A recoverable asset class hiding in almost every file you hold.
Every energy supply, every broker-introduced finance facility, every called PG in an estate you administer may contain undisclosed commission — a live claim asset owed back to the company, and in turn to creditors. Most IPs never run the check. We already work with IP firms across the UK to do exactly that: audit the book, raise the claims, hand the recoveries back to the estate.
A commission audit across every facility the company ever used.
Business energy supply
Undisclosed broker uplifts on unit rates — doctrine runs back to Hurstanger (2007), confirmed in energy by Expert Tooling v Engie (CA, 2024). Claim against the supplier for retention of unfair commission; typical £4k–£40k+ per meter.
Asset and equipment finance
Broker-intermediated HP, lease and commercial mortgages where the commission was never disclosed. A central Johnson fact pattern.
Business loans & MCAs
Term loans, unsecured facilities, merchant cash advances introduced by a packager — undisclosed intro commissions recoverable under the secret-commission doctrine.
Invoice finance & factoring
Advisor-held-out brokers whose commission was absent from the facility letter. Often material given the rolling nature of the facility.
Called personal guarantees
Where the underlying facility carried an undisclosed commission, the unfairness reaches into the PG call. Relevant to directors’ residual liability.
Commercial mortgages
Packager-arranged mortgages with commission disclosed only as ‘may be paid’ — the modern fact pattern most exposed under Johnson-line reasoning.
Referral → audit → recovery. No distraction from the insolvency workload.
- 1
You refer the estate
One email with company name and appointment type. We take it from there. NDA available on request.
- 2
We audit the book
We pull energy contracts, finance facilities and broker disclosures under DSAR. No time burden on your team.
- 3
LOA from the office-holder
One short letter of authority from the IP / office-holder. Clear scope, stated fee, no lock-in.
- 4
Recovery to the estate
Recovered sums paid to the estate account. Our fee — stated % of amount recovered — deducted only on success.
SIP-aware process
Designed with SIP 2 (investigation) and SIP 9 (remuneration disclosure) in mind. Referral paperwork, fee arrangement and reporting language fit directly into your file without rework.
Specialist audit capability
Commission recovery is our only business. We identify claims IPs without specialist resource will routinely miss — particularly on energy broker uplifts and asset finance commissions.
No conflict with creditor interest
Fee is contingent and stated. Proceeds flow to the estate. We hold no position against creditors and no interest in the underlying facility.
Common questions from IPs.
- The audit itself is a cost-free way to discharge part of the SIP 2 investigation into book assets. We provide a written report whether or not claims exist, so the file has evidence of the step having been taken.
Refer an estate or open a framework conversation.
Email the IP desk directly at ips@refunds.energy or call 0330 043 0133. First response within one working day; a named partner contact assigned for ongoing relationships.
Not an IP? Individuals and directors who have been through distress should see our post-insolvency lane instead.