HomeSituationsProjects & contractsPayment tension
TN/SIT/25
Edition 2027 · effective 1 January 2027
Projects & contracts · Payment tension
Work is done. Payment is not. The supply chain is waiting.
Payment disputes threaten small firms first. A quick independent evaluation or determination keeps cash moving.
§ 01What it looks like
Recognise it early. The earliest moment is the cheapest.
Early signals
What you notice first
Small, and easy to explain away.
- Invoices are disputed late
- Set-offs are applied without explanation
- Subcontractors slow down
- Statutory adjudication is threatened
What is at stake
What waiting can cost
Usually more than the original issue.
- Cash flow and solvency
- Project progress
- Relationships down the chain
§ 02The Neutral route
Usually: Neutral Evaluation.
An evaluator or expert can settle the defined amount fast.
Usual first role · Advisory
Neutral Evaluation
You decide. The evaluator advises.
Also used · Binding by contractExpert Determination
The expert decides the defined question.
Human checkpoint. Guidance, not legal advice. You choose the role; the Neutral discloses conflicts and accepts a mandate before any file is shared.
§ 03The steps
What a good process looks like.
- Reconcile the account line by lineBefore anything else01
- Agree which items are really disputedThe moment independence enters02
- Refer disputed items to an expertWhere the work is done03
- Pay what is not disputedSo it holds04
§ 04Prepare and avoid
What to bring. What to leave out.
(Bring)
01
Contract payment terms
02
Applications and certificates
03
Correspondence
04
Evidence of work
(Avoid)
✕
Holding undisputed sums hostage
§ 05Your version
Every situation is different. Describe yours.
Write in your own words. Leave out names and confidential details.
§ 06Related