Template
The first email sent immediately after a payment fails, before any retry. Goal: catch the 40-60% of failures that resolve with a simple nudge, before the customer feels embarrassed or annoyed.
A/B test these. Lowercase, question format, and specific-time framings consistently win.
Quick heads-up about your {{product_name}} paymentYour card was declined - takes 30 seconds to fixSmall hiccup with your {{product_name}} subscriptionquick thing about your payment, {{first_name}}Hi {{first_name}},
Quick note - the card on file for your {{product_name}} subscription
was declined today when we tried to process your ${{amount}} payment.
This happens all the time (banks flag subscriptions as "unusual
activity", cards expire, limits get hit). No action needed beyond
updating your card when you get a minute.
→ Update your card (takes 30 seconds)
{{secure_update_link}}
We will automatically retry the payment once your card is updated.
Nothing to cancel, nothing else to do.
Ping me if you hit any trouble.
- {{sender_first_name}}
{{product_name}}Variables in {{like_this}} should be replaced with your merge fields.
Normalizes the failure with "this happens all the time" which pre-handles customer anxiety and embarrassment. Single tokenized link (no login wall, no form). Signed by a real human with first name. No legal language, no alarm language. The 30-second framing removes friction objection.
Immediately after the first retry fails, or at the moment the initial charge is declined if you retry on a delay. Timing matters: sending within 2 hours of the failure recovers 20-30% more than waiting 24 hours.
Yes. Customize the body for expired_card (administrative), insufficient_funds (sensitive/soft tone), do_not_honor (direct with bank-call instructions), and authentication_required (SCA 3DS link). Generic copy converts 15-25% worse.
Automate this with Rebounce
Rebounce detects payment failures via Stripe Connect, classifies them by decline code, and runs the optimal dunning sequence across email, SMS, WhatsApp, and in-app banners. The templates above are the exact patterns Rebounce uses out of the box - you can adapt the copy to your brand voice and Rebounce handles delivery, timing, and sequence cancellation when a retry succeeds.
Start free trialSent on day 3 after the friendly heads-up did not recover the payment. The customer has ignored the first email. Goal: be direct without being aggressive, and preempt silent churn.
Sent on day 14 after all retries and prior emails have failed. The grace period is over. Goal: close cleanly, preserve goodwill, and leave the door open for reactivation. A well-done final notice is often the best win-back hook you have.
Sent when a subscription payment fails specifically because the card on file expired. This is the easiest dunning recovery - not a money problem, just an admin task. Goal: treat it like routine maintenance, not an emergency.