The service provides credit checks on 3.5 million UK firms and is used to determine payment terms or credit limits for new clients.
It also evaluates current business payment performance data gathered from a daily invoice flow through Commercial Finance's factoring operations, which is one of the biggest in the UK.
The decision to provide free access to Firstcheck follows the latest Business in Britain research carried out in June by Lloyds TSB, where nearly a third (30%) of companies reported cash-flow problems, with 65% citing late payment by customers as the main cause.
Tracey Gills, credit manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, commented: "In tough trading conditions, late or non-payment by customers can have a disastrous effect on cash flow and is often the main reason why a business begins to struggle.
"Regular credit checking enables a company to spot risks within their existing client base and make contingency plans to deal with any defaults.”
