Payment Reminder in Switzerland: Deadlines, Template & Debt Enforcement (2026)

Around 10 to 30% of all invoices in Switzerland are not paid on time. The good news: in most cases, this is not deliberate. It is usually due to forgetfulness or internal delays on the recipient's side. A friendly reminder resolves most outstanding receivables.

If that is not enough, you need a clear escalation path, from a friendly note to the debt enforcement office. This guide explains the full process, the legal basis and the right tone at each stage.

For the basics on payment terms, discounts and mandatory information on the invoice itself, see our complete invoicing guide.

When is the customer in default?

The question sounds simple, but the answer depends on whether you specified a concrete payment deadline on the invoice.

With an agreed payment deadline: If your invoice states "Payable within 30 days" and the customer does not pay, they are automatically in default on day 31, without you having to do anything. This is governed by Art. 102 CO.

Without an agreed payment deadline: The claim is due immediately (Art. 75 CO), but the customer only falls into default once you send a reminder. The reminder formally places them in default. Only from that point can you charge default interest.

The practical consequence: put a clear payment deadline on every invoice. That way, you avoid any uncertainty about whether the customer is already in default.

The escalation path: From reminder to debt enforcement

Swiss law does not require you to send reminders. Once the payment deadline has passed, you could submit a debt enforcement request immediately. In practice, however, a staged approach works better because it protects the customer relationship and resolves most cases without formal debt enforcement.

Payment reminder 5-10 days after the due date

A friendly note that the invoice is still outstanding. No accusation, no threat. This is often enough. Set a new deadline, for example 10 days.

1st formal reminder 10-14 days after the reminder

A firmer tone. Refer to the default and the original invoice. Set a new payment deadline of 10 days. Optional: mention default interest.

2nd / final reminder 10-14 days after the 1st reminder

Clearly state that debt enforcement proceedings will be initiated if payment is not received within the new deadline. Send it by registered mail. Include default interest and any reminder fees.

Debt enforcement request After the final deadline has expired

Submit the request to the debt enforcement office at the debtor's place of residence, or at the registered office for legal entities. The office then serves a payment order.

Do not wait too long between stages. The more time passes, the harder it becomes to collect the money. The entire process from the first payment reminder to the debt enforcement request should not take longer than six to eight weeks.

Default interest and reminder fees

Default interest: 5% per year, automatically

As soon as the customer is in default, you may charge default interest of 5% per year on the outstanding amount. This right follows from Art. 104 CO, even if you did not agree on it in advance. Interest accrues from the first day of default.

The calculation: Outstanding amount × 5% × days in default ÷ 365. For an invoice of CHF 5'000 that is 30 days overdue, the interest amounts to CHF 20.55. Not a dramatic amount, but an important signal.

A higher default interest rate, for example 8% or 10%, is permitted if it was agreed contractually or in the terms and conditions. Without such an agreement, the statutory rate of 5% applies.

Reminder fees: Only with an agreement

Unlike default interest, reminder fees are not automatically owed. You may only charge them if they were agreed in advance, for example in your terms and conditions or on the invoice. Flat fees such as "CHF 30 per reminder" without a contractual basis can be challenged legally.

In practice, the first payment reminder is usually free of charge. From the second reminder onwards, you can charge a moderate fee if there is a contractual basis for it. Keep the amounts proportionate. CHF 10 to 30 per reminder stage is common.

Getting the tone right

The tone can make the difference between a customer who pays and stays, and one who pays and never comes back. The basic rule: become firmer with each stage, but never insulting or threatening.

The payment reminder assumes that the invoice was simply overlooked. Keep it factual and friendly: "It may be that our invoice no. 2026-047 dated [date] was overlooked. Please transfer the amount of CHF [amount] within 10 days."

The first formal reminder states that the customer is in default and refers to the original invoice: "Despite our payment reminder, invoice no. 2026-047 remains outstanding. Please settle the outstanding amount of CHF [amount], plus default interest, by [date]."

