Chasing Invoices Email Template UK: Professional Templates That Get Results

Late payments cost UK businesses an estimated £26.5 billion annually. If you're owed money, you need a chasing invoices email template UK that's professional, clear, and legally compliant. This guide provides battle-tested email templates you can use immediately, plus the statutory law backing that makes them effective.

Whether you're a freelancer chasing a first payment or a small business handling chronic late payers, the right invoice chase email template makes the difference between getting paid and writing off the debt.

Why Your Invoice Chasing Email Template Matters

A generic "could you pay this?" email gets ignored. A professional, structured approach backed by UK law gets results.

Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, you have the legal right to charge interest on overdue invoices. The statutory interest rate is 8% per annum plus the Bank of England base rate. As of April 2026, that means a statutory rate of 12.5% on any invoice that's properly chased.

But you have to chase correctly. Your email template should:

• Reference the invoice clearly with dates and amounts
• State the original payment terms
• Explain statutory interest rights
• Set a clear deadline
• Sound professional, not aggressive
• Create a written record for legal purposes

A good template does all of this. It also makes you look serious — which, paradoxically, makes businesses pay faster.

Invoice Chasing Email Template UK: First Reminder

Send this 5-10 days after the due date (don't jump straight to threats):

Subject: Payment Reminder – Invoice [NUMBER] Now Due

Dear [Client Name],

I'm writing regarding invoice [NUMBER] for £[AMOUNT], which was due for payment on [DUE DATE].

Our records show this invoice remains unpaid. The original payment terms were [NET 30/60 DAYS], which have now been exceeded.

Could you please arrange payment at your earliest convenience? If payment has already been made, please disregard this email and accept our thanks.

Invoice details:

• Invoice number: [NUMBER]
• Amount: £[AMOUNT]
• Due date: [DATE]
• Days overdue: [X]

If you've experienced any issues with the invoice or service, I'm happy to discuss and resolve these.

Please arrange payment within 7 days.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Second Notice: Adding Legal Weight

If there's no response after 7 days, send this escalated version. This is where you mention statutory rights:

Subject: Urgent: Invoice [NUMBER] – Payment Required Within 5 Days

Dear [Client Name],

Invoice [NUMBER] for £[AMOUNT] is now [X] days overdue (due [DUE DATE]).

Despite our previous payment reminder, this remains unpaid.

I require payment in full within 5 days of this email. If payment is not received by [SPECIFIC DATE], I will assume you intend not to pay and will pursue recovery action including statutory interest charges.

Important notice: Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, you are legally required to pay interest on overdue invoices at 8% per annum plus the Bank of England base rate. At the current base rate of 4.50%, the statutory rate is 12.5% per annum.

Interest begins accruing from the original due date. On an invoice of £[AMOUNT], you are currently liable for approximately £[CALCULATED] in statutory interest.

Payment details are below. Please process immediately.

[Bank/PayPal/Stripe details]

If there are circumstances affecting payment, please contact me within 24 hours to discuss.

I trust this will resolve the matter without further action being necessary.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Business name]

For Genuinely Problem Clients: Final Demand

This is your last communication before legal action. Make it count:

Subject: Final Demand – Payment or Legal Recovery Proceedings

Dear [Client Name],

This is a final demand for payment of invoice [NUMBER] dated [DATE] for £[AMOUNT], now [X] days overdue.

Payment is required in full within 10 calendar days of this email (by [DATE at 5pm]).

Amount owed (including statutory interest accrued to date):

Original invoice: £[AMOUNT]
Statutory interest (at 12.5% from [ORIGINAL DUE DATE]): £[INTEREST AMOUNT]
Total amount now due: £[TOTAL]

If payment is not received by the deadline, I will:

• Register a CCJ (County Court Judgment) against your business
• Report the debt to credit reference agencies
• Pursue recovery through the courts
• Add further interest, court costs, and solicitor fees (recoverable under the Act)

Please treat this seriously. If there are extenuating circumstances, contact me immediately — but silence will be treated as refusal to pay.

