FREE CREDIT CONTROL RESOURCE
Free overdue invoice checklist: know what to do next
Use this free 20-minute checklist to work out why an invoice is still unpaid, what needs checking and what action to take next. Review the invoice, payment terms, purchase order, contact details, disputes and payment promises before deciding when to email, call or escalate.
- Find what may be holding payment up
- Choose the right next action
- Know when the account needs firmer escalation
Built from collection methods used to recover £25m+ and support 500+ organisations.
Get the checklist by email
10
Practical collection steps
Invoice and customer checks
Terms. PO. Queries. Risk.
Calls and common excuses
What to ask. What to say.
Payment plans and escalation
What to ask. What to say.
Late-payment interest and escalation
What to consider before formal recovery.
4
Core overdue email templates
WHAT’S INSIDE
A practical checklist for chasing overdue invoices
The checklist takes you through the information to check, the conversations to have and the point at which normal chasing may need to become firmer action.
START HERE
What should you do when an invoice becomes overdue?
Start by checking that the invoice is correct, was sent to the right person and includes everything the customer needs to approve payment.
Then establish whether the delay is administrative, a genuine dispute, a broken payment promise or simply a customer who needs firmer chasing. Keep a clear record of contact and move the account forward rather than repeatedly sending the same reminder.
If normal chasing isn’t working, the next step may be a payment plan, statutory late-payment charges or formal escalation depending on the circumstances.
Is this checklist for you?
Use the checklist when an overdue invoice has started to drift
- A customer keeps promising payment next week
- An invoice query appeared after the due date
- You’re unsure whether to email, call or escalate
- Chasing feels awkward and keeps being delayed
- You want to complete the sensible collection steps before considering formal recovery
One or two invoices?
This checklist is designed for one late-paying customer or a small number of overdue invoices.
Several overdue accounts?
If aged debt is growing across several customers, you need a broader plan covering priorities, disputes, customer risk and escalation.
BUILT FROM REAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE
Practical guidance built from £25m+ of debt recovery experience
The checklist brings together the checks, questions and collection decisions refined through more than 30 years of credit management work across 500+ organisations.
Years of credit control experience
Results depend on the age, value and circumstances of each account.
Collect Wise have worked with us since Feb 2023 and are basically part of the Go Live team now. They manage our credit control, keep everything moving and advise us when something needs a decision. It all runs smoothly and they’ve made a real difference to our aged debt. Great people to work with and I’d happily recommend them.
Tim Langley
Co-Founder, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Go live Data Ltd
READY TO GET CLEAR ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Get the overdue invoice checklist
Work through the checks, conversations and next actions before another overdue invoice drifts into another week.