The final reminder announces debt enforcement proceedings and should be sent by registered mail: "If we do not receive payment within 10 days, we will be forced to initiate debt enforcement proceedings." This should not be an empty threat. If you announce the next step, you should follow through, otherwise future reminders lose their effect.

Attach the QR payment part from the original invoice to every reminder or include a link to it. The easier it is to pay, the faster the payment is likely to arrive. A QR invoice reduces the effort to a simple scan in the banking app.

The debt enforcement process in brief

If payment is still not received after the final reminder, you submit a debt enforcement request to the competent debt enforcement office. The competent office is the one at the debtor's place of residence, or the registered office for companies entered in the commercial register. The request can be completed online via the Federal Debt Enforcement Portal.

The process then continues as follows:

The debt enforcement office serves the debtor with a payment order. The debtor is asked to pay the claim, including interest and enforcement costs, within 20 days.
The debtor can file an objection within 10 days. This means they dispute the claim. In that case, you must have the objection set aside, usually through court proceedings.
If no objection is filed and payment is still not made, you can continue the proceedings by submitting a request for continuation.

The fees for a debt enforcement request depend on the amount of the claim. They range from around CHF 40 for claims up to CHF 500 to around CHF 100 for claims up to CHF 100'000. You pay the fee in advance, but you can pass it on to the debtor.

Important: The debt enforcement office does not check whether your claim is justified. It only checks whether the request is formally correct. The substance of the claim is only examined if the debtor files an objection and you pursue the matter through the courts. Document every step carefully, including the invoice, reminders and deadlines, so you can prove the claim if there is a dispute.

Keep track of outstanding invoices

For effective receivables management, you mainly need one thing: a clear overview of which invoices are open, overdue or paid. Invoicing software with an integrated receivables status takes care of that for you.

With Infinity, you can see the status of every receivable at a glance: open, paid or overdue. Outstanding invoices can be resent directly, while the accounting runs in the background, including AI-supported booking suggestions through Live Accounting.

Infinity does not offer automated reminder management. You write and send the reminder manually. But the receivables status reliably shows you where you need to follow up, and the original invoice with QR payment part can be resent with one click. This covers the everyday needs of most freelancers and small businesses.

Try Infinity free for 14 days: unlimited quotes and invoices, no credit card required.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to send a reminder before starting debt enforcement proceedings?

No. There is no statutory requirement to send a reminder in Switzerland. Once the payment deadline has passed, you could submit a debt enforcement request immediately. In practice, a staged reminder process makes sense because most outstanding invoices were simply forgotten and are paid after a reminder.

How high can reminder fees be?

Reminder fees are only permitted if they were agreed contractually, for example in your terms and conditions. Without an agreement, you are not entitled to them. CHF 10 to 30 per reminder stage is common. Keep the amounts proportionate, as an arbitrary flat fee can be challenged legally.

When can I charge default interest?

From the first day of default. If a payment deadline was agreed, this is automatically the day after the deadline expires. Without an agreed deadline, default begins only once the reminder is sent. The statutory rate is 5% per year under Art. 104 CO and applies without any special agreement.

Does the final reminder have to be sent by registered mail?

No, this is not required by law. In practice, however, it is strongly recommended because registered mail provides evidence that the debtor actually received the final reminder. Without this proof, the debtor could later claim that no reminder was ever received.

What happens if the debtor files an objection?

The debtor disputes the claim and the debt enforcement proceedings are temporarily stopped. To continue, you must have the objection set aside, usually through court proceedings. For this, you need evidence of your claim, such as a signed contract, an acknowledged invoice or a previous certificate of loss.

When does my claim become time-barred?

Claims for goods and services become time-barred in Switzerland after 5 years under Art. 128 CO. The period begins when the invoice becomes due. Debt enforcement proceedings interrupt the limitation period, which is another reason not to wait too long.