SaaS Dunning Emails: 8 Copy-Paste Templates

Late payments are awkward — but losing a good customer over a failed charge is worse. The best dunning emails aren’t just reminders — they’re triggered at the perfect moment based on real user actions.

And here’s the kicker — Most churn happens without the customer even choosing to leave. It’s all failed payments.

In this post, I’ve collected 8 SaaS dunning emails that do the job right. Some are soft nudges, others get straight to the point. All of them are built to recover revenue without burning the relationship.

You’ll get ideas for retry notices, card expiration warnings, and last-call emails before cancellation. Take what works, tweak the tone, and use it in your own flow.

What is a SaaS Dunning Email?

A SaaS dunning email is an automated message sent when a payment fails.

These emails help you recover revenue by alerting customers about billing issues—like expired cards or declined charges—and guiding them to fix them. Think of it as a friendly tap on the shoulder: “Hey, something went wrong with your payment. Here’s how to fix it.”

Dunning emails aren’t about pressure. They’re about keeping customers in the loop and giving them a clean, easy path to update their info. The best ones feel like a helpful reminder, not a threat.

If you’re running a subscription business, these emails are non-negotiable. Every failed charge you don’t catch is money left on the table.

Why Send Dunning Emails for Your SaaS?

The main reason to send dunning emails is simple: you’ll recover revenue you would’ve lost otherwise.

When payments fail, most people don’t even notice. Their card expired. They hit a spending limit. Whatever the reason, they’re not going to fix it unless you tell them. That’s where dunning emails come in.

1. You’ll save revenue on autopilot

This isn’t about squeezing customers. It’s about giving them a heads-up so they can stay subscribed. A single dunning email can recover hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in missed payments.

And since it’s fully automated, it’s basically free money. You set up the sequence once, and it works in the background 24/7.

2. You avoid awkward support conversations

No one likes chasing payments manually. Without dunning emails, the burden usually falls on your support team—writing awkward emails, manually updating accounts, and hoping people reply.

Automating this with a smart dunning sequence saves your team time and keeps things professional. You don’t need to beg. You just send the right message at the right time.

3. You keep good customers from slipping away

Most failed payments aren’t intentional. People don’t cancel—they just forget. If you don’t catch it early, they churn without realizing it.

Dunning emails give you a safety net. Instead of losing users silently, you stay in touch and give them a shot to fix the issue before it’s too late. And if you personalize the message, it feels like a genuine check-in—not just another billing reminder.

When Should You Send Dunning Emails?

The best time to send dunning emails is right after the payment fails. The longer you wait, the lower your chances of recovery.

But one email isn’t enough. You’ll want to build a short sequence—ideally 3 to 5 emails spread over a few days. The timing depends on your billing cycle, user behavior, and how aggressive (or gentle) you want the tone to be.

1. Right after the charge fails

Your first email should go out within minutes of the failure. It’s fresh in the system, and users are more likely to take action quickly.

This email should be simple: explain what happened, tell them what to do, and include a clear button to update their payment info.

2. 24 to 48 hours later

If they don’t act on the first email, send a second one a day or two later. This is your reminder email—reassure them it’s a quick fix and maybe mention what happens if they don’t update (like account pause or loss of access).

You can also test different angles here: add a bit of urgency or emphasize the value they’ll lose.

3. Final warning before cancellation

This is your last shot. If it’s a high-value account, this email matters a lot. Be clear, firm, but respectful. Let them know it’s their final chance to keep access.

Some companies throw in a grace period, some offer help from support. Either way, make it count—because once they’re out, it’s harder to get them back.

Now, let’s take a look at 8 real SaaS dunning emails that actually get the job done.

Listed: 8 SaaS Dunning Email Examples That Recover Revenue

1. Payment Failed – First attempt after card decline

This is the email you send minutes after the first charge fails. It’s the beginning of your dunning flow — polite, helpful, and zero pressure. You’re just flagging the issue and making it super easy to fix.

This kind of dunning email is essential in SaaS because many users don’t even realize their card failed. Whether it’s an expired date or a spending limit, this message keeps things smooth and prevents churn right at the source.

