Your client disputes the invoice.Find the next step.
You delivered the work. Your client sees the bill differently. Bring the invoice, the original agreement and both perspectives into a calmer conversation, with private AI guidance for each of you.
Free to start. The case starter pays $79 only after both parties sign. The invited party never pays.
What should you do when a client disputes an invoice?
Ask which charges the client disputes and why. Compare those items with your quote, agreed scope and delivery records. Separate any amount you both accept from the amount still in question, then discuss a specific next step for each. A disputed invoice needs a conversation about the disagreement as well as the payment date.
Identify the actual objection
Is the client questioning the price, hours, quality, delivery or authorization for extra work? Ask for the invoice line and their reason. If the amount is accepted but money is tight, a payment-plan conversation may be more useful.
Build a short, factual account
Connect each disputed charge to the relevant quote, approval or delivery. Note what the records show and where the two of you remember things differently. Include payments already received so you are discussing the same balance.
Propose something specific
You might explain the charge, correct an error, offer a defined revision or discuss a reduced amount. Name the amount, action and proposed date. Invite a response to those details instead of repeating the full history.
Bring the facts.
Leave room to listen.
Start with a short account and the relevant records. You can organize them privately before choosing what to share.
- The invoice, due date and record of payments received
- The accepted quote, contract or statement of work
- Messages approving changes, extra hours or revisions
- Delivery records and the client’s specific feedback
A private place to prepare.
A shared place to work it out.
SettleBetween gives each person a private AI adviser and a shared process for exploring a resolution. You decide what to share and whether to agree.
Prepare your side
Explain what happened and what you want to resolve. Use included AI guidance to organize your account and documents.
Invite the other person
Review the invitation before sharing it. They can join free with their own private AI adviser.
Explore options together
A separate AI mediator uses approved shared information to help you discuss possible next steps.
Review the same terms
Both parties review and approve the same version before signing. Signing and fulfilling the agreement are separate steps.
The case starter pays the agreement fee. The invited party never pays. No subscription.
See pricing, included access and limitsWhat to clarify before you sign
- Invoice number, currency, original total and payments already received
- Amount to be paid, by whom, how and by which date
- Any correction or remaining work, including who approves completion
- Which disputed items are resolved and what, if anything, remains open
Is this right for your situation?
Useful when a client and service provider are willing to discuss a specific disagreement about a bill. Either side can start, and the invited party participates for free.
SettleBetween cannot collect a debt or require a client to respond. It does not decide whether an invoice is legally payable. If you need a ruling or face a deadline, get advice appropriate to your location.
Availability depends on both parties’ locations and the dispute type. This is practical preparation guidance, not legal advice. AI can make mistakes. Review suggestions and seek independent advice where needed.
Questions about disputed invoices
What is the difference between a disputed and an overdue invoice?
An overdue invoice has passed its payment date. A disputed invoice is one where the client challenges something about the charge or the work. An invoice can be both. Clarifying the objection helps you decide whether to discuss the work, the amount or a payment schedule.
Can we discuss payment of the undisputed amount first?
Yes, you can propose that as part of the conversation. Be explicit about the amount and what still needs discussion. Do not assume that receiving a partial payment has a particular legal effect; that depends on the terms and applicable law.
Do I need a signed contract to start?
You can prepare a case with the records you have, such as a quote, emails, messages and invoices. Missing a signed contract does not prevent a conversation, but SettleBetween cannot determine the legal strength of those records.
What if the client ignores the invitation?
Participation is voluntary. If the client declines or never responds, no agreement is reached and there is no agreement fee. Silence does not count as acceptance.
You don’t need all the answers.
Just a place to begin.
Start resolving your invoicePrepare free. Choose when to invite the other person. No agreement fee unless you both sign.