You run a small business. A client owes you money. The invoice is 30, 60, maybe 90 days overdue. You have sent reminders. You have called. Nothing.
Here is the exact process — what to do, when to do it, and when to escalate.
Day 1-7: Friendly reminder
Send a polite email: “Hi, just a reminder that invoice #123 for $X is now overdue. Could you arrange payment this week?” Attach the original invoice.
Day 7-14: Phone call
Call them. Ask when you can expect payment. If they give a date, confirm it by email. If they do not answer, leave a voicemail and follow up by email.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who owes you?
2. How much?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
Day 14-21: Final reminder
Send a firmer email: “This is our final reminder before we commence formal recovery action. Please pay within 7 days to avoid further action.”
Day 21: Letter of Demand
This is where it gets real. A formal Letter of Demand is a legal document. It cites your right to payment under Australian contract law and gives them 14 days. It also warns of the consequences — tribunal application, interest, credit reporting.
Day 35+: Tribunal
If the demand is ignored, file with the tribunal or court for your state. Bring the contract, invoices, delivery proof, and your demand letter.
Start at Step 4 — $49
Skip the weeks of chasing. Claim Done drafts your Letter of Demand for $49 flat fee. Tell us the client, the invoice, and the amount. We draft and send it in about 5 minutes. If they do not pay, we prepare your tribunal application too — $97.
What happens when you send a Letter of Demand
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Letter of Demand drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Letter of Demand from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read the draft and approve it before anything is sent; nothing goes out without your approval. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=letter-of-demand. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Letter of Demand cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. Email delivery is free; registered post is $29 extra. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Letter of Demand in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Letter of Demand; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.
What does Claim Done do that a free Letter of Demand template doesn't?
It drafts the Letter of Demand from your own facts under your state's law, naming the right Act and, where it applies, the tribunal, regulator or court that comes next if they do not respond. Nothing is sent until you approve it. Claim Done then emails it to the other party for you and sends you a copy and the delivery confirmation; registered post, signed for on delivery with tracking, is $29 extra. The key dates in the letter are listed on your dashboard.