Resources
Overdue invoice email templates (UK).
Copy, paste, and send. Three templates for the three stages of chasing a late invoice — a gentle nudge, a firmer reminder, and a final notice — written to get you paid while keeping the relationship intact. Swap in the bracketed details.
The templates
One for each stage of the chase
1 · Gentle reminder (around the due date)
Subject: Invoice [#1234] — quick reminder
Hi [Name],
Just a quick note that invoice [#1234] for [£amount] was due on [date] — it may well have slipped through. You can pay here: [payment link].
Any questions, just reply. Thanks so much!
[Your name]
2 · Firm reminder (~7 days overdue)
Subject: Overdue: invoice [#1234] for [£amount]
Hi [Name],
Invoice [#1234] for [£amount], due on [date], is now [X] days overdue. Could you arrange payment this week? Here's the link: [payment link].
If there's an issue with the invoice, let me know and I'll sort it straight away.
Thanks, [Your name]
3 · Final notice (~14–30 days overdue)
Subject: Final reminder — invoice [#1234] now [X] days overdue
Hi [Name],
Despite previous reminders on [dates], invoice [#1234] for [£amount] remains unpaid and is now [X] days overdue.
Please arrange payment by [final date]. If it isn't settled by then, I may apply statutory interest and consider next steps to recover the amount. Payment link: [payment link].
I'd much rather resolve this simply — please do get in touch.
[Your name]
Do it without the admin
Or let Oprativ draft and time these for you
These work — the hard part is remembering to send them, on the right day, to the right person, every time. Oprativ watches which invoices are due, drafts the right reminder at each stage in your voice, and brings it to you to approve before it goes. You keep control of every word; it just makes sure the chase actually happens. More on chasing unpaid invoices, or see the plans.
Questions, answered.
What should a first polite invoice reminder say?
Keep it short and assume good faith: reference the invoice number, amount and due date, note that it may have been missed, and include a payment link. A friendly one-liner like 'just a quick reminder that invoice #1234 for £X was due on [date] — here's the link to pay' clears most late payments without any friction.
How do I word a firm final reminder before legal action?
Be factual and unambiguous: state the invoice number and amount, how long it's overdue, the reminders already sent, and your intended next step (for example a letter before action or statutory interest) with a clear final date to pay. Stay professional, not emotional — a calm, specific final notice is more effective and better protects you if it escalates.
Should I mention statutory interest in a chase email?
It's worth flagging early on business-to-business invoices. UK law generally lets you add statutory interest (8% plus the Bank of England base rate) plus a fixed recovery charge once payment is overdue. Mentioning that you're entitled to charge it — before you actually apply it — often prompts payment on its own. (General information, not legal advice.)
How many chase emails should I send and when?
A common, reasonable cadence is three: a gentle reminder around the due date, a firmer one at about 7 days overdue, and a final notice near 14–30 days before you consider next steps. Consistency matters more than volume — chasing on a predictable schedule gets you paid faster.
Can I add a payment link to a reminder to get paid faster?
Yes, and you should — removing friction is one of the most effective things you can do. Every reminder should make paying a single click, with the exact amount and invoice reference. The easier you make it, the sooner you're paid.