COMPANY bosses in Bury need not keep their fingers crossed any longer in the hope that a client will pay them.

Thanks to Bury Library, they can now utilise a massive computer database to check the creditworthy details of a staggering seven million UK limited companies.

The new business to business service is now up and running at Bury's Central Library and will prove vital to local firms anxious to know if their invoices will be settled.

Gary Phillips, business information librarian, will harness the Experian Link database to source finance and other profile details essential for Bury companies doing business.

And already, local captains of industry are taking advantage of the new key service.

"I've just had an inquiry from one Bury company which is having a credit problem with a firm they're dealing with," said Gary.

The Experian Link database will pinpoint whether businesses being inquired about have a consistent or inconsistent payment pattern and if they have any county court judgments against them. Individual reports, which can be printed by Gary and supplied to business clients, will also detail and break down a company's DBT (Days Beyond Terms) trend.

Commenting on just how beneficial the service will be, Gary said: "This database has credit worthiness details on some seven million companies in the UK."

Those using the service will be charged between £10 and £20 for detailed printed reports culled from the computer.

"I think people will be willing to pay for the reports, certainly for the sake of making sure they'll get paid for a contract, say worth £100,000," added Gary.

"I will be able to provide them with a full report several pages long. The database is really good for coverage of basic information."

Experian Link can also produce information on a company's corporate structure, balance sheet, last accounts, salient ratios, credit evaluation and risk analysis.

This is the latest in a whole series of business-information services which Gary and Bury Library offers.

Others include business starter packs, direct mailing lists from Key British Enterprises, markets information, law information and business factsheets covering tax, NI and VAT.

Now, local firms wishing to be provided with credit details of other companies are asked to ring Gary on 253 5871 with their inquiry.