A few subject line ideas you can try:

• Uh-oh… payment failed on your account
• Just a heads-up: card declined
• Trouble with your payment
• Fix this to keep your account running
• Update your card in seconds

Why it works: It’s soft and non-threatening. You’re not scaring them — you’re helping them fix a tiny issue before it becomes a big one.

2. 2nd Reminder – Still unpaid, let’s sort it out

This email comes 24–48 hours after the first one. It’s a little more direct, but still helpful. You’re reminding them the issue’s still there, and giving them another chance to fix it before things escalate.

Use this as your polite follow-up. It’s a great time to test a slightly different tone or CTA phrasing — urgency without pressure.

Subject line examples to test:

• 2nd try… payment still not working
• Don’t lose access — fix your card now
• Another payment attempt failed
• Still seeing a billing issue
• Keep your tools running

Why it works: It keeps the momentum going. If the first email was missed or ignored, this one gives them a second chance with a friendly nudge.

3. Card Expired – Update before the next charge

This one goes out before a payment actually fails — when you know the card is about to expire. It’s proactive and helps avoid failure altogether.

In many SaaS billing systems, you can detect expiring cards. A card expiry reminder email can save you a ton of time and revenue loss from failed auto-renewals.

Other subject lines that work:

• Update your card before it expires
• Your card’s about to expire — fix it fast
• Avoid a billing hiccup
• Don’t let your account go inactive
• Renew smoothly — update your info

Why it works: Prevention beats recovery. This email helps avoid failed payments altogether, keeping the experience smooth and professional.

4. 3rd Attempt – Urgent but still polite

This is your final warning before a user loses access. The tone is firmer, but still respectful. You’re being clear that the account will be paused or canceled unless they take action now.

This email usually performs best with clear deadlines and short, confident copy. It’s not about fear — it’s about clarity.

Try these subject lines too:

• Final call: Payment still failing
• Don’t lose your account access
• Last try — your account’s at risk
• Update your billing info now
• Act now to avoid suspension

Why it works: It’s clear, firm, and actionable. There’s a real deadline now — and that urgency helps drive conversions without sounding aggressive.

5. Grace Period Email – You’ve still got time

This one goes out after the account is paused — but you’re giving them a grace period to come back and fix things before cancellation. It’s soft and gives them hope.

You can position this as a safety net. Many users who ignore the dunning flow will still come back if they know they haven’t lost everything yet.

Subject lines to steal:

• Still here for you — reactivate now
• You haven’t lost your data
• Reactivate in seconds
• Your account’s paused — not gone
• Fix your billing, pick up where you left off

Why it works: It reduces fear and gives a clear path back. The tone is forgiving, which helps retain good users who had a small payment hiccup.

6. Final Cancellation Warning – This is goodbye (almost)

This email is your very last message before full cancellation. It’s serious, but kind. You’re giving them one last chance before everything’s deleted.

This is also your best moment to recover high-value accounts. Make sure this one stands out — the subject line and body should be memorable.

Subject lines you can test:

• This is your last chance
• Final warning before account deletion
• Say goodbye… or stay with us
• We’re closing your account
• Account cancellation incoming

Why it works: It’s crystal clear. No surprises. For some users, that finality is what finally moves them to act.

7. Recovery Thank You – You’re back!

This is the email you send after a user updates their card or successfully pays after a failed attempt. It confirms everything worked and gives them peace of mind.

This email helps rebuild trust and shows that your system is working as it should. Don’t skip it — it closes the loop.

Subject line ideas:

• Welcome back! Your account’s active
• All good — payment fixed
• Thanks for updating your card
• You’re reactivated
• Everything’s back to normal

Why it works: It’s reassuring and positive. You’re not just taking money — you’re building the relationship again.

8. Failed Again – Escalate with a personal touch

If someone’s card fails multiple times, and they still haven’t acted, this is where you bring in a more personal tone. Mention support. Show you care.

Sometimes, just adding that human layer — even if automated — is what gets a response. This email is about empathy and a little extra effort.

Subject lines to try:

• Need help with your payment?
• Want us to take a look?
• Still having billing issues?
• We’re here if you need us
• Let’s fix this together

Why it works: It adds a layer of human support to the automated flow. Makes the user feel like someone’s watching and ready to help.

