How to ask for money you're owed, nicely
Type the name and the amount, pick a tone and what the money was for, and you get a message ready to send on WhatsApp. Warm, funny or straight to the point, but always friendly: the idea is to get paid and keep the friend.
Example messages to ask for money you're owed
Twelve messages straight out of the generator, to copy or borrow ideas from. Change the name and the number and you're done.
Trip · Warm
Hi Emma! Hope you're well. Just messaging about the trip money: your share comes to £86.40. We had such a good time! I'll send you my bank details now. Thanks so much! Speak soon.
Trip · Funny
Hey Tom! Your friendly neighbourhood accountant here, calculator in hand. The trip was legendary, but sadly the bills don't pay themselves: your share is £120. To make it super easy, here it is: sort code 00-00-00, account 12345678 Would this week work for you? Thanks, your karma just went up two points.
Dinner · Funny
Hi Sophie! Public service announcement, don't panic. Dinner was a ten out of ten and so was the bill: your share is £32.50. I paid, you get the next one… or just send me the money, whichever comes first. Sending you my bank details in a sec, so you've got no excuses 😉 Thanks, your karma just went up two points.
Dinner · Direct but friendly
Hi Jack. For dinner: your share is £27. Thanks.
Rent or bills · Direct but friendly
Hi Chloe. Flat costs for this month: your share is £450. You can pay me here: sort code 00-00-00, account 12345678 If you could before the end of the month, that'd be great. Thanks.
Rent or bills · Funny
Hey Harry! Your friendly neighbourhood accountant here, calculator in hand. News from the flat: the lights are still on thanks to you… as soon as you send me £38.20. Sending you my bank details in a sec, so you've got no excuses 😉 Thanks, your karma just went up two points.
Group gift · Warm
Hi Grace 😊 I've got the numbers for the group gift: your share is £15. Thanks for joining in. I'll send you my bank details now. Thanks so much! Speak soon.
Group gift · Funny
Hey Sam! Your friendly neighbourhood accountant here, calculator in hand. The present was a hit, and now for the less glamorous part: your share is £12.50. Would this week work for you? Thanks, your karma just went up two points.
Loan · Warm
Hi Lucy! Hope you're well. Just a gentle nudge about the £50 I lent you. No rush, just so neither of us forgets. Thanks so much! Speak soon.
Loan · Funny
Hi Ben! Public service announcement, don't panic. My £20 has been asking about you: it says it misses home. My bank details are on their way, I'm making this as easy as possible. Thanks, your karma just went up two points.
Loan · Direct but friendly
Hi Ellie. Just wanted to remind you about the £200 I lent you. When would suit you to pay it back? Payment details: sort code 00-00-00, account 12345678 If you could before the end of the month, that'd be great. Thanks.
Trip · Direct but friendly
Hi Josh, how are you? The trip sums are done. Yours comes to £64. I'll send my bank details in a moment. Would this week work for you? Thanks.
Tips for asking for money without ruining the friendship
Ask soon
The best time to ask is in the days after, while everyone still remembers the dinner or the trip. Waiting months makes it more awkward for both of you and makes it feel like it “doesn't matter any more”.
Give the exact amount and what it's for
“You owe me something for dinner” invites a “later”. “It's £27 for Saturday's dinner” gets paid in a minute. If it's several costs added up, offer to share the breakdown.
Put your bank details right there
The less the other person has to do, the sooner they pay. If your details are already in the message, there's no excuse and no back-and-forth.
Suggest a date, with some slack
A “would this week work?” or “before the end of the month” sets a deadline without sounding like an ultimatum. If they can't right now, agree on a specific date or splitting it into two payments.
Privately, and without calling anyone out
Send it in a private chat, not in the group in front of everyone. It's a reminder, not a verdict: no passive-aggressive digs, comparisons or threats. If a second message still gets no reply, it's better to talk in person.
Big loan? Put it in writing
For larger amounts, write down how much it is and when it'll be paid back, even if it's just in a message. It saves misunderstandings on both sides.
If this keeps happening, let the app keep track
If you're always the one paying up front on trips, dinners or in the flat, the problem isn't the message: it's keeping track. In Cuentas Claras you add the costs to a group and the app works out who owes whom, to the penny and with as few payments as possible.
- Everyone sees on their own phone what they owe and to whom, with their personal link and without installing anything.
- The person being paid confirms the payment, so nobody wonders whether it's been paid.
- The payee's bank details (IBAN) can be copied with one tap.
- Automatic payment reminders: a Premium feature (€5.99/year, with a 14-day trial when you create an account). Everything else is free.
Free and ad-free, on Android, iPhone and the web.
Just want to do the sums before asking? Expense splitting calculator (in Spanish)
Frequently asked questions
How do you politely ask for money you're owed?
With a short, private and specific message: a hello, what the money was for, the exact amount and your details so they can pay. A warm or funny tone takes the edge off; what never works is passive-aggressive hints or threats.
How do I ask a friend to pay back money I lent them without it being awkward?
Remind them how much you lent, without blame, and suggest a date with some slack or paying it in two goes. If they don't reply, send a second friendly message a week later and, if nothing changes, talk in person.
How long should I wait before reminding someone?
For shared costs (dinner, a trip, a gift), asking in the following days is normal. For a loan, when the date you agreed arrives or, if there wasn't one, after a few weeks.
Does this generator save my data?
No. The message is created in your browser: the name, the amount and your bank details are not sent to any server or saved. When you tap “Send on WhatsApp”, WhatsApp opens with the text and you send it yourself.
Does Cuentas Claras send automatic payment reminders?
Yes. Automatic reminders are a Premium feature (€5.99 a year, with a 14-day trial when you create an account). Adding expenses, seeing who owes whom and settling up are free.
Can I remove the Cuentas Claras sign-off from the message?
Yes. Untick the box and the message comes out without it. It's completely optional.