What is a past-due invoice?
What is a past-due invoice and what should you do about it?
Short answer
A past-due invoice (also called an overdue invoice) is an invoice that has not been paid in full by the agreed payment due date. Once the due date passes, the invoice is legally in arrears and you are entitled to charge late fees if your contract or invoice terms include them.
**Key thresholds:** - **1–7 days late:** Most common — often a simple oversight. A single reminder email resolves the majority. - **8–30 days late:** Requires escalation — phone calls, multiple channels. - **31–60 days late:** Cash-flow risk. Consider placing a credit hold on new work. - **60+ days late:** Bad-debt risk. Formal demand letter or collections referral.
**What you're legally entitled to do (US):** 1. Charge the late fee stated in your contract or invoice terms. 2. Place the account on credit hold and stop future services. 3. Report the account to a commercial credit bureau. 4. Refer to a collections agency (third-party) or use a first-party AI collection service. 5. File in small claims court if the amount qualifies (limits vary by state, typically $5,000–$25,000).
**The fastest recovery method by age:** - Under 30 days: Automated multi-channel reminders (email + SMS + AI voice call). - 30–60 days: Personal phone call from the business owner or accounts manager. - 60+ days: Final demand letter, then collections referral.
Syntharra automates the first two stages with AI voice calls that recover payment without human effort.