Can you text a customer about an overdue invoice?
Can you text a customer about an overdue invoice?
Published May 13, 2026
Short answer
Yes, you can text a customer about an overdue invoice if you have their prior consent (typically captured at intake or on the original quote/agreement) and the text complies with TCPA rules: clear identification, opt-out instructions, and sending only during legal hours. For first-party invoice follow-up by the business that did the work, the consent threshold is lower than for third-party collectors, but the safe practice is the same. SMS often beats email for response rate on small balances under $1,000.
Texting a customer about a past-due invoice is legal in the United States when three conditions are met. The customer gave consent to be contacted at that phone number (usually captured when they signed up for service or provided their mobile during intake), the message identifies the business and includes opt-out instructions, and the send is within legal hours (generally 8 AM to 9 PM local time for the recipient). For first-party communications by the original creditor, the FDCPA does not apply, but TCPA still does and state laws can layer on top.
Consent does not have to be a checkbox that says 'I agree to receive payment reminders.' Most courts treat the act of providing a mobile number in the context of doing business as implied consent for transactional messages, including payment reminders. The standard tightens for marketing messages and for any communication from a third-party collector, where express written consent is the safer bar.
The actual text should be short and useful, not threatening. 'Hi [name], this is [business]. Your invoice from [date] is $X past due. Pay here: [link] or reply STOP to opt out.' That format covers the identification, the opt-out, and gives the customer a one-tap way to resolve the issue. Threatening language ('your account will go to collections,' 'we will sue') turns a compliant message into a TCPA exposure.
Texting often outperforms email for small balances. Customers see SMS within minutes, ignore email for days. For balances under $1,000, a single text on day 3 past due with a payment link will resolve a meaningful share of accounts. For balances over $1,000 or for B2B AP queues, email and phone calls are still the primary channels.
Syntharra uses both phone and SMS for the day-3 first-party touch. Phone is the primary channel because it surfaces disputes and promises-to-pay better than SMS, and SMS is used as a follow-up when the call doesn't connect. All sends respect TCPA quiet hours in the recipient's local timezone, identify the business, and include opt-out language.