LATE payment is rife in all sectors - and in the credit crunch climate, experts predict that the problem is only going to get worse.

"As trading conditions continue to get tougher in 2008 and accounts departments hold off making payments to protect their own cash flow position, some difficult decisions lie ahead," says Darren Cottenden, regional managing director at Cattles Invoice Finance.

But, while bad debts can not always be anticipated, there are some preventative measures that companies can take.