Pacepay Payroll Solutions Faces Winding-Up Petition
A winding-up petition was presented against Pacepay Payroll Solutions Ltd on 28 October 2026 at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions under case number CR-2026-008346. The presentation of a winding-up petition is a formal court filing and does not constitute a judicial determination that the company is insolvent.
Filing a petition at the Central Registry represents the earliest formal stage of compulsory liquidation proceedings in England and Wales. It signals that a petitioner has applied to the court for a winding-up order under the Insolvency Act 1986, prior to judicial scrutiny, formal gazetting, or any listed hearing.
Petition details
The details recorded on the court CE-File system are summarised below:
| Case Attribute | Record Detail |
| :--- | :--- |
| Case Number | CR-2026-008346 |
| Filing Date | 28 October 2026 |
| Court | Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions (CE-File public search) |
| Case Type | Companies - Petition - Winding Up Petition |
| Petitioning Creditor | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Petitioner's Solicitor | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Claimed Debt | [Check the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Hearing Date | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
For parties requiring formal confirmation of court records for legal proceedings or compliance, a verified search can confirm the current standing: [Get a Winding Up Search Certificate →](#offers-certificate).
Company snapshot
Public filings at Companies House provide the statutory profile for the entity:
- Company Name: PACEPAY PAYROLL SOLUTIONS LTD
- Company Number: 14743238
- Incorporation Date: 20 March 2023
- Company Status: active - proposal to strike off
- Nature of Business (SIC): 82990 (Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified)
- Registered Office: Creative Industries Centre, Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, England, WV10 9TG
- Latest Filed Accounts: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
- Turnover and Net Assets: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
The company register currently shows an active proposal to strike off. Compulsory strike-off actions are initiated by the Registrar under section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006 when statutory filings, such as confirmation statements or annual accounts, are overdue. Where a winding-up petition is presented, the petition takes precedence and the administrative dissolution process is routinely suspended by the Registrar pending the court's decision.
Directors and ownership
Public filings identify the statutory officers and persons with significant control registered for the company. The register records the following directorship appointments:
- Mr Barry Vitaly: Appointed as director on 1 April 2024. British nationality, resident in the United Kingdom, born August 1979. Occupation is not stated in the published source.
- Mr Oscar Louis Cotton: Appointed as director on 20 March 2023, ceased directorship on 2 January 2024. British nationality, resident in the United Kingdom, born November 1995. Occupation is not stated in the published source.
- Mr Adam Lee Vernon: Appointed as director on 15 December 2023, ceased directorship on 1 April 2024. British nationality, resident in the United Kingdom, born January 1991. Occupation is not stated in the published source.
Filings on the Register of Persons with Significant Control (PSC) state:
- Mr Barry Vitaly: Notified on 1 April 2024 as holding 75% to 100% of shares. Position remains active on the register.
- Mr Adam Lee Vernon: Notified on 15 December 2023 as holding 75% to 100% of shares; ceased as PSC on 1 April 2024.
- Mr Oscar Louis Cotton: Notified on 20 March 2023 as holding 75% to 100% of shares, voting rights, and the right to appoint and remove directors; ceased as PSC on 15 December 2023.
These entries represent factual public records on appointment and shareholding control. They do not imply involvement in or liability for the court petition.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
There are no recent insolvency notices or statutory advertisements recorded in The Gazette in relation to this petition. Under Rule 7.10 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, a petitioner cannot advertise a winding-up petition until at least seven business days have elapsed following formal service upon the company, unless the court orders otherwise.
Advertisement in The Gazette normally triggers the freezing of the company's bank accounts by clearing institutions, as banks seek to protect themselves against statutory clawback provisions.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
The presentation of a petition creates substantial transactional exposure for trading partners. Under section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986, if a winding-up order is ultimately made, any disposition of the company's property, including payments made from its bank accounts after the date of presentation, is void unless sanctioned by a validation order from the court.
