Monsoon enters 'Hall of Shame' after lengthening payment times The move came as a Lloyds TSB survey showed that 35pc of small and medium-sized businesses are suffering cash flow problems, largely as a result of customers delaying payments. Monsoon joins Sainsbury's, GlaxoSmithKline and other leading companies on the forum's list of companies increasing pressure on suppliers through significant changes in trading terms. The company has lengthened payment times from 60 to 90 days and has told suppliers to provide a mandatory 4pc discount on their bills. One supplier told The Daily Telegraph: "Many of Monsoon 's suppliers are small businesses who simply cannot afford this assault on their margins. Frankly it makes the action of banks and other financial institutions look positively benign by comparison. The forum feels that Monsoon is abusing the invoice discounting initiative supported by the Prime Minister by offering a 10pc discount on invoices paid within seven to 10 days of goods being delivered and 5pc for payment within 30 days. Robert Downes, a spokesman for the forum, said that suppliers were being hit with a "double whammy" by increasing payment times and then imposing "an outrageous 4pc supplier's invoice discount charge." The forum is writing to Steve Black, Monsoon 's interim chief executive, asking him to think again and sign up for its Prompt Payment Code. Monsoon declined to comment on the forum's move after earlier stating that it had agreed varied discounts with trading partners that helped drive growth and sustainability for the business and its suppliers. The Lloyds commercial finance survey covering 1,800 businesses showed that the proportion of companies reporting cash flow pressures had risen from 28pc to 35pc over the past year. The number blaming late payments for their difficulties is down slightly from 60pc to 54pc, but Lloyds said that the delays are still the biggest single cause of cash flow problems.