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Documents & payments
Late-payment enforcement Independent+
Turn on Kwill’s escalation ladder for overdue invoices: grace periods, how far it may advance on its own, the fees and interest each rung adds, and how to pause it.
In the portal: Business › Enforcement
- What it is
- An optional, step-by-step process for overdue invoices that sends firmer notices over time and can add late fees and interest.
- Why use it
- Chase late payers consistently without writing awkward emails yourself.
- When
- If late payment is a regular problem, and your contracts allow late fees.
Settings
- Enable Late Payment Enforcement — the main switch. It is off by default, and Free users can see the settings but cannot turn them on.
- Grace Period (Days) — how long after the due date before the process starts, from 0 to 30. The default is 3.
- Auto-Advance Threshold (Max Rung) — how far Kwill may go on its own: rung 1, 2 (the default) or 3.
- Auto-pause on dispute — on by default. Pauses the process when a client’s portal message or request contains words like "dispute", "fraud" or "wrong".
The rungs
Kwill moves up at most one rung per day, and never beyond your maximum rung. Each rung emails the client a notice with an updated payment link that includes any fee or interest, and the invoice shows a "Late fee" or "Late interest" line.
The contract’s governing law — or failing that the client’s country, or failing that yours — decides which legal reference rate is used for yearly interest.
- Rung 1, straight after the grace period — a gentle reminder and grace notice. No charge.
- Rung 2, day 7 — a formal notice and an initial fee of 2% of the invoice.
- Rung 3, day 14 — a work pause notice. Interest is added only if a signed contract with that client sets a late-interest rate.
- Rungs 4 and 5, days 21 and 28 — pre-legal and final collections notices. These are not sent automatically.
Pausing one invoice
On the invoice page, click Pause escalation. Fees and interest stop growing and no further rungs are sent. Click Resume to continue. Paying the invoice ends the process.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Kwill chase late-paying clients automatically?
- Yes, in two ways. On every plan, automatic reminders go out 3 and 7 days after the due date. On Independent and above you can additionally switch on late-payment enforcement, a rung-by-rung escalation that adds a 2% fee at day 7 and, where a signed contract sets a rate, interest at day 14.
- Is late-payment enforcement on by default?
- No. It is off by default and has to be switched on under Business › Enforcement. Free users can see the settings but cannot enable it.
- How much is the Kwill late fee?
- Rung 2, which starts 7 days after the grace period, adds a fee of 2% of the invoice. Interest is only added at rung 3 if a signed contract with that client sets a late-interest rate.
- How do I stop enforcement on one invoice?
- Open the invoice and click Pause escalation. Fees and interest stop growing and no further rungs are sent until you click Resume. Paying the invoice ends the process entirely.
- Does a client dispute pause enforcement automatically?
- The "Auto-pause on dispute" setting is on by default and pauses the process when a client’s portal message or request contains words such as "dispute", "fraud" or "wrong". Clicking "Dispute this invoice" does not by itself pause the 3- and 7-day reminders, so pause escalation on that invoice if you need to.
Describes the Kwill portal as built on 18 September 2026.
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