7 Days Overdue Checklist
Step up firmly but fairly at the one-week mark, combining a stronger written reminder with a phone call to pin down a payment date.
What this checklist covers
- Review what has already been tried
- Send a firmer second reminder
- Make a confirming phone call
- Secure a specific payment commitment
- Set the trigger for the next stage
5 min
Before you start
By day seven, a single reminder has usually gone unanswered, so this stage is about confirming engagement and getting a date. Check where things stand first.
- Confirm the day-one reminder was sent and what response, if any, came back.
- Re-check no payment has arrived and no dispute has been raised.
- Make sure you are contacting the person who authorises payment.
- Have the invoice and contact history in front of you.
This is a step up in firmness, not in aggression — the relationship is still worth protecting at one week.
Work the one-week mark
Combine a written nudge with a phone call so the message cannot be ignored or lost.
- Send a firmer second reminder restating the amount and noting it is now seven days overdue.
- Make clear, politely, that you would like it resolved promptly and set a new short deadline.
- Follow up with a phone call to confirm the invoice was received.
- Ask directly when payment will be made and get a specific date.
- Repeat the agreed date back and confirm it by email the same day.
- Log the call and the commitment against the account.
If a genuine cash-flow problem emerges, pivot to a fair payment plan rather than pressing for the full amount. The Merion tools include reminder templates for this stage.
Set the next trigger
Before you move on, decide what happens if this stage does not land payment.
- Diarise the promised payment date and a same-day check.
- Decide that a missed promise moves the account toward a formal demand.
- Note any reason the customer gave, so you can address it next time.
A clear trigger means you escalate on evidence, not on mood, which keeps the process fair and consistent.
Common mistakes
The one-week mark goes wrong when it stalls or overreaches. Avoid these.
- Sending an identical copy of the day-one reminder, which signals nothing has changed.
- Only emailing again when a phone call would confirm receipt and get a date.
- Accepting a vague promise rather than a specific amount and date.
- Jumping to threats of recovery at just one week overdue.
- Failing to confirm any phone agreement in writing.
Firm, specific and confirmed in writing is the right posture at day seven.
Key takeaways
- Step up firmness at one week without becoming aggressive.
- Pair a firmer reminder with a confirming phone call.
- Secure and confirm a specific payment date in writing.
- Set a clear trigger so a missed promise drives escalation.
Frequently asked questions
Is one week too soon to call about an unpaid invoice?
No. By seven days a written reminder has often gone unanswered, and a polite call confirms the invoice was received and gets a firm date. Calling now is normal commercial practice, not heavy-handed.
Should the seven-day reminder be firmer than the first?
Yes, slightly. Restate the amount, note it is now a week overdue and set a new short deadline. The lift in firmness signals you are tracking it, while the tone stays professional and relationship-safe.
What if they keep saying payment is coming?
Pin them to a specific date and confirm it in writing. If that date is then missed, treat it as a broken promise and move toward a formal demand. Repeated vague assurances are a sign to tighten the process.
Work the checklist, then get paid
Use the free Invoice Generator, then let Merion recover anything that goes unpaid — commission-only.