Eight Companies Fined PLN 2.6M for Payment Backlogs

• In 2026, the President of UOKiK has issued eight decisions imposing fines totalling over PLN 2.6 million for payment backlogs.
• He has also initiated seven proceedings against companies that fail to pay their contractors on time.
• In addition, he has issued disciplinary notices to a further 69 businesses, urging them to improve their payment practices. Since the beginning of 2026, the President of UOKiK has imposed fines totalling over PLN 2.6 million on eight companies that caused payment backlogs totalling over PLN 200 million. The companies operate in the pharmaceutical, industrial, freight forwarding, and construction sectors. The penalised companies are: Teva Pharmaceuticals Polska, Volvo Polska, Elektrobudowa, Delpharm Poznań, Expres-Konkurent, Optima Logistics Group, SPX Flow Technology Poland and Nivea Polska.

By way of comparison, in 2025, the President of UOKiK issued 29 decisions imposing fines totalling over PLN 10 million, and only four companies requested a review. The remaining 25 entities did not contest the findings and paid the fines imposed, thereby securing a 20 per cent reduction of the maximum amount.

New proceedings

In March 2026, the President of UOKiK also initiated proceedings against seven companies that are in arrears with their payments: Bialmed, the PSB Handel Group, Inter-Team, Aluprof, Roche Polska, Moto-Profil, and Motorol Automotive. These companies operate in the pharmaceutical, construction, and automotive sectors.

Proceedings are instituted ex officio based on analyses conducted by UOKiK. The information may originate from notices submitted by entities suspecting that they have fallen victim to a payment gridlock.

Notifications sent to traders

In early 2026, the President of UOKiK sent letters to 69 businesses, informing them of the irregularities identified and the possible consequences of further delays in payments to suppliers. These are so-called ‘soft calls’, forming part of a broader prevention strategy aimed at shaping businesses’ awareness and payment culture, and enabling them to change their practices without the need to initiate proceedings. This allows UOKiK to act more swiftly by clarifying emerging concerns and eliminating potential irregularities from the market. In 2025, 177 businesses received such soft calls.

– Soft calls are an important and effective tool in combating payment backlogs. Around half of the businesses to which we direct such calls immediately improve their payment practices. Furthermore, the vast majority provide explanations regarding their situation, the circumstances, and the reasons for the payment backlogs. However, in the absence of a clear improvement in the timely settlement of liabilities, we initiate administrative proceedings – says the President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny.

The consequences of payment backlogs

A situation in which businesses do not receive timely payments from their contractors leads to the accumulation of debt. The liabilities accumulated in this way affect other entities linked within the supply chain, negatively impacting the financial liquidity of the entire business environment. This constitutes a significant barrier to conducting business.

Both non-payment and long payment terms imposed by large businesses on economically weaker suppliers, particularly those in the SME sector, generate numerous negative consequences for the economy as a whole. These include creditors’ inability to settle their own liabilities and the incurrence of additional costs associated with monitoring receivables and debt collection. More far-reaching consequences may include a decline in investment or the need to increase the prices of products or services.

A contributing factor to payment backlogs is the period of economic slowdown to which businesses across Europe have been exposed in recent years.

– The economic climate alone is not the only factor determining whether payment backlogs increase or decrease. Business ethics and payment culture also play a significant role. Many companies exceed payment deadlines and use money owed to suppliers to finance their day-to-day operations. They grow at the expense of their business partners – says the President of UOKiK.

Are you a victim of backlogs? Notify UOKiK

The applicable regulations allow for reporting to the President of UOKiK any suspicion that a given company is excessively delaying payments. Such notification must contain four elements: identification of the entrepreneur concerned, a description of the facts on which the notification is based, evidence that the delays are actually taking place, and the identity of the notifying party. The notification must be accompanied by documents that can confirm the delays in payment.

UOKiK will analyse such a notification to determine whether there has been an excessive delay in the payment of sums due, and will monitor the payment practices of the entities concerned.

Information for the media

| | +48 603 124 154 |
| | biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl |
| | Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1
00-950 Warszawa |

Follow us

| @UOKiKgovPL | |

Find out more about payment backlogs

Files to download

Press release (2026.04.14) 0.14 MB
docx payment backlogs, penalty, proceedings

See also

Late payments – more businesses under scrutiny by UOKiK 29.10.2025

Payment backlogs - activities of the President of UOKiK 20.08.2025

Payment backlogs – further decisions and soft calls 12.05.2025

Payment backlogs – a challenging year 03.02.2025

Payment backlogs – further proceedings 06.11.2024

Clean energy and dirty practices. The President of UOKiK has imposed fines totalling over 7 million PLN on companies in the renewable energy sector 27.03.2026

SWPS University and Lublin University of Technology – fines for the universities, refunds for students 27.03.2026

Pre-paid phone – you use it as needed? Not with Orange 04.02.2026

Collusion in the labour market? President of UOKiK presses charges against Biedronka and transport companies 14.07.2025

When a handbag becomes “luggage” – Live Nation’s cunning move 07.07.2025

Newsletter

Stay up to date!

Sign up