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    Payment Follow-Up - Firm Second Chase

    A firmer follow-up for unpaid invoices, referencing the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998 and outlining consequences.

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    Use this when

    • second payment chase
    • firm debt reminder
    • overdue invoice follow-up
    • late payment interest warning

    Free — we only ask for your email on first use.

    Payment Follow-Up - Firm Second Chase

    Disclaimer: This is a template - always read the linked guide first. BeautyKiln gives general information, not legal advice.


    From: [YOUR NAME] Business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] Date: [DATE] To: [CLIENT NAME] Sent via: [EMAIL / LETTER / TEXT - keep a record]


    Dear [CLIENT NAME],

    I'm writing to follow up on my previous message sent on [DATE OF FIRST CHASE] regarding an overdue payment. Unfortunately, I haven't received payment or heard back from you, so I wanted to get in touch again.

    Outstanding invoice details:

    • Invoice number: [INVOICE NUMBER]
    • Date issued: [INVOICE DATE]
    • Original due date: [DUE DATE]
    • Amount due: £[AMOUNT]
    • Days overdue: [NUMBER] days
    • Service provided: [DESCRIPTION OF TREATMENT/SERVICE]

    I understand that unexpected things come up, and I'm not trying to make this difficult. However, this payment is now significantly overdue and I do need to resolve it.

    I need to make you aware of the following:

    1. Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, I'm entitled to charge interest on overdue payments at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, plus a fixed compensation fee of £40 for debts up to £999.99. I haven't added these charges yet, but I will need to if this remains unpaid.

    2. If payment isn't received within 14 days (by [DATE 14 DAYS FROM NOW]), I'll have no choice but to suspend any future bookings until the balance is cleared.

    3. If the matter remains unresolved, I may need to take further action to recover the debt, which could include formal legal proceedings.

    Payment methods available:

    • Bank transfer: [YOUR BANK DETAILS OR "as per invoice"]
    • Card payment: [PAYMENT LINK / METHOD]
    • Other: [ANY OTHER PAYMENT METHODS]

    If there's a genuine reason you're unable to pay right now, please get in touch so we can discuss a payment plan. I'd much rather sort this out between us than take it any further.

    Please reply to this message or call me on [YOUR PHONE NUMBER] within the next 14 days.

    Yours sincerely,

    [YOUR NAME] [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] [YOUR PHONE NUMBER] [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]


    Notes for you (delete before sending):

    • Keep a copy and note the exact date and time you sent this
    • If sending by post, use recorded delivery so you have proof
    • Screenshot any read receipts if sending by email or text
    • If they still don't respond within 14 days, the next step is a formal Letter Before Action
    • Do not discuss the debt with anyone else or on social media
    Always read the linked guide before using this template. BeautyKiln gives general information, not legal advice.

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