How to Chase an Unpaid Invoice as a Tradesperson
You've done the work. You've sent the invoice. Now you're waiting — and that unpaid money is starting to affect your cash flow. Here's exactly how to chase it, step by step, from a polite reminder all the way through to your legal options.
The 5-Step Chase Process
Send a friendly reminder
Before assuming the worst, start with a simple polite reminder. Most late payments aren't deliberate — customers get busy, invoices get buried, payments get forgotten.
Message template
"Hi [Name], just a quick reminder that invoice [INV-001] for £[amount] was due on [date]. Please let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything you need to process the payment. Thanks."
No accusations, no threats. Just a nudge. More often than not, this is all it takes.
Follow up by phone
If you haven't heard back within two or three days, call them. A phone call is harder to ignore than an email and gives you a chance to find out if there's a genuine issue — a dispute, a cashflow problem, or simply a lost invoice.
What to say
"Hi [Name], I'm just calling about invoice [INV-001]. I sent a reminder earlier this week and wanted to check everything is in order for payment."
Get any promised payment date confirmed in writing — a follow-up text or email after the call is fine.
Send a formal overdue notice
If friendly reminders haven't worked, send a more formal overdue notice. Not aggressive — but clear that you're taking this seriously. Include:
- The original invoice number and amount
- The original due date and number of days overdue
- A new firm payment deadline — typically 7 days
- A note that you're entitled to charge statutory interest
- Your payment details again, clearly laid out
Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act, if your customer is a business, you can charge 8% above the Bank of England base rate in interest, plus a fixed recovery fee. Even mentioning this often prompts faster payment.
Send a letter before action
If your formal notice is ignored, send a letter before action — stating that if payment isn't received within 7–14 days, you will pursue the debt through the courts. Many customers who've ignored emails and calls will act when they receive a formal letter. Free templates are available online, or a solicitor can send one for added weight.
Make a Small Claims Court claim
For debts up to £10,000 in England and Wales, you can make a claim online at gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money without a solicitor. Court fees are modest — and if you win, the court can order the defendant to pay them too. Most customers settle before the case ever reaches a hearing once they realise you're serious.
Your Legal Rights as a UK Tradesperson
How to Avoid Late Payments in the First Place
- Invoice immediately — the moment a job is done, send the invoice. Don't batch them at the end of the week.
- Set clear payment terms upfront — agree terms before starting and include them on every invoice.
- Ask for a deposit on larger jobs — 25–50% upfront protects you if a customer disputes or disappears.
- Use automatic payment reminders — Jobber tracks all outstanding invoices and sends automatic reminders so you're not chasing manually.
- Check new customers out — for large commercial contracts, a basic credit check or references before starting is worth doing.
Jobber sends automatic payment reminders before and after due dates, tracks every outstanding invoice, and lets customers pay online — so late payments become the exception rather than the rule.
Try Jobber Free for 14 Days →The Bottom Line
Chasing an unpaid invoice is never fun — but it's part of running a trade business and you shouldn't feel awkward about it. You did the work. You deserve to be paid.
Start politely, escalate calmly, and don't be afraid to use the legal tools available to you if it comes to that. Most disputes are resolved well before court becomes necessary.
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