Unpaid invoices: setting up payment reminders that work

It all starts with a clear invoice

A complete invoice gets paid faster. In France, the mandatory information includes the identity of both parties, the date, the invoice number, the breakdown of services, unit prices, VAT rate and, above all, the due date.

Between businesses, the invoice must also state the late-payment penalties and the fixed €40 recovery fee, due automatically from the first day of delay (DGCCRF). These details alone often speed up payment.

With a private customer the rules differ: no €40 fee, but a clear due date and regular reminders remain your best tools.

A 5-step reminder schedule

• A few days before the due date: a friendly reminder with the invoice attached and the payment details.
• The day after the due date: "Unless we're mistaken, we haven't received your payment…".
• Ten days later: a second, firmer reminder mentioning the penalties stated on the invoice.
• Around three weeks: a phone call. That's often when the real blockers come out (dispute, cash flow, wrong recipient).
• One month later: a formal notice ("mise en demeure") by registered letter, the last step before any legal action.

Out-of-court debt collection has its own rules, set out by the DGCCRF: no undue pressure or threats, and reminders that stay factual.

What you can automate (and what you keep)

The first three steps are emails or text messages that always follow the same rule: they can go out on their own, at the right time, with the right invoice attached. Connected to your bank account or invoicing software, the system stops chasing as soon as the payment arrives: no more awkward reminder sent to a customer who has already paid.

The phone call and the formal notice stay in your hands: you decide case by case, with the list of late invoices in front of you.

Payment reminders are among the five admin tasks to automate first.

If nothing moves: free mediation

Before going to court, a business in France can contact the Business Mediator ("Médiateur des entreprises") in a dispute with a business customer, including late payments. The service is free, confidential and can be requested online.

And with e-invoicing?

The ongoing French reform changes how invoices are sent between businesses, with tracking of their status (received, paid…). Properly connected to your reminders, it's one more signal so you only chase when you need to. The key dates: e-invoicing in France, what changes for small businesses.

We set up these automatic reminders, connected to your tools: invoice and payment reminder automation.