Is DebtTracker really free?

Yes. You can track up to 3 people completely free, with no credit card required. Premium is $9.99 per year and gives you unlimited tracking.

How do I track who owes me money?

Sign up, tap "Add Debt", enter the person's name and amount. As they pay you back, log each payment and the remaining balance updates automatically.

Can I send a payment reminder to someone?

Yes. Every debt has a "Send Reminder" button that generates a shareable link. The recipient sees a page showing what they owe and can pay via PayPal or Venmo.

Is my financial data private?

Completely. Your data is only visible to you. Passwords are hashed with bcrypt, sessions are signed with JWT, and every query is scoped to your account.

Can I track debts for a business or freelance work?

Yes. The Projects feature lets you group debts and expenses by client or project, making it easy to track outstanding balances across multiple jobs.

How many times should I remind someone before giving up?

Three deliberate attempts is a reasonable standard. Space them out -- first around the due date, second a week or two later, third with a clear statement that this is your final ask.

Should I remind someone via text, call, or in person?

Text or messaging is usually best for the first reminder because it's low-pressure. If texts are ignored, a phone call adds urgency. In-person reminders should be reserved for close relationships.

Is it rude to send a payment reminder?

No. Reminding someone about a genuine financial obligation is not rude -- it's responsible. What matters is how you do it: factual and friendly.

Can I automate payment reminders?

Yes. Tools like DebtTracker let you send shareable reminder links that show the outstanding balance on a neutral, factual page, removing the emotional weight of repeated personal follow-ups.

What if they say they forgot and then forget again?

Repeated forgetting after being reminded is a pattern. Shift from gentle reminders to setting a specific date. A concrete deadline is harder to forget than a vague agreement.

Advice

How to Politely Remind Someone They Owe You Money

The first ask didn't work. Now you need a follow-up that's firm enough to get results but tactful enough to preserve the relationship. Here are real scripts, timing strategies, and tools that take the awkwardness out of payment reminders.

Why Reminders Are Harder Than the First Ask

The second time is harder because the subtext changes. Now you're both aware that they know they owe you money and haven't paid it. Most people stop after one attempt -- they'd rather absorb the financial loss than endure the discomfort of following up.

The 3-Stage Reminder Framework

Stage 1: The Gentle Nudge (casual, assumes good faith). Stage 2: The Specific Ask (friendly but with a concrete date). Stage 3: The Firm Close (direct, calm, final attempt). Each stage includes ready-to-use scripts for text, email, and in-person conversations.

Using Digital Tools to Remove the Awkwardness

DebtTracker lets you share a reminder link -- a neutral, factual page showing the outstanding balance. The link does the reminding for you, removing the emotional weight of repeated personal follow-ups.