Dunning
Dunning is the process of systematically communicating with customers to collect overdue payments. A dunning sequence is the series of reminders, from gentle to firm, sent as an invoice ages. Done well it is respectful and scheduled; done badly it is robotic and damages relationships.
Dunning done right
Effective dunning is a fixed, escalating cadence that stays in your voice and pauses when a client responds. The goal is to be impossible to forget without being unpleasant. Modern tools automate the sequence and, crucially, read replies so the dunning stops the moment a client promises to pay. See how to collect unpaid invoices.
Frequently asked questions
What does dunning mean in accounting?
Dunning is the practice of methodically contacting customers to collect overdue invoices, using a planned sequence of reminders that grows firmer over time. The word is old, but the idea is simply structured, persistent follow-up. Good dunning is scheduled and polite; poor dunning is sporadic or robotic and costs you relationships.
What is a dunning sequence?
A dunning sequence is the ordered series of payment reminders sent as an invoice becomes overdue, typically starting warm before the due date and escalating to a firm final notice weeks later. Automating the sequence keeps it consistent, and the best tools pause it automatically when the client replies with a promise or a question.
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