“Customer's gone quiet on a £3k invoice — what do I do?” It's one of the most-asked questions on the trade subs. Here's the playbook, from the polite nudge to your legal options.
Try Amy free for 14 days →Two things come up in every thread. First: chase early and chase calmly — most late payments are forgetfulness, not malice, and a firm-but-friendly reminder usually does it. Second: stop relying on memory. The people who get paid on time have a system — clear terms, a reminder that goes out automatically, and an easy way to pay.
The bit that grinds people down isn’t the money, it’s being the one who has to send the awkward “any update on that invoice?” text. The fix is to take yourself out of that job.
Send a friendly reminder the day it goes overdue, then again a week later, escalating in tone. Most pay on the first nudge. The longer you leave it, the harder it gets — and the more it looks optional to the customer.
Keep it short, polite and factual: the invoice number, the amount, that it’s now overdue, and a direct way to pay (bank details + a pay link). No emotion, no apology. “Just a reminder that invoice #1042 for £2,400 is now overdue — you can pay here: [link]. Thanks.”
For business (B2B) invoices, yes — the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act lets you charge statutory interest (8% + the Bank of England base rate) plus a fixed compensation fee. Putting your payment terms on every invoice makes this enforceable. For domestic customers it’s about clear terms agreed up front.
Clear terms on the quote, a deposit on bigger jobs, an invoice sent the day you finish (not a week later), and a one-tap pay option. Speed and ease are what get you paid first.
Yes — that’s where TradesOffice helps. Amy sends the chase for you: a polite reminder email with your bank details and a pay link, then follows up, so you’re never the one sending the awkward text. You just get the “paid” notification. All from WhatsApp — no app, £19.99/month, free 14-day trial.
Polite reminders with your bank details and a pay link go out automatically — you just get paid. No app, no new number. Free for 14 days, no card.
Try Amy free →