I already paid this bill: replying to a payment reminder

You paid the invoice last week. Today a betalingsherinneringpayment reminder arrives from the same company. Your banking app shows the money leaving, but the letter still lists a debt. The payment and reminder may have crossed, or the payment may have been assigned to the wrong invoice. Put the letter and transaction record side by side before replying.

Match the invoice, not just the amount

Monthly rent, premiums and subscriptions often repeat the same amount. A September transfer might have settled August’s bill. Check the creditor and recipient, factuurnummerinvoice number and billing period, betalingskenmerkpayment reference and amount.

A scheduled transfer is not proof of a completed payment. Check for a failed transaction or a reversed direct debit too. If you entered the wrong reference or paid from your partner’s account, explain that so the recipient can trace the money.

Send the transaction evidence

Juridisch Loket advises telling the company or collection agency that the invoice has been paid and enclosing a betaalbewijsproof of payment. Download the relevant transaction from your bank, with the date, amount, recipient and reference visible. You usually do not need to share an entire month of account activity to show one payment. Use a verified contact channel. Juridisch Loket

If the letter came from an incassobureau, reply to that agency and identify the payment you made to the original company.

A Dutch reply you can adapt

We wrote this example for a bill paid in full. Replace the bracketed details:

Geachte heer/mevrouw,

Op [datum brief] ontving ik uw betalingsherinneringpayment reminder met kenmerk [kenmerk]. De factuur met nummer [factuurnummerinvoice number] heb ik op [betaaldatum] betaald. Het bedrag van [bedrag] euro is overgemaakt naar [IBAN ontvanger], met als omschrijving [omschrijving betaling].

Bijgevoegd vindt u het betaalbewijsproof of payment. Wilt u controleren of deze betaling aan de juiste factuur is gekoppeld? Graag ontvang ik een schriftelijke bevestiging van de verwerking van mijn betaling en van het eventueel nog openstaande bedrag.

Met vriendelijke groet, [naam]

The draft asks the recipient to check which invoice received the payment and confirm any remaining balance in writing. If you only paid part of the bill, change the statement that the invoice has been paid and specify the part you settled.

Check what is still being claimed

The openstaand bedragoutstanding amount may include more than the original hoofdsomprincipal debt. Look for separate lines for interest and incassokostencollection costs. Paying the principal late may leave valid additional costs outstanding. Ask for an itemised breakdown if the charges are unclear. Juridisch Loket

This guide concerns company invoices and related collection demands. Taxes, administrative fines and other public debts follow their own rules.

Keep your reply, payment evidence and any delivery acknowledgement. After a phone call, ask for written confirmation. If another demand arrives, attach your earlier reply. A court summons or enforcement document needs prompt legal advice; do not leave it with ordinary reminders.

Understand the reminder and your reply with Letrin

Letrin helps you understand what a Dutch letter asks of you. Scan the reminder to read the amounts, dates and next steps in English. Explain that you already paid and prepare a Dutch reply draft with an English version to check before sending.

Letrin cannot access your bank account or confirm that a payment arrived. Compare the dates and amounts in the draft with your transaction record and send the evidence to the company yourself.

Download Letrin from the App Store or Google Play to read a reminder you have been putting off. You can start without an account, and your first explanations are free.