XBert Type: Standard
Accounting Software: Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks
Country Restriction: GB only
Risk Type: Tax Risk
Business Function: Sales
Overview
The "Invoice Raised with a Cancelled Customer" XBert checks invoices raised in your accounting software and identifies when a customer’s Company Registration Number (CRN) is cancelled or no longer exists on the Companies House register. This alert ensures that you’re invoicing active, registered businesses to reduce financial risk.
What it does
XBert identifies unpaid invoices sent to customers who have a cancelled or dissolved CRN on Companies House. It highlights cases where the customer may no longer be trading, meaning the invoice is unlikely to be paid.
How it works
XBert scans customer contact details for CRNs and checks them against the Companies House database. If the CRN is cancelled or the business is dissolved, and the invoice was created after the cancellation date, XBert raises this alert to flag the potential issue.
This helps you stay ahead of customer credit risk and ensures only legitimate, active businesses are recorded in your ledger.
Example / Use Case
Steve owns a newsagency and sends an invoice for £285 to Dave’s Plumbing for supplies. A few weeks later, Dave’s Plumbing is dissolved and the invoice remains unpaid. XBert picks up the CRN cancellation and alerts Steve, allowing him to act quickly. Steve contacts Dave and resolves the payment before the business is fully closed and funds become unrecoverable.
Accounting software
Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks
Which countries it supports
United Kingdom only
Processes
This XBert falls under Bookkeeping and supports your Sales (Accounts Receivable) workflow.
To resolve the issue:
Select RESOLVE NOW in XBert to review the flagged invoice.
Confirm your customer’s CRN on the Companies House Website.
If the CRN is incorrect, update the customer’s contact details in your accounting software.
If the customer is legitimately cancelled or dissolved, stop issuing new invoices and consider reissuing any open invoices to the correct or updated business entity.
Keeping your customer contact details up to date ensures better cash flow, reduced risk of unpaid debts, and clean records for VAT compliance.