predecessor within the phoenix detection window (Insolvency Act 1986 ss.216-217). 1 dissolved predecessor shares active officer(s) with this company. | ● Fired | Live |
| HMRC public deliberate defaulter Cross-match against HMRC's Public Deliberate Defaulters register (published quarterly). Listed on HMRC PDDD: 2 entry/entries. | ● Fired | Live |
| Death-spiral pattern iXBRL-trajectory similarity to known UK pre-administration patterns (multi-quarter accelerating cash burn + debtor stretch). | ○ Clear | Pending |
| Trade-debtor absorption Trade debtors up >30% YoY while cash down >20% YoY, early bad-debt-absorption signal from filed accounts. | ○ Clear | Pending |
| Altman Z'-score: distress zone The company's five key financial ratios place it in the insolvency distress zone (Altman 1983, private-company model). | ○ Clear | Live |
| New going-concern note The company's latest accounts carry a going-concern note where prior-year accounts did not. | ○ Clear | Live |
| Audit opinion drift Accounts downgraded to micro-entity or auditor newly qualified their opinion, a structural reduction in financial transparency. | ○ Clear | Live |
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§13 · BBL Exposure (COVID-Era Lending)14
Section 13
BBL Exposure (COVID-Era Lending)
Companies House records show an OUTSTANDING Bounce Back Loan charge filed by BARCLAYS BANK PLC. Outstanding BBLs are a recognised insolvency-precursor indicator when combined with declining cash positions and should be considered alongside the fiduciary score above.
- BBL Charge Filed
- Yes
- Lender
- BARCLAYS BANK PLC
- Charge Status
- Outstanding
- Charge Date
- 2020-06-22
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§14 · Solvency Assessment (Fiduciary Diagnostic)15
Section 14
Solvency Assessment (Fiduciary Diagnostic)
Solvency score: 41/100. These figures suggest the company may be under financial stress. This is not financial advice and not a credit rating, consult a qualified professional before acting on this information.
41/100
Under Stress
- Current Ratio
- 0.82
- Asset Protection
- Positive
- Director Loans
- Directors owe/are owed money
- ML distress probability
- 34.2%
- Money owed to the company by customers
- ↑ Increases risk
- Cash in the bank
- ↓ Reduces risk
- Number of employees
- ↓ Reduces risk
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§15 · Company Overview (Entity Context)16
Section 15
Company Overview (Entity Context)
Sterling Digital Agency Ltd is active, trading for 9 years, in Business and domestic software development, with 3 negative signals on record.
- Company status
- active
- Years trading
- 9
- Business activity
- Business and domestic software development
- Active officers
- 3
- Latest turnover
- £1,840,000
- Net assets
- £142,500
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§16 · Report Scope & Data Coverage (Qualification)17
Section 16
Report Scope & Data Coverage (Qualification)
This report checked 7 of 10 available data sources (70% coverage). 3 signal sources are pending, coverage will improve as new data pipelines come online.
Best fit
- Companies House identification
- Filed accounts & financial statements
- Director and officer records
- Gazette & public notices
- Phoenix pattern detection
Not ideal for
- Statutory audit opinion or legal advice
- Regulated credit ratings or investment recommendations
- A substitute for your own commercial judgement
- Live data sources
- 7
- Pending sources
- 3
- Overall coverage
- 70%
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§17 · Statutory Recovery Estimate (Capital Discovery)18
Section 17
Statutory Recovery Estimate (Capital Discovery)
Based on publicly filed data, RecoupIQ estimates £18,200 may be recoverable within the 6-year statutory limitation window. After estimated costs, the net figure is approximately £13,104 under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. These are estimates only, actual recovery depends on the debtor's ability to pay and your specific circumstances. Seek legal advice before pursuing a claim.
Breakdown
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Statutory Interest (8%) | £11,830 |
| Fixed Compensation (£70 avg) | £4,550 |
| Statutory Recovery Costs | £1,820 |
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§18 · What To Do Next (Recommended Actions)19
Section 18
What To Do Next (Recommended Actions)
Based on the signals in this report: Investigate the phoenix pattern before extending further credit.
- 1
Investigate the phoenix pattern before extending further credit
This company shares directors with previously dissolved companies. This is a recognised insolvency-risk pattern. Consider whether past company failures are relevant to your commercial relationship.
high impact - 2
Review the negative information carefully
This company has Gazette notices and HMRC default entries on record. These are serious warning signs. If you are owed money, consider sending a formal demand under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 sooner rather than later.
high impact - 3
Assess whether the company can realistically pay
The financial data suggests this company may be under significant stress, an auditor has raised doubts about whether it can continue trading. Consider whether a payment plan or early settlement discount is more practical than pursuing the full amount.
high impact
RecoupIQ Forensic Report§19 · Report Verification & Integrity (Evidence Shield)20
Section 19
Report Verification & Integrity (Evidence Shield)
This report (RIQ-SAMPLE7E5T) has been signed with a cryptographic hash to prove it has not been altered since delivery. The underlying data comes from Companies House filings, the London Gazette, HMRC, and the RecoupIQ network. Every risk score, detection signal, and financial health assessment is produced by RecoupIQ's purpose-built machine learning models, not by simple data lookups. We recommend independent verification of any material claims before acting on them.
Audit trail
| Time | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| T-0s | Report integrity hash generated | COMPLETE |
| T-2s | Companies House accounts data retrieved | COMPLETE |
| T-4s | Gazette and public records cross-referenced | COMPLETE |
This report is a system-generated forensic attestation. It is NOT a statutory audit as defined by the Companies Act 2006 and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. RecoupIQ Ltd · Companies House 16947526 · ICO ZC077511.