How long between 2 reminders?

What is the legal deadline between two reminders?

The law doesn't lay down anything, but case law and best practices are authoritative.

What do the law and practice tell us?

There is no no legal obligation minimum time between two reminders. The French Commercial Code does not provide a precise framework for this point.

However, article L441-10 sets legal payment terms (30 to 60 days maximum), which serve as a general framework for action.

In practice, we recommend leave 5 to 10 days between reminders a timeframe deemed reasonable by collection professionals for give the customer time to react .

Recommended timing and frequency according to dunning level

An effective relaunch must follow a gradual pace based on the age of the claim and the customer's behavior.

According to feedback from bailiffs and lawyers interviewed by Legalstart ou Litige fr a sequence spread over 30 to 35 days maximizes the chances of success without generating unnecessary conflict.

What timetable should you follow for your unpaid reminders?

Here's a recovery plan based on invoice maturity.

1st reminder: between D+5 and D+10 after due date

Send a first friendly reminder in the 5 to 10 days after due date .

According to a DGCCRF study , almost 1 in 3 delays is due to a simple oversight . A courteous message, reminding you of the invoice concerned, is often enough to unblock the situation.

2nd reminder: D+15 to D+20

If no response is received, a second, firmer boost can be sent between 15 and 20 days after due date .

It's at this stage that you need to mention late penalties stipulated in your General Terms and Conditions (legal minimum : 10.15% in 2025 based on ECB rate + 10 points).

3rd reminder: D+30 or final reminder before formal notice

If the customer still does not react, the third reminder is the last warning before formal notice .

Sent to J+30 It must clearly state that if payment is not received within 8 days, legal proceedings will be initiated.

Normally, the majority of late payments are regularized before this stage when reminders are well structured.

2 common mistakes to avoid between two reminders

Poorly chained relaunches can slow down payment or cause a unnecessary conflict . Here are the two most common mistakes to avoid.

Relaunching too fast or too slow

The wrong combination can damage your credibility.

• Too early you give the impression of a hurried or disorganized company

• Trop tard you leave the customer with the impression that payment can wait

• Un 7 to 10 days between reminders is reasonable in B2B

Not adapting tone or channel to customer history

Each reminder must take the business relationship into account:

• Loyal and regular customer : prefer a flexible tone and a direct call or e-mail

• New or unresponsive customer Use a more formal tone and send a registered letter after the second reminder if necessary.

• Vary the channels (email, phone, mail) to maximize chances of response

What happens next? Formal notice and legal action

If your reminders have had no effect, it's time to move on to the next step: formal notice then possibly legal proceedings .

Here are the basic rules you need to know to avoid losing time and your rights.

When and how to send a formal notice?

The formal notice is a formal letter which constitutes a final summons to pay . It also marks the possible start of legal proceedings .

• She sends herself by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt

• There is no compulsory legal deadline, but usually 30 days after the due date of the invoice

• It must contain specific information: amount, due date, late payment penalties, formal notice to pay within a specified period

As soon as this letter is sent, the debtor is officially in default. This document is often required for legal proceedings.

What are the deadlines for legal recourse?

If the formal notice is unsuccessful, you can take legal action. Beware of limitation periods:

• 2 ans if your customer is a individual ( Article L218-2 of the French Consumer Code )

• 5 years if it's a professional ( Article L110-4 of the French Commercial Code )

• The period runs from invoice due date often the due date

A writ of summons or a order for payment interrupts this period.

Optimize your reminders and payments with Hero

Instead of having to put up with collection delays, you can speed up payment of your invoices thanks to Hero . The platform offers a simple solution for releasing funds today.

Hero allows you to obtain a cash advance of up to €50,000 on your invoices awaiting payment. This feature is available as of the Hero Pro package, with no unnecessary paperwork and a commission from 2.7 .

Result:

• You keep your cash flowing even in the event of delays

• You save time on follow-up and reminders

• You reduce the risk of litigation by serenely relaunching

Over 20% of business failures are due to late payment .

Prevention is better than cure. Hero helps you professionalize your collection and secure your cash receipts.