Sending a demand letter? Free demand letter example

1 September 2022

Sending a demand letter is different from sending a payment reminder. With a demand letter you must observe certain rules to make it legally valid.

We therefore teach you how to send a demand letter in line with the statutory rules, and we give you a free example demand letter that you can use if payment fails to arrive.

We give you a demand letter example for private clients and a demand letter example for business clients. Learn the statutory rules that a demand letter must meet.

Sending a demand letter to a private client (B2C) must meet different rules than a demand letter to a business client (B2B).

With a demand letter you give the debtor a final opportunity to pay the outstanding invoice, without additional costs.

Want to draw up the demand letter yourself?

Follow these 5 important rules when sending a demand letter.

Start with a short introductory paragraph about the subject, for example the overdue rent.

• Invoice number plus the work that still needs to be paid for.
• State clearly that you received no response to an earlier payment reminder.
• Set out the final payment date clearly and legibly (for private clients at least 14 days after the date of the letter).
• Make clear that this is the last opportunity to pay without additional costs being charged.
• Note that collection agency Breyta will be engaged if the invoice is not paid, with additional costs for the debtor.

What is a demand letter?

A demand letter is a written letter from a creditor to a debtor requesting that an outstanding claim be settled.

A demand letter is also sometimes called a formal notice and is sent after a payment reminder.

It is generally the last step before a collection process is started. You send the debtor a friendly yet firm final payment reminder to settle the invoice within the set term.

What is the difference between a payment reminder and a demand letter

When it comes to payments, there is a big difference between a payment reminder and a demand letter.

A payment reminder is a friendly letter that you send to the debtor to remind them that a payment is due.

A demand letter is a last chance for a debtor to pay their outstanding invoice. It is therefore important to set out the following points clearly in the demand letter.

• The invoice number, work or product that still needs to be paid for. Make clear that you have already sent a payment reminder and that you still have not received payment. The final payment date (for example 14 days after the date of the letter) before a collection process is started. Indicate that additional costs will be charged if payment is not made before the final payment date. State that a collection process will be started once the payment date has passed.
• The invoice number, work or product that still needs to be paid for.
• Make clear that you have already sent a payment reminder and that you still have not received payment.
• The final payment date (for example 14 days after the date of the letter) before a collection process is started.