Chase a late payment by phone without feeling awkward

Help me chase a late payment by phone.

Invoice: [number, amount, date issued, due date]
Customer: [name, business or individual, how long they've been a customer]
What's been sent so far: [e.g. two reminder emails]
What I'd accept: [e.g. full payment by Friday, or a payment plan]
Anything I know about why: [e.g. they mentioned cash flow, or no idea]

Ask me up to 3 short questions first. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A short phone script: friendly opening, the facts, a clear ask with a date.
2. Calm replies to common excuses: "it's in the system", "we never got it", "can't pay right now", "there was a problem with the job".
3. A short voicemail message.
4. A follow-up text confirming what was agreed.
5. What to do next if nothing arrives, with a pointer to official guidance on late payment.

Calm and firm, never threatening. Not legal advice. UK English.

For official UK guidance on chasing late payments, use web search and name the page you used. If it doesn't search on its own, open View all tools and choose Search.

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