Chasing unpaid fees
Clubs forget. Treasurers are busy. Cash doesn't always appear on the day. penalty.app keeps a live list of every match you haven't been paid for — and generates a professional reminder message with one tap.
Payment statuses
Every match has one of three payment states. You set these yourself — penalty.app never assumes you've been paid.
Default state when you log a match. The fee is outstanding and the match appears in your dashboard's chase list.
You've received some of the fee — typically when a club pays part on the day and the rest arrives later by BACS.
Full payment received. The match disappears from your outstanding list and the amount adds to your "Total Received" figure.
Your outstanding payments at a glance
The dashboard shows every unpaid and part-paid match front and centre. Totals update the moment you change a status — no refreshing needed.
£340
Total earned
£105
Outstanding
10
Matches
Unpaid matches
FC Rovers vs Athletic FC
Sunday League Div 2 · Sat 14 Jun · REF
City Youth vs Park FC
County Cup · Wed 11 Jun · AR
Westside FC vs Town United
Sunday League Div 1 · Sat 7 Jun · REF
Sending a chase message
For any unpaid match, one tap generates a complete, professional reminder ready to paste into WhatsApp, a text, or an email.
Open an unpaid match
Tap any unpaid match from the dashboard or your match list to open the match detail view.
Tap 'Chase Payment'
The chase button is always visible on any unpaid match card. Tapping it copies the message to your clipboard instantly.
Sunday League Div 2 · Sat 14 Jun · Referee
Paste and send
Open WhatsApp, your SMS app, or email and paste the message. It arrives pre-filled with the exact match details and the amount owed — all you may need to add is the recipient's name.
Hi,
Just a quick reminder regarding my match fee for the game on Saturday 14 June 2025 — FC Rovers vs Athletic FC (Sunday League Div 2), where I officiated as Referee.
The outstanding fee is £35.00.
Could you arrange payment at your earliest convenience? Many thanks.
Mark as paid when the money arrives
Once the payment lands, open the match and tap Mark as Paid. The match moves off your outstanding list and your dashboard totals update automatically.
Tips for getting paid faster
Set 'Who Pays' when you log the match
If you know in advance whether it's the home club, away club, or the league secretary who pays, record it. This means the right person gets the reminder.
Chase within a week
The longer you wait, the easier it is for a club to dispute the details. Chasing within 7 days while the game is fresh tends to get faster responses.
Include your bank details in the message
After copying the message, add your BACS details before sending. Removing friction on how to pay is the single biggest thing that speeds up payment.
Use Part Paid for instalments
If a club pays in two parts, use 'Part Paid' so the outstanding balance is still tracked. Don't mark it fully paid until the full amount arrives.
Frequently asked questions
How does the chase payment message work?
For each unpaid match, tap 'Chase Payment' and a professional, pre-written message is copied to your clipboard. It includes the match date, home and away teams, your role, and the exact amount owed. Paste it into WhatsApp, a text message, or email — the wording is polite but clear.
Can I customise the chase message?
The message is generated automatically from your match data. After it's copied to your clipboard you can edit it freely before sending — add the recipient's name, adjust the tone, or add payment details like your bank account number.
What is 'Part Paid' status?
Part Paid means you've received some payment but not the full fee — for example, if a club pays half on the day and promises the rest by bank transfer. You can record what was actually paid and the outstanding balance appears in your dashboard.
Does penalty.app send the message automatically?
No — penalty.app copies the message to your clipboard. You choose when and how to send it, and to whom. This keeps you in control of the communication and means the message comes from you personally, not from an automated system.
How do I mark a match as paid once the money arrives?
Open the match (from the dashboard or your match list) and tap 'Mark as Paid'. The match moves off your outstanding list immediately and your totals update.
Related guides
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