# Dunning ladder — the full reminder cadence (EN + ES)

Chasing money is a **sequence with escalating tone**, not random nagging. Each step is timed off the due date and ends with a clear next action. The statutory lever appears only from D+15 — invoke it too early and you sound aggressive; never and you sound optional.

Statutory basis (EU Directive 2011/7/EU on late payment in commercial transactions; EC Late Payment page; accessed 2026-06-02): for B2B/B2G commercial invoices the default term is **30 days** (extendable to 60 for B2B). On default, **statutory interest accrues automatically at the ECB reference rate + at least 8 percentage points**, plus a **fixed EUR 40 recovery-cost compensation per invoice**, owed *without proof of cost*.

## Cadence at a glance

| Step | Timing | Tone | Goal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| D-0 | At issue | Friendly | Confirm amount, due date, how to pay |
| D+1 | 1 day after due | Neutral | "May have slipped past you" |
| D+7 | 1 week overdue | Firm | Restate amount + original due date |
| D+15 | 2 weeks overdue | Formal | Invoke statutory interest + EUR 40 |
| D+30 | 1 month overdue | Final | Notice before collections / legal |

## Templates (EN)

**D-0 — confirmation**
> Hi {name}, thanks for the work this period. Invoice {number} for {amount} is attached, due {due_date}. Payment details are on the invoice — reply here if anything looks off.

**D+1 — gentle reminder**
> Hi {name}, a quick note that invoice {number} ({amount}) was due {due_date}. It may simply have slipped past — could you confirm it's in the payment run? Thank you.

**D+7 — firm**
> Hi {name}, invoice {number} for {amount} is now 7 days overdue (due {due_date}). Please let me know the expected payment date, or if there's a query holding it up I can resolve.

**D+15 — formal, statutory lever**
> Hi {name}, invoice {number} ({amount}) is now 15 days overdue. Under Directive 2011/7/EU, statutory late-payment interest (ECB reference rate + 8 percentage points) and a fixed EUR 40 recovery charge now apply. We'd prefer to settle this amicably — please arrange payment by {date} to avoid those charges being added.

**D+30 — final notice**
> Hi {name}, despite previous reminders, invoice {number} ({amount}) remains unpaid 30 days past due. This is a final notice: unless payment (plus accrued statutory interest and the EUR 40 recovery cost) reaches us by {date}, we will refer the matter to {collections/legal}. We'd much rather resolve it directly.

## Plantillas (ES)

**D-0 — confirmación**
> Hola {name}, gracias por el trabajo de este periodo. Adjunto la factura {number} por {amount}, con vencimiento el {due_date}. Los datos de pago están en la factura — responde aquí si ves algo raro.

**D+1 — recordatorio suave**
> Hola {name}, te escribo para recordarte que la factura {number} ({amount}) venció el {due_date}. Puede que se haya pasado por alto — ¿podrías confirmar que está en el próximo pago? Gracias.

**D+7 — firme**
> Hola {name}, la factura {number} por {amount} lleva 7 días vencida (vencimiento {due_date}). ¿Me confirmas la fecha prevista de pago? Si hay alguna incidencia que lo bloquee, dímelo y lo resuelvo.

**D+15 — formal, palanca legal**
> Hola {name}, la factura {number} ({amount}) lleva 15 días vencida. Conforme a la Directiva 2011/7/UE, se aplican intereses de demora (tipo de referencia del BCE + 8 puntos porcentuales) y una compensación fija de 40 EUR por costes de cobro. Preferimos resolverlo de forma amistosa — te pido que regularices el pago antes del {date} para evitar esos cargos.

**D+30 — aviso final**
> Hola {name}, pese a los recordatorios anteriores, la factura {number} ({amount}) sigue impagada 30 días después del vencimiento. Este es el aviso final: si el pago (más los intereses de demora y los 40 EUR de costes de cobro) no se recibe antes del {date}, trasladaremos el asunto a {gestión de cobro/vía legal}. Preferimos resolverlo directamente contigo.

## When to stop

Stop the email ladder after D+30 and escalate to a debt-collection agency, a formal demand letter, or small-claims/monitorio process. Keep every reminder — the documented cadence is evidence you gave the debtor fair chance, which strengthens any later claim. Recording the eventual write-off or partial recovery in the ledger is `../bookkeeping/SKILL.md`, not this skill.
