A final request for payment email says three things: what is owed, by when, and what you will do if it is not paid. Keep it calm and exact. Send it only after a first and a second reminder. Then do what you wrote.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| When | After two reminders and when the invoice is already late by two weeks or more |
| How long | 6 to 8 lines |
| What must be in it | Invoice number, amount, new date, next step |
12 emails you can copy
Twelve final requests for a UK client who has ignored your reminders. Use the steps only if you will take them. Replace every [BRACKET] with a real fact.
Jump to: The plain final requestWith interest or fees (UK business customers only)Before courtA client who is in difficultyA client you want to keepAfter payment
- The plain final requestSubject: Final request: invoice [NUMBER]Hi [NAME], Invoice [NUMBER] for [AMOUNT] was due on [DATE] and is now [DAYS] days overdue. I wrote on [DATE] and [DATE]. Please pay by [DATE]. After that date I will [NEXT STEP, FOR EXAMPLE, ADD STATUTORY INTEREST]. [YOUR NAME]
- Last request, shortSubject: Invoice [NUMBER], payment needed by [DATE]Hi [NAME], This is my last request before I take the next step. The amount is [AMOUNT]. Bank details are on the invoice. If you have paid in the last day, thank you and please ignore this. [YOUR NAME]
- Ask for a reply todaySubject: Final notice, invoice [NUMBER]Hi [NAME], I have not had a reply to my last [NUMBER] emails. Please pay [AMOUNT] by [DATE] or tell me today why you cannot. [YOUR NAME]
More examples, by situation
With interest or fees (UK business customers only)
- Interest has been addedInterest of [AMOUNT] has been added to invoice [NUMBER] under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, with a fixed sum of [40 / 70 / 100] pounds. The new total is [TOTAL]. A new invoice is attached. Please pay by [DATE].
- Interest will be addedIf I do not hear from you by [DATE], I will charge statutory interest and the fixed sum on this invoice. [ADD IF TRUE: ONLY IF YOU WILL.]
Before court
- A claim may followIf this is not paid by [DATE], I will start a county court claim for [AMOUNT] plus interest and costs. I would rather settle this. If you want to agree a payment plan, tell me by [DATE]. [ADD IF TRUE: ONLY IF YOU WILL. READ THE CURRENT STEPS ON GOV.UK FIRST.]
- Check it reached themBefore I start a claim, I want to be sure the invoice reached the right person. Here is a copy. Please confirm you have it.
A client who is in difficulty
- Offer a planI understand cash may be tight. I can accept [AMOUNT] by [DATE] and the rest in [NUMBER] equal parts. Please confirm by [DATE] and I will send a short note of what we agreed.
- Part of it is disputedIf part of the invoice is disputed, tell me which line today. Please pay the part that is not disputed by [DATE].
A client you want to keep
- Ask to talk todayI value working with you and I am not enjoying writing this. The invoice is [DAYS] days late. Can we speak today so we can settle it and carry on?
- No further action if paidLast reminder on this. If payment is made by [DATE], I will take no further action, and I will not charge interest. [ADD IF TRUE]
After payment
- Payment receivedThank you, payment of [AMOUNT] reached me on [DATE]. I will close invoice [NUMBER]. I will send a receipt if you need one.
Download these examples
The same text as this page, in one file, with the gaps ready to fill in.
What to avoid
- Threats you will not carry out, such as "my solicitor will contact you".
- Rude words, capitals or exclamation marks. A court may read your emails later.
- Sending it as your first message.
- Changing the amount from the invoice without a new invoice.
- Mixing in a complaint about the work. Keep the money and the work apart.
- Starting a court claim without reading the current steps on GOV.UK first.
Official pages. Rules differ by country. Not legal advice: check the rules that apply to you.
- GOV.UK: Interest on late commercial payments. It says: "The interest you can charge if another business is late paying for goods or a service is 'statutory interest' - this is 8% plus the Bank of England base rate for business to business transactions. You cannot claim statutory interest if there's a different rate of interest in a contract." Read 5 October 2026.
- GOV.UK: Claim debt recovery costs on late payments. The fixed sum is £40 up to £999.99, £70 from £1,000 to £9,999.99 and £100 for £10,000 or more. It says: "You can only charge the business once for each payment." Read 5 October 2026.
- GOV.UK: Make a court claim for money. It says: "You can apply to a county court to claim money you're owed by a person or business" and "A mediation service could be quicker and cheaper than going to court." Read 5 October 2026.
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Let the tools do the sums
Both are free.
Late Payment Chaser (UK)
What you give it: The unpaid amount, the invoice date, and the due date if you agreed one.
What you get: What you can claim under UK late-payment law, worked out with a script and shown with official sources, and three reminder emails to send. UK business-to-business debts only. Not legal advice.
Free. It also works as a paste-in text in a chatbot; there the assistant does the arithmetic, so check its working.
Invoice Checker
What you give it: An invoice, yours or one you received, as text. It cannot read a picture or a scan.
What you get: Every line, the subtotal, the discount, the tax and the total worked out again, and every difference listed. It lists common fields that are missing and flags date, currency and rounding problems. No tax advice. Without a code tool it shows the sums by hand and says they need checking.
What should a final request for payment say?
The invoice number, the amount, how many days late, a clear new date, and the step you will take after it. Say it once, in plain words.
How many reminders before a final request?
Two is usual: a friendly one, then a firmer one. This is common practice, not a legal rule.
Can I add interest in a final request?
Between UK businesses, yes: 8% over the Bank of England base rate, plus a fixed sum. Say so only if you will charge it. Our interest page has the rates.
What if they still do not pay?
For a UK debt, GOV.UK says you can apply to a county court to claim money you are owed by a person or business. It also says a mediation service could be quicker and cheaper than going to court. Check the current steps on GOV.UK first.
Questions people ask
What do I do with the [BRACKETS]?
Replace each one with a real fact. If you cannot, delete the line. Never leave a bracket in what you send.
Is this legal advice?
Not legal advice. For a large debt, a dispute or court, get advice.
More
Sources
- Interest on late commercial payments, read 5 October 2026
- Claim debt recovery costs on late payments, read 5 October 2026
- Make a court claim for money, read 5 October 2026