Free tool
Payment reminder letter and late payment interest
Enter the amount, the date from which the debtor is in default and the reminder level: the tool calculates the default interest and prepares the text of the first reminder, the second reminder or the formal notice of default.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent or stored.
Three levels, one timetable
| Step | When | Tone and content |
|---|---|---|
| First reminder | A few days after the due date | Courteous: the amount, the invoice, a new dated deadline. |
| Second reminder | 10 to 20 days later | Firm: reference to the first letter, notice of interest and next steps. |
| Formal notice of default | When the second deadline expires | Formal: amount, interest, final deadline, notice of debt enforcement. |
A useful letter contains three things: what is owed, a deadline given as a specific date, and what will happen next. A deadline such as "within ten days" leaves room for argument; "by 15 October" does not.
After the formal notice: debt enforcement
If payment still does not arrive, the creditor files a request for debt enforcement with the debt enforcement office at the debtor's domicile (Art. 67 of the Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act, DEBA). The office serves a summons for payment, often called a payment order; the debtor has 10 days to raise an objection (Art. 74 DEBA). Without an objection, continuation of the proceedings can be requested no earlier than 20 days and no later than one year after service (Art. 88 DEBA).
The request states the amount, the interest rate and the date from which interest runs: the start of default calculated here is the date to enter there.
The full details, with deadlines and pitfalls, are in the guide to payment reminders and debt enforcement.
Reminders that go out on time
The problem with reminders is not writing them, it is sending them at the right time, every time. Connecting the invoicing software to payment tracking so that reminders are prepared as drafts is a typical Dossivio Flows automation: sending remains a human decision.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
From when does interest run?
From the start of default: expiry of the payment date agreed between the parties, otherwise receipt of the formal reminder. A deadline set unilaterally by the creditor on the invoice is generally not enough to put the debtor in default; if in doubt, count from the first clear reminder.
Can I charge reminder fees?
Only if they were agreed, for example in accepted general terms and conditions. Otherwise, only proven additional damage can be claimed (Art. 106 CO).
Can the 5% rate be exceeded?
Yes, if the contract provides for a higher rate. In business dealings, the usual bank discount rate at the place of payment applies if it exceeds 5% (Art. 104 para. 3 CO).
Does this template replace legal advice?
No. It covers the common case of an unpaid invoice between businesses. For a dispute over the service itself, consult a lawyer.
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