A UK-based retailer had significant aged receivables linked to supplier funding that remained unpaid and disputed due to claim submission timeframes.
PRGX used its industry-leading expertise and technology to deliver a structured AR debt recovery approach that combines detailed investigation, evidence-led claims, and active supplier engagement.
£1.7m
Recovered from
major global supplier
£3m
Total value of disputed AR balances
£76k
Recovered from second supplier using same methodology
Challenge
A leading UK retailer engaged PRGX to support the recovery of aged accounts receivable balances relating to supplier funding.
While the retailer had already raised invoices for these items, a significant portion remained unpaid and disputed, primarily due to supplier claims that funding had not been submitted within contractual timeframes.
Key challenges included:
- Highly aged invoices, ranging from 90 days to over 360 days
- Supplier disputes citing claim submission deadlines
- Limited internal capacity to investigate historical evidence at line level
- Risk of further time elapsing, reducing recoverability
The total value of disputed AR balances passed to PRGX was nearly £3 million.
Approach
PRGX applied a disciplined, line-by-line investigative methodology designed to identify which claims remained valid, recoverable, and supported by evidence.
PRGX was provided with detailed line-level data, including:
- Supplier references
- Claim and invoice dates
- Values raised with suppliers
- Promotional and funding details
From this data, PRGX:
- Prioritised lines with the highest recovery potential
- Conducted detailed reviews of AP and AR records to confirm whether funding had already been recognised or partially settled
- Reviewed historical supplier and client correspondence to validate promotional terms and funding agreements
- Recalculated funding where discrepancies were identified between recorded and agreed terms
- Verified whether funding had been communicated within supplier claim timeframes
Evidence-Led Claim Validation
Where PRGX identified sufficient evidence to support recovery, a formal PRGX claim was created, including:
- Clear claim summary and rationale
- Recalculated funding values
- Daily sales analysis by product (using PRGX-acquired sales data)
- Supporting email and contractual evidence
Where evidence did not support recovery, findings were clearly documented and communicated back to the client, ensuring focus remained on claims with the highest likelihood of success.
Recovery
PRGX managed the recovery process in parallel with ongoing investigation to avoid further ageing of claims.
Key recovery activities included:
- Raising claims with suppliers as soon as eligibility was confirmed, rather than waiting for completion of the full population review
- Ongoing engagement with suppliers through weekly working sessions
- Coordinating with the client’s AR function to ensure invoices were raised promptly following supplier agreement
- Providing regular progress updates to senior stakeholders, including recovered amounts and disputed balances
- Escalating complex disputes to commercial teams when required to support supplier negotiations
Recoveries were billed in line with separately agreed contractual fee arrangements.
Results
Through PRGX’s targeted AR debt recovery approach, the client achieved:
- £1.7 million recovered from a major global electronics supplier
- £76k recovered from a second supplier following the same methodology
- Successful resolution of the largest disputed claims, including those challenged on claim timing
- Improved visibility into which aged AR balances were genuinely recoverable
- Accelerated cash inflows without placing additional burden on internal finance teams.
Impact
This case demonstrates how PRGX’s recovery expertise extends beyond traditional AP audit to AR debt recovery, helping clients to:
- Convert known but unpaid receivables into cash
- Resolve complex, time-sensitive disputes with suppliers
- Apply consistent, evidence-based recovery processes
- Focus internal teams on strategic priorities rather than manual investigations
Our experts can help you uncover opportunities across your retail operations. PRGX is the global leader in Retail Merchandise Profit Recovery services. Our proven methodology not only recovers lost spend but also strengthens underlying processes to prevent future leakage.
PRGX combines technology-driven solutions and decades of expertise to help you improve the financial health of your organisation. Speak with our team of experts to discover how our solutions can impact your business.
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