Payment chasing
The invoice's out, the money isn't. Chasing feels awkward, so it slides — and the customer learns you're the one who doesn't mind waiting.
What the desk runs
- Every overdue invoice gets a polite, scheduled reminder on your escalation rules
- Reminders escalate on your ladder — gentle nudge, firmer note, your call to act
- Paid invoices logged same-day so the chase list is always true
- Serial late-payers flagged so you decide who gets credit next time
What lands on your desk
reminders sent, paid invoices logged, real problems escalated to you early
That's the artefact — not a promise, a thing you can check. If it isn't landing, the lane isn't running.
Runs inside your tools
- Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent ledgers
- Your reminder templates — tone agreed before anything starts
- Statutory interest position documented if you ever need it
The boundary
The desk sends reminders — never threats, never formal collection. Escalation past your reminder ladder is your decision, and debt collection stays with licensed specialists.
Signs this is your leak
- Your oldest unpaid invoice is over a month old
- You've written off money rather than make the call
- Chasing happens late, in batches, when cash gets tight
What it looks like running
An invoice crosses day 3 and the first nudge goes — polite, referencing the invoice number, in your name. Day 10 the tone firms on your ladder. You only hear about it when a customer replies or the ladder runs out.
The chase list stays honest: payments are logged the day they land, so nobody gets reminded for a bill they already paid — the fastest way to sour a good customer.
Fair questions
What if a customer ignores the reminders?
The desk flags it on your ladder — you decide the next move. Your legal position (statutory interest, fixed compensation) is documented for you either way.
Will chasing upset my regulars?
The ladder is yours — most owners run a friendly first nudge for everyone and firmer only where terms are agreed. Regulars barely notice a polite system.
Is payment chasing a regulated activity?
For your own invoices, no — chasing money owed to your own business isn't FCA-regulated credit broking or debt collection. The desk never buys debt, never chases third-party debts, and never adds fees or interest beyond what statute and your own terms allow. If your business model involves consumer credit, that question is yours to answer with your adviser — it sits outside this lane.
Is this the lane that leaks?
Six questions, five minutes — the mini-audit shows where your week actually goes and which lane to fix first.