10 Effective Failed Payment Email and Message Templates

Updated: August 05, 2024

Failed payments can disrupt the customer experience and affect your revenue. Handling these situations with professionalism and clarity is essential to maintain customer trust and satisfaction.

This article provides a guide for creating effective failed payment email. We’ll review a few best practices and provide example templates for you to incorporate into your customer messaging.

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Importance of Sending Failed Payment Emails

Failed payment emails are essential for informing customers about issues with their transactions. They serve several purposes:

  • Prompt Action: Encourage customers to resolve payment issues quickly.
  • Customer Retention: Maintain trust and avoid losing customers due to unresolved payment problems.
  • Cash Flow Management: Ensure continuous revenue by addressing payment failures promptly.

Best Practices for Sending Failed Payment Emails

To ensure effective communication, consider the following best practices when sending failed payment emails:

How Many Reminders to Send

It’s advisable to send multiple reminders to give customers ample opportunity to rectify the issue. Typically, three reminders are sufficient:

  • Initial Notification: Immediately after the payment fails.
  • Second Reminder: 3-5 days after the initial notification.
  • Final Reminder: 7-10 days after the second reminder.
When to Send Reminders

Timing is crucial for these emails. Send the initial notification as soon as the payment fails, and follow up with reminders at appropriate intervals to prompt action without overwhelming the customer.

What to Include in a Failed Payment Message

A well-crafted failed payment email should include:

  • Clear Subject Line: Inform the customer about the issue immediately.
  • Personalized Greeting: Address the customer by name.
  • Explanation of the Issue: Clearly state what went wrong.
  • Next Steps: Provide instructions on how to resolve the issue.
  • Support Information: Offer contact details for further assistance.
  • Polite and Professional Tone: Maintain a respectful and understanding tone.
What Not to Include in a Failed Payment Message

Avoid the following to ensure clarity and professionalism:

  • Overly Technical Jargon: Keep the language simple and understandable.
  • Blame or Accusation: Focus on resolving the issue rather than assigning blame.
  • Excessive Details: Provide only necessary information to avoid overwhelming the customer.

Benefits of Using Failed Payment Email Templates

Utilizing templates for failed payment emails offers several advantages:

  • Consistency: Ensure all communication maintains a consistent tone and message.
  • Efficiency: Save time by using pre-written templates instead of drafting each email from scratch.
  • Accuracy: Reduce the risk of errors and ensure all necessary information is included.
How TextExpander Can Help

TextExpander is a powerful tool that can enhance the efficiency of your failed payment communication and enables customer service teams to provide quick, accurate, and consistent responses, improving overall customer satisfaction. Specific benefits include:

  • Library of Responses: Create a library of consistent customer service responses that can be used instantly with text shortcuts, ensuring uniformity in customer interactions.
  • Live Chat Efficiency: Use customer service scripts for live chat to help the team handle queries effectively and maintain high response standards.
  • Direct Communication: Send direct and personalized text messages to customers’ phones, facilitating prompt responses to inquiries or updates about sales and promotions.

Customer support teams can delight more customers in less time, providing quick, accurate, and personalized service consistently. For more information on how TextExpander can help with customer support, visit TextExpander for Customer Support.

Failed Payment Email Templates

Subject: Payment Issue Notification

Dear [Customer Name],

We regret to inform you that your recent payment attempt for order #[Order Number] was unsuccessful. Please update your payment information to complete the transaction.

If you need assistance, feel free to contact our support team at [Support Email/Phone Number].

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Best regards,
[Your Company Name]

Subject: Credit Card Declined – Immediate Attention Required

Dear [Customer Name],

Unfortunately, your recent payment attempt using the credit card ending in [Last Four Digits] was declined. Please provide an alternative payment method to ensure continuous service.

For further assistance, contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number].

Thank you,
[Your Company Name]

Subject: Payment Declined – Action Needed

Dear [Customer Name],

We encountered an issue processing your payment for order #[Order Number]. Please update your payment details at your earliest convenience.

If you need any help, please reach out to our support team at [Support Email/Phone Number].

Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]

Subject: Payment Processing Issue

Dear [Customer Name],

We are writing to inform you that we could not process your recent payment. Please check your payment details and try again.

Should you have any questions, contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number].

Thank you,
[Your Company Name]

Subject: Action Required: Payment Issue

Dear [Customer Name],

We noticed a problem with your payment for order #[Order Number]. Please update your payment information to proceed.

For support, please contact [Support Email/Phone Number].

Best regards,
[Your Company Name]

Failed Payment Message Templates

If you need to communicate with customers via text or other direct messaging platforms, you can use the following email templates.

Dear [Customer Name],
We couldn’t process your recent payment. Please update your payment info. Need help? Contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number].
Thank you, [Your Company Name]

Dear [Customer Name],
Your credit card ending in [Last Four Digits] was declined. Please provide a different payment method. For assistance, contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number].
Thank you, [Your Company Name]

Dear [Customer Name],
We couldn’t process your payment for order #[Order Number]. Please update your payment details. For help, contact [Support Email/Phone Number].
Thank you, [Your Company Name]

Dear [Customer Name],
We couldn’t process your payment. Please check your payment details and try again. For support, contact [Support Email/Phone Number].
Thank you, [Your Company Name]

Dear [Customer Name],
We noticed an issue with your payment for order #[Order Number]. Please update your payment information. Need help? Contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number].
Best regards, [Your Company Name]

What is TextExpander

Revolutionize your customer service by quickly accessing a library of response templates, troubleshooting steps, and more. Access the snippets in your ticketing system, CRM, or anywhere else you type. See for yourself here:

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Try it for yourself

With TextExpander, you can store and quickly expand full email templates, email addresses, and more anywhere you type. That means you’ll never have to misspell, memorize, or type the same things over and over again.

Subject: Payment Issue Notification <br> <br>Dear [Customer Name], <br> <br>We regret to inform you that your recent payment attempt for order #[Order Number] was unsuccessful. Please update your payment information to complete the transaction. <br> <br>If you need assistance, feel free to contact our support team at [Support Email/Phone Number]. <br> <br>Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. <br> <br>Best regards, <br>[Your Company Name]
Subject: Credit Card Declined – Immediate Attention Required <br> <br>Dear [Customer Name], <br> <br>Unfortunately, your recent payment attempt using the credit card ending in [Last Four Digits] was declined. Please provide an alternative payment method to ensure continuous service. <br> <br>For further assistance, contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number]. <br> <br>Thank you, <br>[Your Company Name]
Dear [Customer Name], <br>We couldn't process your payment for order #[Order Number]. Please update your payment details. For help, contact [Support Email/Phone Number]. <br>Thank you, [Your Company Name]
Dear [Customer Name], <br>We couldn't process your payment. Please check your payment details and try again. For support, contact [Support Email/Phone Number]. <br>Thank you, [Your Company Name]
Dear [Customer Name], <br>We noticed an issue with your payment for order #[Order Number]. Please update your payment information. Need help? Contact us at [Support Email/Phone Number]. <br>Best regards, [Your Company Name] <br>

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