In April 2011, I described AcceptEmail as an alternative to mailing paper payment slips. A business emailed a payment request and the customer could move from that message to an online payment. The idea was to bring sending, paying and follow-up closer together.
The old service as an example
The annual licence price of 85 euros, transaction fees and exact iDEAL route were facts from 2011. They are not a current quote or instruction. This article describes how the service worked then and does not recommend opening an AcceptEmail account today without checking the product. The enduring question is how to make a request easy for the recipient and traceable for the sender.
A good payment email clearly identifies the business, what the amount is for and where the recipient can ask questions. The link should lead to a recognisable payment environment. If in doubt, recipients should find the sender’s known contact address or website themselves instead of clicking an unexpected link.
Track payment, not just clicks
Sending an email is not the same as receiving payment. Record which invoices are paid and which remain open. Reminders should follow that status so a customer is not asked to pay again after the money arrives. An email-open report may help, but it is not a confirmed transaction.
Pay.nl documents how payment requests can be sent by email today; it is an example of the general process, not a verified successor to AcceptEmail. The useful lesson from 2011 is a clear request, a safe route and a reliable status.