BadCop › Templates › Polite payment reminder email that still gets results

A polite payment reminder that does not sound like an apology

When to send it

Any time in the first week after the due date. Polite is fine; apologetic is not.

The email

Subject: Payment reminder: invoice {invoice_id} ({currency} {amount})Hi {client_name}, A reminder that invoice {invoice_id} for {currency} {amount} fell due on {due_date}. {pay_link} If it has already been paid, thank you and please ignore this. Otherwise, could you let me know when to expect it? Many thanks, {sender_name}

Placeholders in braces are filled in per invoice. Replace them by hand, or run badcop preview INV-1 --step friendly to render this template for a real invoice.

Why it works

Most 'polite' reminders fail because they apologise for existing ('sorry to bother you'). This one is courteous and completely clear about the amount, the date and what you need. Politeness is in the tone, not in the vagueness.

Tips

Never write 'sorry to chase'. You are not doing anything wrong.
One ask per email. Here it is 'when to expect it'.
Keep the subject line factual so it is findable in their inbox later.

Automate it

This is the friendly step in BadCop's default ladder, sent at T+1 days from the due date. Put your invoices in a CSV, run one command a day, and every open invoice gets the right email at the right time, once.

pip install badcop
badcop init && badcop run --dry-run