There is no single answer because payment time is a commercial term. Some traders pay in 20 or 30 days, some within a week, and some within a day. The registry transfer itself is quick; most of the wait is the trader’s review and payment cycle.
Where the days go
A typical claim passes through four stages: you submit photos and forms, the trader checks them, certificates are created and transferred in the registry, and then payment is released. Each stage can add time. Incomplete evidence is the biggest cause, because a single missing photo can send a claim back to you for days.
| Stage | Who controls it | Typical delay |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | You | Hours, if the set is complete |
| Compliance check | Trader | Same day to several days |
| Registry transfer | Trader and registry | Short |
| Payment release | Trader terms | Next day to 30 days |
What speeds it up
Complete photo sets, correct serial numbers, a signed assignment form and clean details at the first attempt. Our photo requirements guide and assignment form guide are designed for that. The faster you submit, the sooner the clock starts.
What slows it down
Rejections, queries, mismatched details and slow trader terms. If you are waiting more than a few days with no update, ask for the status and the reason in writing.
What this means for installers
At Energy Merchants, established partners are paid within 24 hours of sign-off, and a new partner’s first claim clears in 48 to 72 hours while we verify details. After that it is next day. Read the how it works page, our insight on how long STC payment should take and the STC trading pillar.
At the time of writing these are our published timelines; check the pricing page for anything that has changed.
If you have a slow payer today, the quickest test of whether it is the trader or your claim is to look at your rejections. If most claims pass first time and are still paid late, it is terms. If many bounce, the problem is evidence, and a faster trader will not fix it by itself, though one with a compliance pre-check will.