Guides · Updated 13 October 2026

Getting paid on time. Terms, reminders and your rights.

Most workplaces pay without being asked twice. When one does not, it helps to know what was agreed, what to send and what the law allows.

A woman on a sofa checking her phone

Agree the terms before the session

Settle the rate and the payment terms when you take the booking, and put the terms on the invoice with a due date. Fourteen or thirty days are both common. A date is harder to overlook than a number of days.

Send the invoice on the day

The clock starts when the invoice arrives. Invoicing at the end of the month can add weeks to the wait for sessions worked at the start of it.

A simple way to chase

The day after it is due: a short, friendly reminder with the invoice attached.
A week later: a second reminder that names the amount and the due date.
After that: a phone call to whoever pays the invoices, then a final written request.

Keep each message factual. Most late payments are an invoice sitting in the wrong inbox.

Example: How one late invoice plays out

1 September: Session worked. Invoice sent the same day, on 30 day terms
1 October: Due date
2 October: First reminder, with the invoice attached
9 October: Second reminder, naming the amount and the due date
16 October: Phone call to whoever pays the invoices
From 2 October: Statutory interest can be added

Interest is the amount owed × (8% + the Bank of England base rate) × days late ÷ 365.

What the law allows

When one business pays another late, the supplier can charge statutory interest of 8% plus the Bank of England base rate, unless the contract sets a different rate. You can also claim a fixed sum for the cost of recovering the debt: £40 on debts up to £999.99, £70 from £1,000 to £9,999.99, and £100 on £10,000 or more.

Most locums never need to use this. It is still worth knowing it is there.

What to say in a reminder

Keep it to four things: the invoice number, the amount, the date it was due and how to pay. Attach the invoice again. A reminder that can be acted on without looking anything up is the one that gets paid.

If they dispute it

Ask what exactly is disputed and deal with that part. If only some of the invoice is in question, ask for the rest to be paid while you sort it out.

If it goes on for months

Send a final written request that gives a date and says what you will do next. After that, a claim for money can be made through the courts online. For most locums it never comes to this, and a phone call to the right person settles it.

Keep a record

Note every reminder and call with its date. If you ever add interest or make a claim, that record is what supports it.

Where Locbase fits

Locbase shows every invoice as paid, upcoming or overdue, so nothing is left unpaid by accident. Overdue invoices are flagged, and a reminder is ready to send from the app.

Questions

How long should a workplace take to pay a locum?

Whatever you agreed. Fourteen and thirty days are both common. Put the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.

Can I charge interest on a late invoice?

Yes. For a late payment between businesses you can charge statutory interest and a fixed sum for recovery costs. GOV.UK sets out the rates.

When does a payment count as late?

After the date you agreed. If no date was agreed, the law treats a payment between businesses as late after 30 days.

Should I keep working for a workplace that pays late?

That is your call. Many locums ask for payment of what is outstanding before taking further sessions.