Warm-up
Banking, Invoices & Payments
Banking, Invoices & Payments
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key vocabulary for banking and invoices
- Use the present perfect with already, yet, just, since and for
- Write a polite payment reminder
- Ask and answer questions about a payment
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- Do you prefer to pay by card, by transfer or in cash?
- Have you ever forgotten to pay a bill?
- What is the hardest part of dealing with money at work?
- Do you think online banking is safe?
Say it out loud
Ask about a payment. → Have you received my payment yet?
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases
| Have you received my payment yet? | Ви вже отримали мій платіж? |
| We have already sent the invoice. | Ми вже надіслали рахунок. |
| The payment has not arrived yet. | Платіж ще не надійшов. |
| The invoice is overdue by two weeks. | Рахунок прострочений на два тижні. |
| I have just made the transfer. | Я щойно зробив переказ. |
| We have had this account since 2019. | Цей рахунок у нас з 2019 року. |
| Please settle the invoice by Friday. | Будь ласка, сплатіть рахунок до п’ятниці. |
| Could you send me a receipt, please? | Чи не могли б ви надіслати мені квитанцію? |
Try out the new words
Say one sentence with a new word. → …
Say one phrase from the list about your work. → …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
The present perfect and reminders
| have / has + past participle | connects the past and now: We have sent the invoice. The payment has not arrived. |
| already / yet / just | We have already paid. (earlier than expected) Have you received it yet? (question) I have just made the transfer. (a moment ago) Yet goes at the end in questions and negatives. |
| for / since | We have had this account for five years / since 2019. For + a period; since + a point in time. |
| No definite past time | Wrong: I have paid yesterday. Right: I paid yesterday. / I have paid already. With a finished time (yesterday, last week) we use the past simple. |
| Polite reminders | I am writing to remind you that … / We would be grateful if you could … / If you have already paid, please ignore this message. |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Rewrite it
Make a sentence with the present perfect. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Say one thing you have already done today at work. → I have already …
Reading
Read: a payment reminder email
Subject: Reminder — Invoice No. 2051
Dear Mr Wilson,
I am writing to remind you about Invoice No. 2051 for 3,200 euros, which we sent on 3 March. The due date was 2 April, so the invoice is now two weeks overdue.
We have not received the payment yet. We have also tried to call you twice, but we have not been able to reach you.
We would be grateful if you could settle the invoice by 20 April. You can make a bank transfer to the account below.
If you have already paid, please ignore this message and send us the receipt.
Thank you for your help.
Kind regards, Helen Moore, Accounts Department
True or false?
The invoice is for 3,200 euros.
The due date was 3 March.
The invoice is two weeks overdue.
The company has received the payment.
Helen has called Mr Wilson twice.
Answer the questions
How much is the invoice?
Why is Helen writing?
By when should he pay?
What should he do if he has already paid?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Is the email too soft, too strong or correct?
- What would you do if you did not receive the payment?
- How often should a company send a reminder?
Practice
Picture the situation
Invoice → Reminder → Transfer → Receipt. A polite reminder protects the relationship and gets the money.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays a client or a bank clerk. Ask about payments, remind about invoices and handle problems. Use have/has + past participle with already, yet, just, for, since.
Asking about a payment
Task: you have not received a payment. Call the client politely.
Starter: "Good morning, Mr Wilson. I am calling about Invoice 2051. Have you received it yet?"
Giving a reason
Task: the client says he has not paid yet. Ask why and listen.
Starter: "I see. May I ask why the payment has not arrived yet?"
Sending a reminder
Task: tell the client the invoice is overdue and ask for payment.
Starter: "I am afraid the invoice is two weeks overdue. We would be grateful if you could settle it by 20 April."
Saying you have paid
Task: a supplier asks about your payment. Say you have just paid.
Starter: "I have just made the transfer this morning, so you should receive it tomorrow."
Asking for a receipt
Task: ask the bank for a receipt and a statement.
Starter: "Could you send me a receipt for the transfer, please? And I would also like a statement of my account."
Talking to the bank
Task: explain what you need from the bank.
Starter: "We have had this account since 2019. I would like to ask about a loan and the interest rate."
Closing the call
Task: agree on the next step and thank the client.
Starter: "So you will pay by Friday, and I will send you the receipt. Thank you for your help."
Full conversation — no stops
With your tutor, role-play a payment call: ask about an overdue invoice, listen to the reason, agree on a new date and confirm the next step — entirely in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- Is it difficult to ask for money politely?
- Which tone is best for a first reminder?
- How can a company avoid late payments?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key vocabulary for banking and invoices
- Use the present perfect with already, yet, just, since and for
- Write a polite payment reminder
- Ask and answer questions about a payment
Quick self-check
How do we form the present perfect?
Where do we put yet?
What is the difference between for and since?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor one thing you have already done today. → I have already …
Homework
Words to remember
| an invoice | рахунок-фактура |
| a payment | платіж, оплата |
| a bank transfer | банківський переказ |
| an account | рахунок (банківський) |
| a balance | баланс, залишок |
| a loan | позика, кредит |
| interest | відсотки |
| overdue | прострочений |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct form
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a polite reminder email (6–8 sentences) about an overdue invoice. Include the invoice number, the amount, the due date, two present perfect sentences and a new deadline.
Practise out loud
Say your reminder aloud as if you were calling the client.
Read aloud
Read the text “a payment reminder email” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I did the writing task
- 8.8 I practised out loud
- 8.9 I read the text aloud twice