8 Best Practices for SaaS Dunning Emails

• Send the first email right after the failure
  Don’t wait 3 days to start your flow. The faster you follow up, the higher your recovery chances.
• Keep your tone calm and respectful
  No shaming, no panic. Just a simple, “Hey, the payment didn’t go through. Here’s how to fix it.”
• Use clear subject lines
  Be direct: “Your payment failed” or “Action needed: update your billing info.” No fluff, no tricks.
• Add one clear CTA
  One button. One action. “Update payment method” works better than a wall of links.
• Include the context
  Let them know what the payment was for, how much, and when it happened. Lack of info = ignored email.
• Remind them what’s at risk
  Show what they’ll lose if the payment isn’t fixed — access, data, saved work. This drives action.
• Send more than one email
  One reminder won’t cut it. Space out 3–5 emails over a few days, with increasing urgency.
• Stop the sequence if they pay
  This is key. If someone updates their card, don’t send another “your payment failed” email. Behavior-based tools like Encharge make this easy.

Stop chasing failed payments

→ Encharge sends the right email before revenue slips away.

Manual dunning flows aren’t just time-consuming — they’re leaky. Missed follow-ups. Users who churn without even noticing. Encharge solves this with behavior-based automation built specifically for SaaS. Set up your dunning sequence once, and let it run itself.

• Trigger emails automatically after failed payments, expired cards, or billing errors
• Personalize every message with plan, value, and user data
• Pause sequences if the customer updates their info — no awkward follow-ups
• All-in-one tool: Email + CRM + automation for SaaS
• Rated 4.9 ⭐ by high-growth SaaS teams

Most tools help you send emails. Encharge helps you recover revenue.
You’ll catch failed charges faster, follow up smarter, and win back customers without lifting a finger.

FAQ for SaaS dunning email examples

1. What is an example of a dunning process?

A dunning process is the series of steps a company takes to recover failed payments—usually starting with a soft email reminder and escalating if the issue isn’t resolved. For example, you might send a friendly “card declined” email, follow up two days later, and then warn of cancellation. With Encharge, you can automate this entire sequence and adjust it based on how users respond.

Steps in a typical dunning flow:

1. Day 1: Send a payment failure notice.
2. Day 3–5: Send a follow-up with a card update link.
3. Day 7+: Warn of account suspension if no action is taken (all automated in Encharge).

2. How many dunning emails should I send?

Most SaaS companies send 3 to 5 dunning emails across a 7 to 14-day period. That gives users time to fix the issue without feeling pressured. With Encharge, you can space these out, test different versions, and only escalate if the payment still fails.

How to set the email schedule:

1. Start with a soft reminder right after the failed charge.
2. Add 1–2 nudges over the next few days.
3. End with a final warning email before account access is removed.

3. What should I include in a dunning email?

A good dunning email should mention what went wrong (like a failed charge), explain how to fix it, and link directly to update payment info. Bonus points if you keep the tone friendly. With Encharge, you can create emails in seconds and personalize the message based on plan, usage, or even past payment history.

What to include in every dunning email:

1. A clear subject line like “Payment issue – action needed.”
2. A short message explaining the failure and its impact.
3. A button or link to update billing (Encharge supports this with custom fields).

4. Can I reduce churn using dunning emails?

Yes—many SaaS companies recover 20–40% of failed payments with the right dunning sequence. That’s revenue saved without relying on support or sales. Encharge gives you the tools to set this up once and automatically adapt it to user behavior.

How to recover failed payments:

1. Send timely and personalized reminders.
2. Offer help or alternative payment options if possible.
3. Use Encharge to trigger follow-ups and track who recovers vs. churns.

5. What’s the tone of a good SaaS dunning email?

The best tone for dunning emails is calm, helpful, and respectful—don’t guilt trip or pressure users. The goal is to guide, not scare. With Encharge, you can write one friendly message, then clone and tweak the tone slightly across your whole flow.

How to set the right tone:

1. Avoid harsh language or “final notice” in the first email.
2. Use plain language—just explain the issue and how to fix it.
3. In Encharge, test different tones across your sequence to see what works best.