Eighteen days late. You Google “statutory interest” and paste 8% plus Bank of England into the chat. They are a couple in a terrace. You needed a due date and a pause on extras, not a mini solicitor.
Plain English
| Who they are | Interest as a stick |
|---|---|
| Ltd / contractor / commercial | Often yes — write it, then use it if you will |
| Domestic homeowner | Usually chase, pause work, not a statute lecture |
| Subby under CIS | Do not mix CIS, VAT, and interest in one threat |
| You never wrote terms | Harder to spring it after the fact |
If you work for businesses, a one-liner on the quote is enough: invoices due 14 days; late commercial invoices may attract statutory interest. Then your chase can point at the paper. If you never invoice Ltds, skip the theatre.
Payment due 14 days from invoice date. For business customers, we may charge statutory interest and recovery costs on overdue invoices.
Interest does not replace stopping work or refusing the next job. It is a commercial lever. Use it when the customer is a business that understands invoices. This is not legal advice. If a sum is large or already in dispute, speak to a solicitor or a trade association.
What people miss
Pasting a statute at a family. You will lose the review and maybe the remainder. Chase the figure like a grown-up.
Threatening interest you will never invoice. They learn you shout. Send it or do not mention it.
No due date on the invoice. “Late” needs a day. Put one.
Interest instead of a deposit next time. Prevention is a deposit and staged invoices, not a percentage after the van has gone.
Related guides
FAQ
- Can I add interest to a domestic invoice anyway?
- Do not invent it because you are angry. Write what you will actually rely on, and get advice if it is already a fight.
- What rate?
- If statutory commercial interest applies, the rate is set by the rules in force — not a number you liked on a forum. Check before you invoice it.
- Does a late fee on the quote count?
- A clear term they accepted is stronger than a WhatsApp afterthought. Still not legal advice.
- Should I wait 30 days every time?
- Your quote can say 7 or 14. “Net 30” is a habit, not a law you must copy.
