BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
Company number: 01800000
Reporting period:
1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025
Report filed on:
28 October 2025
Approved by:
Simon Lowth
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 43 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £3,073,000,000 (49%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £2,594,000,000 (41%)
- in 61 days or more: £591,000,000 (9%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 39%
- in 31 to 60 days: 59%
- in 61 days or more: 2%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £678,000,000
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 2%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
60 days
Standard payment terms
British Telecommunications plc standard payment terms for contracted suppliers are 30 days for smaller suppliers and 60 days for larger suppliers. Some suppliers have mutually agreed non-standard longer terms (maximum 120 days) and others have agreed shorter non-standard terms (e.g. Government contracts on 30 days)
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
120 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:
While the retention clause has been incorporated into agreements with selected suppliers, no funds have been withheld to date under this provision. The mechanism for releasing any retained amounts will be evaluated and executed on a case-by-case basis.
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
No
Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?
Yes: 2%
Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?
No
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
While the retention clause has been incorporated into agreements with selected suppliers, no funds have been withheld to date under this provision. The mechanism for releasing any retained amounts will be evaluated and executed on a case-by-case basis.
Is the money released in stages?
No
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
0%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
0%
Dispute resolution process
BT Group have a standard dispute resolution process across all supplier payments. First point of contact is Accounts Payable, through contact points on website see link → https://rapid2.bt.com/PurchaseToPayApp/SupplierLandingPagePreLive Suppliers can use our support portal : “Register and start using the portal for free.
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
Yes, this business has signed up to: Fair payment code
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.
Yes
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.
Yes
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?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No