# Chasing an unpaid invoice: schedule and templates

> How to chase an unpaid invoice without upsetting the customer: reminder schedule before and after the due date, message templates and rules to follow.

Source : https://virement.tn/en/blog/chasing-unpaid-invoices-schedule-and-templates — last updated : 2026-09-19

An unpaid invoice is almost never a refusal to pay. It is most often an oversight, a cash-flow lag or an invoice that was badly sent. A good reminder recovers the money **without damaging the relationship** — and without taking up your days.

## The principle: remind early, gently, then more and more firmly

| When | Goal | Tone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Before the due date** (around 3 days before) | Avoid the oversight | Friendly reminder |
| **The day after the due date** (1 day late) | Check that the invoice wasn't lost | Neutral, factual |
| **7 days late** | Get a payment date | Firm but courteous |
| **15 days late** | Signal how serious the delay is | Firm, with a proposed solution |
| **Beyond** | Handle the file | Call, payment schedule, formal handling |

This rhythm — a reminder before and follow-ups at 1, 7 and 15 days late — is the one virement.tn applies automatically on the installments of installment payment plans and subscriptions, each step being sent only once.

## Message templates

Adapt the elements in brackets. Keep it short: an effective SMS fits in two sentences.

**Before the due date (3 days before)**

> Hello [Name], as a reminder, your invoice [no.] for [amount] TND falls due on [date]. You can pay it by bank transfer. Thank you!

**The day after the due date (1 day late)**

> Hello [Name], unless we are mistaken, invoice [no.] for [amount] TND, due yesterday, has not yet been paid. Could you check? If the transfer has been sent, please ignore this message.

**7 days late**

> Hello [Name], invoice [no.] for [amount] TND is 7 days late. Could you tell us a payment date? We remain available if you are facing a difficulty.

**15 days late**

> Hello [Name], invoice [no.] for [amount] TND is 15 days late. Please pay it soon or contact us so that we can find a solution together (payment schedule, postponement).

## Five rules that make the difference

1. **Always mention the invoice**: number, amount, due date.
2. **Make paying easy**: a clear RIB, or better, a link to the invoice.
3. **Never accuse** before checking: the transfer may be on its way.
4. **Offer a way out** from 7 days late: a schedule or a postponement is better than silence.
5. **Keep a record** of every reminder (date, channel, reply).

## When reminders are not enough

If the customer replies but does not pay, offer [installment payments](/en/installment-payments): a spread, realistic amount is recovered more often than a full debt demanded all at once. For a large receivable or an unreachable customer, a more formal approach may be needed: then consult a legal professional rather than improvise.

## Automate, without dehumanizing

Chasing by hand is time-consuming and irregular: you chase when you think of it, not when it is needed. With [virement.tn](/en/how-it-works), for the installments of a payment plan, a subscription or a leasing contract, the delay is calculated every day, the customer receives a reminder and then follow-ups at the steps above, and the collections dashboard shows you what is left to handle by hand — which is where your time is useful. The detailed steps for a leasing company are in our [collections method](/en/blog/leasing-rent-collection-tunisia).

## Frequently asked questions

### When should you chase an unpaid invoice?

A reminder a few days before the due date avoids many oversights. After the due date, follow up the next day, then at increasing intervals, for example at 7 and 15 days late, gradually firming up the tone.

### Which channel should you use to chase: SMS, email or phone?

SMS and email suit the first reminders: they are quick and leave a record. The phone is better suited when the delay drags on or the amount is large.

### What should you do if reminders have no effect?

Offer a realistic payment schedule, then consider a more formal approach. For any legal step (formal notice, proceedings), seek advice from a legal professional.