If your skip delivery never arrived, or there is a full skip on your drive and the company has stopped trading, this guide shows exactly what to do to protect your money, stay compliant, and get your waste cleared quickly.

Quick actions

• Check the company’s status and note any administrator or liquidator contact. You can search GOV.UK and The Gazette for live insolvency notices. GOV.UK

• Gather evidence. Save booking confirmations, receipts, dates, and photos of the skip.

• If you paid by card, consider Section 75 or chargeback routes. Citizens Advice explains the rules and how to claim. Citizens Advice.

• If your skip is on a public road, keep required safety lights and markings in place and speak to your council about the permit. Fines can apply if lights and markings are missing. GOV.UK

• Need waste gone now? Compare new suppliers with Skip Hire Comparison and pick the right container with our skip sizes guide.

What “gone bust” means for your skip

When a company enters liquidation or administration, a licensed insolvency practitioner is appointed and company assets are controlled and sold for the benefit of creditors. Skips owned by the company are treated as assets within that process. GOV.UK

If the skip is at your property, avoid moving it yourself. Make a note of the skip’s location and condition, then follow the steps below.

Step-by-step: deal with a failed skip hire

1) Confirm the company status

• Search GOV.UK’s “find out if a company is in financial trouble” service. You will need the company name or number. GOV.UK

• Look up insolvency notices in The Gazette, which lists administrations and liquidations with contact details for the appointed practitioner. m.thegazette.co.uk

Record the case number and the insolvency practitioner’s contact details.

2) Decide your money recovery route

• Credit card payments of £100 to £30,000 may qualify under Section 75. Your card provider can be jointly liable if the supplier fails to deliver. Citizens Advice

• Debit cards or smaller credit card amounts may be eligible for chargeback. Citizens Advice explains how to start a claim. Citizens Advice

• You can also register as a creditor with the liquidator for any amounts you cannot reclaim through your bank, although recoveries are not guaranteed. GOV.UK

3) If a skip is already on your property

• Private land. Leave the skip in place and contact the insolvency practitioner to request collection or written permission for an alternative solution. The practitioner manages company assets during liquidation. GOV.UK

• Public road. You or the supplier need a valid skip permit, and the skip must have safety lights, reflective markings, traffic cones and the supplier’s contact details where required. Councils can issue fines for missing lights and markings, up to £1,000. GOV.UK

  • Use GOV.UK’s “Skip licence” finder to reach your local council for rules in your area. GOV.UK

4) Clear the waste safely and legally

• If you need a new container, compare prices and availability with Skip Hire Comparison.

• Pick the right size first time to avoid extra costs: 6 yard, 8 yard, 10 yard, 12 yard.

• Keep your duty of care. Make sure any new supplier is licensed and that you receive a waste transfer note. The Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice sets out what you must do. GOV.UK

Template messages you can use

Email to the insolvency practitioner

Subject: Skip on site and unfulfilled booking

Hello,
I booked a skip with [Company] on [date], order ref [ref]. A [size] skip is currently at [address]. Please confirm collection arrangements or provide written permission for an alternative licensed carrier to remove the waste.
I have attached evidence of payment and photos.
Kind regards,
[Name]
[Phone]

Message to your card provider

I paid £[amount] to [Company] on [date] for skip hire that was not delivered or completed. The firm has stopped trading. I would like to make a claim under Section 75 or chargeback as appropriate. Evidence attached.

Citizens Advice has a Section 75 template you can adapt. Citizens Advice

Practical options to get waste removed now

1. Book a replacement skip today with Skip Hire Comparison.

2. Review sizes before you book, so you only pay for the space you need: skip sizes guide.

3. On-road placement. Read our skip permits guide and check your council’s rules via GOV.UK. GOV.UK

FAQs

Can another company collect a rival’s skip from my drive?
Usually only the owner of the skip or the appointed insolvency practitioner can authorise collection because skips are assets of the insolvent company. Get written permission before arranging anything. GOV.UK

What happens to my existing permit if the company goes bust?
Permits are issued for placing a container on the public highway and are often tied to the operator. Speak to your council and the insolvency practitioner. You must keep lights and markings in place while the skip remains. GOV.UK

Will I get my money back?
It depends on how you paid and the insolvency outcome. Try Section 75 for eligible credit card payments, or chargeback for debit cards. If that fails, register as a creditor with the practitioner. Recoveries are not guaranteed. Citizens Advice

Do I still have a duty of care for the waste?
Yes. You must ensure waste is transferred to an authorised carrier and recorded correctly. The Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice explains your obligations. GOV.UK

Helpful links

• GOV.UK: Skip licence finder and safety requirements. GOV.UK

• GOV.UK: Find out if a company is in financial trouble. GOV.UK

• The Gazette: Corporate insolvency notices. m.thegazette.co.uk

• Citizens Advice: Section 75 and chargeback guidance. Citizens Advice

• DEFRA and Environment Agency: Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice. GOV.UK