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Final notice before further action on an unpaid invoice

The final notice is the last letter before you escalate. Send it 21 days after the first reminder. It lists every earlier reminder, states the full amount due, and gives a final 7-day deadline for payment or an acceptable payment proposal.

When to send it

21 days after letter 1 (7 days after the formal notice).

What goes in it

• The dates of all three earlier reminders.
• The amount due now, including statutory interest and the fixed compensation where they apply.
• A final deadline 7 days out, for payment in full or a written payment proposal you can accept.
• The next steps you may take: a debt collection agency or a court claim, which can add costs.
• A line that you will not start new work until the invoice is paid.

Excerpt

The opening of letter 4 in Overdue Kit. Words in brackets are filled in from your invoice.

Dear [contact name],

Despite my reminders of [date], [date] and [date], invoice [number] is still unpaid. The amount due is now [amount], including statutory interest and the fixed compensation.

This is my final notice. ...

The full letter 4 is part of the paid kit (EUR 19 once).

Tips

• Only name steps you are prepared to take.
• Leave the door open to a payment proposal. Many late payers have a cash problem, not a dispute.
• For a large debt or a dispute about the work itself, talk to a lawyer before going further.

The full sequence

1. Letter 1: friendly reminder (3 days after the due date)
2. Letter 2: firm reminder (7 days after letter 1)
3. Letter 3: formal notice (14 days after letter 1)
4. Letter 4: final notice (21 days after letter 1)
5. Letter 5: payment plan offer (when they say they cannot pay in full)

Rates and sources as stored on 11 October 2026. Business-to-business debts only. Templates and calculations, not legal advice.