Most late payments are disorganisation, not refusal. Escalate in steps — and let the early steps happen automatically.
28 August 2026 · 5 min read
An unpaid invoice is stressful and easy to handle badly. A staged approach keeps you professional, keeps the relationship intact where possible, and builds the paper trail you would need if it ever went further.
A few days after the due date, assume the best: "just a nudge that invoice #0123 was due Friday — here are the payment details again." A large share of late invoices are paid at this step, because they were simply forgotten.
A week or two later, drop the softness without becoming aggressive. State the amount, the original due date, how overdue it is, and ask for a payment date. Asking for a date is the important part — it converts vagueness into a commitment.
Put it in writing that this is a final request before further action, with a deadline. Reference the invoice number and the work completed. Keep every message — this is your evidence.
Late payment interest and costs on commercial debts, a solicitor's letter, mediation, or the small claims process. Each is a real step with real cost; weigh them against the amount owed and your appetite for the fight.
Steps one and two are the ones that recover most money and the ones people avoid. GraftG's Late Payment Chaser (Pro plan) runs an escalating email sequence automatically, so the chasing happens whether or not you fancy it that week.
Deposits, clear payment terms and prompt invoicing dramatically reduce how often you get here — see how much deposit to ask for and chasing late payments politely.
A few days past the due date for the first friendly reminder — waiting weeks signals the deadline was not serious. Escalate roughly fortnightly after that, keeping every message in writing.
For commercial debts, UK legislation allows statutory interest and reasonable recovery costs on overdue invoices. Stating your terms up front, including any late payment charges, makes them far easier to apply.
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