Payment reminder SMS templates
Reviewed in November 2026
A payment reminder SMS is a short text that tells a customer a payment is due. The best ones fit in 160 characters and name the amount and the date.
Three days before the due date
Sent three days before the payment is due.
Hi [Name], a reminder that [amount] for [invoice or plan] is due on [date]. Pay at [link]. Thank you, [Business].
On the due date
Sent in the morning of the due date.
Hi [Name], your payment of [amount] is due today. Pay at [link] or reply if you already paid. [Business]
One day after
Sent the day after the due date if nothing arrived.
Hi [Name], [amount] due yesterday has not arrived yet. Pay at [link] or reply with a date. [Business]
One week after
Sent seven days after the due date.
Hi [Name], [amount] is 7 days overdue. Please pay at [link] or call [phone] to agree a date. [Business]
Installment plan
Sent before each installment.
Hi [Name], installment [n] of [total] for [amount] is due on [date]. Pay at [link]. Thank you. [Business]
Thank you after payment
Sent when the payment is recorded.
Hi [Name], your payment of [amount] arrived. Thank you. [Business]
EMI reminder
Sent two days before each monthly EMI.
Hi [Name], your EMI of [amount] for [loan or product] is due on [date]. Keep the balance ready or pay at [link]. [Business]
Rent due reminder
Sent to a tenant three days before the rent date.
Hi [Name], rent of [amount] for [month] is due on [date]. Pay to [UPI ID or account]. Thank you. [Landlord name]
After a broken promise
Sent the day after a promised date passes.
Hi [Name], you planned to pay [amount] on [date] and it has not arrived. Please reply with a new date. [Business]
After a part payment
Sent when only part of the amount arrives.
Hi [Name], thank you for [amount paid]. The balance of [balance] is due on [date]. Pay at [link]. [Business]
Reminder in Hindi
Sent to customers who prefer Hindi.
नमस्ते [Name] जी, [amount] का भुगतान [date] तक देय है। कृपया [link] पर भुगतान करें। धन्यवाद, [Business]
How to write a reminder SMS
- Start with the customer's name.
- Say the amount and the date in the first line.
- Add one way to pay, a link or an account.
- Sign with the business name the customer knows.
- Stay under 160 characters to send one message.
Leave threats out. A short and clear text gets paid faster.
When to send each one
| Moment | Goal | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days before | Remind before it is late | Friendly |
| Due date | Make paying easy today | Friendly |
| 1 day after | Ask for the payment or a date | Direct |
| 7 days after | Agree a date | Firm and polite |
Send texts in business hours. Late-night messages annoy and rarely get paid.
SMS, WhatsApp or email
SMS reaches phones without data. It is short and costs per message.
WhatsApp allows longer text, a PDF of the invoice and a reply thread.
Email suits companies with an accounts team.
Many businesses send WhatsApp first and SMS as a backup.
Business SMS in India
Bulk business SMS in India go through registered sender IDs and templates.
Ask your SMS provider which registration your messages need before sending.
Texts in Hindi or another Indian script use Unicode. One Unicode SMS holds 70 characters.
Keep Hindi reminders very short or they split into two or three messages.
How to adapt each text
- Recurring client who always pays: keep only the before and on the day texts.
- Large company: add the invoice number so the accounts team can match it.
- Customer who broke a promise: quote the date they gave and ask for a new one.
- Part payment: thank them for the amount and name only the balance.
- EMI or rent: name the month so the customer knows which payment it is.
Common mistakes
- No amount or no date.
- A link that does not open on a basic phone.
- Sending the same text five times a day.
- Signing with a name the customer does not recognise.
Let the reminders go out on their own
Makatea sends these messages on WhatsApp, email and SMS on the right day for each customer. When a payment arrives, Makatea records it and stops the next message. Try it free for 14 days, no card needed.
Free on Makatea: proforma invoice template · promissory note template · rent receipt template · free invoice generator
Frequently asked questions
How long should a payment reminder SMS be?
Under 160 characters. That fits in one message on every phone.
When should I send the first reminder?
Three days before the due date works for most customers.
Should the SMS include a payment link?
Yes. A link or an account number makes paying immediate.
How often can I send reminders?
Once before, once on and a few after the due date. Not several times a day.
Can these texts go on WhatsApp too?
Yes. Copy them as they are or add the invoice as PDF.
How do I write a polite payment reminder SMS?
Use the customer's name, the amount and the date. Thank them and sign with the business name.
Your recurring collections on autopilot
Makatea sends the reminders over WhatsApp and email, records every payment and tells you who to follow up with first.
14 days free · No card
Keep reading
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Payment reminder software that stops when the customer pays
Automated payment reminders on WhatsApp and email that stop when the customer pays. Copy the free reminder templates or try Makatea 14 days free.