Public payment delays: a reality far worse than official figures for public works companies

• Public payment delays remain massive and structural.
• The official data published by the state does not reflect the reality experienced by businesses.

Whether at the national level or across different levels of government, the survey results show that a very large majority of businesses (over 85%) report average payment delays exceeding the maximum 30-day period. Regarding public companies and network operators, subject to a maximum 60-day period, between 30% and 45% also report payment delays.

These figures are in total contradiction with the official statistics published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which report average delays far below regulatory limits.

This discrepancy is explained by the existence of "hidden delays," which are not taken into account in the public data and which the FNTP (National Federation of Public Works) has been denouncing for several years. These delays may be related to pre-submission verification procedures on the Chorus Pro invoicing portal that are not contractually stipulated, or to illegal invoice rejections. While the removal, at the initiative of the FNTP, in February 2025 of the "amount error" rejection reason was a significant step forward, it did not definitively resolve the problem.

Local micro-enterprises and SMEs are currently the first victims of this situation. Representing nearly 90% of respondents, these businesses have limited financial flexibility and are particularly exposed to cash flow problems, with direct consequences for local employment, investment, and the sustainability of their operations.

The survey also shows that our companies rarely benefit from late payment interest, which is nevertheless a legal right in the event of late payment. Its absence deprives companies of legitimate compensation and reinforces the imbalance between public buyers and businesses.

This asymmetry is all the more glaring given that no control or sanction mechanism exists for public purchasers in the event of late payments. Businesses, on the other hand, are heavily penalized. This inequity risks being exacerbated by the tightening of sanctions, with the government's stated intention to raise the DGCCRF's (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) maximum penalty to 1% of a company's global turnover.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.