Polestar's payment terms have been criticised by a disgruntled bindery owner who has been forced to issue a writ to recover money.


A writ was issued on 4 January on behalf of Goddard Bindery Group in Slough to recover almost 35,000.


Owner Terry Goddard has since received payments for 22,036 and 3,768 for September invoices but is still waiting for 8,702 for an October invoice.


Goddard said he had agreed to do a one-off rush job for Polestar East Kilbride and verbally agreed payment terms of
60 days.


Polestar's standard terms are 90 days and Goddard's are 30 days, but Goddard said he met the group halfway and agreed on 60.


When he contacted the group at the start of January he was told it did not know when he would be paid. He then decided to take further action.


Goddard also arranged for the transport of the one-piece mailers, which the firm had done on its Hunkeler Master Mailers, to Leeds and Edinburgh and paid the transport bill within 30 days.


A Polestar spokeswoman said the group believed a large chunk of the money was not due under its standard 90 days payment terms and conditions.


"Some small finishers go out of business because of behaviour like that," said Goddard. It is believed that a number of other trade service providers are chasing Polestar for outstanding invoices.


Goddard Bindery Group operates from two premises, one in Slough and one in Newport. It employs 40 staff and has sales approaching 2m.


Goddard slammed Polestar's payment record
compared to rivals like Quebecor, St Ives, Duncan Web Offset and Cooper Clegg, who he described
as "fantastic".


Story by Gordon Carson