public static function getDefaultByUser(Users $user): Companies
    {
        //verify the user has a default company
        $defaultCompany = UserConfig::findFirst([
            'conditions' => 'users_id = ?0 and name = ?1',
            'bind' => [$user->getId(), self::DEFAULT_COMPANY],
        ]);

        //found it
        if ($defaultCompany) {
            return self::findFirst($defaultCompany->value);
        }

        //second try
        $defaultCompany = UsersAssociatedCompany::findFirst([
            'conditions' => 'users_id = ?0 and user_active =?1',
            'bind' => [$user->getId(), 1],
        ]);

        if ($defaultCompany) {
            return self::findFirst($defaultCompany->company_id);
        }

        throw new Exception(_("User doesn't have an active company"));
    }