Payment to: [details]

[Your name]

The Legal Backbone: Late Payment Act Rights

Every good chasing invoices email template UK must rest on statutory law. The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 gives you specific rights:

• Automatic right to interest: You don't need to ask or include it in terms. The moment an invoice is late, you can charge statutory interest.
• Current statutory rate (2026): 8% + Bank of England base rate (currently 4.50%) = 12.5%
• Debt recovery costs: You can also charge for the cost of chasing (£40 for debts under £1,000, £70 for £1,000–£10,000, £100 for over £10,000)
• Interest accrues daily: From the original due date, not from when you send the first reminder
• Reasonable contract terms can reduce this: You can agree lower interest in your terms, but you can't waive the right entirely

This law applies to B2B transactions. You can't charge consumer late-payment interest (which is why your terms must clearly state this is a business invoice).

Email Template Customisation Tips

The templates above are starting points. Customize them:

For Reasonable Clients with Cash-Flow Issues

Soften the tone and offer a payment plan if appropriate:

"I understand cash flow can be tight. Rather than pursue statutory interest, would you be able to settle in two instalments? I'll waive accrued interest if you pay [£X by DATE] and [£X by DATE]."

This often gets results faster than threats.

For Serial Late Payers

Change your closing terms:

"Going forward, all new invoices must be paid within 7 days of issue or statutory interest will apply immediately. Payment in advance may be required for future work."

For High-Value Invoices

Include interest calculations in the second reminder. Use our calculator to get exact figures you can cite.

What Makes a Chasing Email Actually Work

Templates are the structure, but tone is the weapon:

• Be specific. Not "we're still waiting" but "invoice 2026-0847 for £3,200 due 15 March"
• Sound professional, not desperate. "I require payment" not "please pretty please"
• Show you know the law. Mentioning the Late Payment Act and statutory rates makes businesses take you seriously
• Create a paper trail. Email creates evidence for court if needed
• Give clear deadlines. Not "soon" but "by 5pm on Friday, 11 April"
• Escalate clearly. Move from polite reminder → legal notice → final demand with minimum 5 days between each

The psychological effect: businesses that ignore a polite reminder often respond instantly to the second email when statutory interest is mentioned. They know they're liable and they know you mean it.

After the Email: Next Steps

If your email template leads to non-payment, your options are:

• Small claims court: Up to £10,000 (£5,000 if defendant doesn't agree). Fast and relatively cheap.
• Debt recovery agency: They pursue payment and take a percentage
• CCJ registration: Register at court and damage their credit rating (makes them serious about payment)
• Solicitor's letter: Often triggers payment immediately when a client realizes legal costs are piling up

You don't need to say you'll do these in your email. Just the threat of statutory interest and the mention of the Late Payment Act usually works.

Template Variants for Different Situations

For International Clients (B2B)

The UK Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies to this debt. You are liable for statutory interest at 12.5% per annum from the original due date under UK law.

For Retainer or Monthly Invoices

"Invoices [list three invoices, dates, amounts] remain unpaid and are [X] days overdue. Please settle all outstanding invoices immediately. Failure to do so will result in suspension of services under our terms."

For Small Invoices Under £100

Sometimes the admin cost of chasing exceeds the invoice. Be direct:

"Invoice [NUMBER] for £[AMOUNT] is [X] days overdue. Please pay immediately or I will close your account and report the debt to credit agencies."

Final Thoughts: Prevention Is Better Than Cure

A good chasing invoices email template UK gets results, but the real lesson is this: the best clients pay on time. Consider changing your terms:

• Require payment upfront for new clients
• Offer a small discount for early payment (e.g., 2% off if paid within 5 days)
• Include statutory interest in your written terms explicitly
• State that late payments will be reported to credit agencies
• Use an invoice system that sends automated reminders

The UK Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 is your legal tool, but the best tool is getting paid on time in the first place.

Use these templates when you need them. Calculate what you're owed. Be professional and clear. Most late payers respond to the second email when they see statutory interest figures. Those who don't will face court action where these emails become evidence of your professionalism and their intention.

Your turn: If you have outstanding invoices right now, pick one and send the appropriate template today. Calculate the statutory interest owed. Make a note to follow up in 7 days. That's how debt gets recovered.