For commercial counterparties, this creates practical financial risks:
1. Clawback of Payments: Creditors receiving payments between 28 October 2026 and the final hearing date face potential recovery claims from an appointed liquidator if the company is wound up without a validation order.
2. Supply Chain Disruption: A company facing a petition may see banking facilities frozen once the petition is served or advertised, impairing its ability to honour ongoing obligations or payroll disbursements.
3. Retention of Title: Suppliers delivering physical goods must ensure retention of title clauses are registered and enforceable before dispatching new consignments.
Counterparty exposure assessment framework
Credit teams managing trading accounts with a company subject to a petition filing should execute a standard exposure mitigation checklist:
- Review Open Balances: Calculate total unsecured debt, accrued but uninvoiced deliverables, and pending payments.
- Freeze Credit Limits: Suspend open account trading and transition to cash-in-advance terms or verified direct payments.
- Examine Contract Terms: Identify termination clauses, payment acceleration triggers, and rights to reclaim delivered goods.
- Monitor Registry Status: Track whether the petition proceeds to an advertised hearing, is adjourned, or is dismissed by consent.
Worked scenario: handling post-petition transactions
Consider an administrative services supplier owed £12,000 across two mature invoices, with a contract to deliver £4,000 of ongoing technical assistance. The supplier discovers a petition was filed against the client three business days prior.
If the supplier accepts a £12,000 bank transfer now and the court subsequently makes a winding-up order, a court-appointed liquidator can demand repayment of that £12,000 under section 127. To manage this safely, the supplier halts further credit, requires payments for new services to be pre-funded or validated, and assesses whether the debtor has applied for a validation order under section 127 before accepting substantial historic debt repayments.
How to investigate further
Credit managers, risk analysts, and commercial counterparties should verify updates directly through primary sources:
- Check statutory filings through the Pacepay Payroll Solutions Ltd company record.
- Cross-reference current insolvency actions across the UK on the daily winding-up petitions list.
- Review trading relationships across your client ledger using free company monitoring to receive real-time alerts on statutory notices.
Conducting a formal winding up search allows counterparties to identify petitions across other commercial entities prior to completing high-value transactions.
For credit teams and suppliers
A routine winding up search conducted prior to extending trade credit or agreeing major contractual terms protects organisations from void disposition risks under the Insolvency Act 1986. Performing a winding up petition search on counterparties in vulnerable sectors ensures compliance with credit control guidelines and protects against sudden liquidity defaults. Identifying petitions at the presentation stage gives suppliers critical days to secure their positions before bank accounts are frozen.
FAQ
What does the presentation of a winding-up petition indicate?
It indicates that a creditor has filed a formal petition in court seeking the compulsory liquidation of a company to satisfy an unpaid debt. It is not an order for winding up, and the company has the legal right to dispute the debt, settle the claim, or apply to have the petition restrained.
How does section 127 affect payments received by creditors?
If a winding-up order is made, section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 voids any disposal of the company's property made after the petition presentation date. A court-appointed liquidator can reclaim payments made to suppliers during this interim period unless the court grants a validation order.
How long after filing is a petition hearing held?
A hearing is typically listed several weeks to two months after filing, depending on court availability and jurisdiction. Creditors must check court records directly to obtain the specific listing date.
Why can a company have both a strike-off proposal and a winding-up petition?
Strike-off proposals are initiated administratively by Companies House for failure to file annual documents. A winding-up petition is a judicial action initiated by a creditor. Once aware of a petition, Companies House generally halts administrative strike-off actions to let the court process resolve the company's legal status.
When is a winding-up petition advertised?
Under the Insolvency Rules, a petition is usually advertised in The Gazette no earlier than seven business days after service on the company and no later than seven business days before the scheduled court hearing.
***
This report summarises a petition recorded at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. Presentation of a petition is not a determination of insolvency; the outcome is a matter for the court. Companies believing they are named incorrectly should email contact@corp-intel.co.uk.