How can you easily get paid an unpaid bill?

What should I do if I have an unpaid bill?

There are simple, step-by-step remedies for dealing with unpaid invoices. There's no need to panic or drag your feet: there are several steps you can take to maximize your chances of recovering your receivables.

The four main options to be aware of are :

• Follow up with the customer by e-mail or telephone

• Sending formal notice

• Apply to the court for an injunction to pay

• Call in a bailiff or collection agency.

Step 1 - Follow up with the customer (e-mail or telephone)

Before taking any formal steps, always start by follow up with your customer in a simple, friendly way. Often, a simple oversight or misunderstanding is the reason for late payment.

Here's an example of an effective e-mail:

Subject: Reminder invoice no. [XXX]. Hello [Customer name],

We note that invoice no. [XXX], in the amount of [XXX €], which fell due on [date], has not yet been paid.

Please make your payment as soon as possible or contact us if you have any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Best regards,

[Your name / company]

Always adopt a professional, courteous and non-aggressive tone . An initial relaunch can be from the day after the due date.

If you don't get a response, repeat your reminders at regular intervals for example, once a week, alternating between e-mails and phone calls.

If, after two or three reminders without a satisfactory response, the customer persists in not paying, it's time to take the next step: sending a formal notice of default.

Step 2 - Send a formal notice

If you have been unsuccessful in your amicable contacts, it's time to send a formal notice of default. This official letter constitutes a final summons before taking legal action.

When should I send it? As soon as you notice that reminders by e-mail or telephone go unanswered or that the customer is multiplying unjustified postponements. In general, we recommend do not wait more than 30 days after the initial invoice due date.

The letter of formal notice must be precise and formal. It must include the following information:

• Contact details for both parties.

• The reference number and exact amount of the unpaid invoice.

• The initial due date.

• A new, reasonable deadline for settlement (for example, 8 to 15 days).

• Legal consequences of non-payment (payment orders, penalties, collection costs).

Example of a simple formulation:

"We hereby give you formal notice to pay the sum of [amount] corresponding to invoice no. [reference], due on [date], within [number] days of receipt of this letter. Should you fail to do so, we reserve the right to take the necessary steps to collect this debt.

We recommend that you send this letter by registered mail with return receipt to keep proof of your actions, which is essential if the dispute goes to court.

Step 3 - Initiate a payment order

If your reminders and formal notice have had no effect, you can initiate payment injunction proceedings. This simplified legal procedure makes it possible to quickly obtain a writ of execution to force the debtor to settle his debt.

The procedure is inexpensive (court fees of around €35 to €40) and fast (usually a few weeks). It is performed by filing a written petition with the competent commercial court.

Once the injunction order has been obtained, it must be served on the debtor by a commissioner of justice (formerly a bailiff), who can then initiate seizures if necessary.

Step 4 - Call in a bailiff or collection agency

When amicable and legal approaches fail, or if you wish to delegate collection, you have two options: the bailiff or collection agency.

Here's the difference between the two:

• The commissioner of justice has the legal power to enforce court decisions (seizure of accounts, assets, etc.).

• The collection agency acts solely on an amicable basis, with no coercive powers, but can intensify reminders and negotiate payment plans.

On the cost side, fees vary according to the sums recovered and the terms (flat rate, percentage, fixed fee). In general, you should expect to pay between 10% and 20% of the amount recovered.

Using these professionals makes sense for large or strategic debts, ou if you do not have the in-house resources to follow up on reminders and procedures . Their intervention brings an extra weight that can convince a recalcitrant customer.

Can I charge late fees?

Yes, provided that your general terms and conditions of sale (GTCS) or your invoices explicitly provide for these penalties. Alternatively, you can apply the he legal interest rate is fixed every six months.

These penalties start to run from the first day of delay, without the need for a reminder.

Can I charge collection fees?

In the case of B2B claims, you are entitled to claim a statutory lump-sum compensation of 40 euros from the first day of delay. If your terms and conditions additional collection costs and you can justify them, you can also claim them.

And if the customer is abroad?

Collecting an unpaid international invoice requires specific approaches . Within the European Union, it is possible to hire a European payment order procedure.

For customers outside the EU, it is generally necessary to consult a lawyer specializing in international law or appoint a local intermediary (bailiff, lawyer, agency) to enforce the decision in the country concerned.

In any case, collecting unpaid invoices can prove to be a very complex task. more restrictive and costly when the customer is abroad. These include cultural differences, language barriers and legal differences.

Managing unpaid invoices is a common challenge for any business, but there are simple, step-by-step solutions for dealing with it. Dunning, formal notice, legal proceedings and professional intervention are all tools that can be mobilized depending on the situation. By structuring your approach and relying on competent partners, you can maximize your chances of recovering your receivables while preserving your business relationships.