When a customer card fails, most founders just see a boring error code in Stripe.
Behind that tiny code you usually have a confused human, a blocked credit card, and quietly leaking monthly revenue.
If you run a subscription product, that combination can eat into your runway faster than any feature you ship.
I have seen teams obsess over a shiny redesign while silently losing thousands every month through bad dunning emails.

The good news is simple to state and surprisingly hard to execute well.
A strong failed payment email template can save accounts, reduce churn, and even improve trust with customers.
You do not need a complex nurture journey to start doing this right today.

Why failed payment emails matter for SaaS revenue

Every card failure has a story, and most of those stories are boring.
Cards expire, banks block charges, people forget they changed their card after a lost wallet.
That is exactly why smart SaaS companies treat dunning as a retention lever, not an accounting chore.
Done well, these emails feel like a helpful reminder rather than a robotic collections threat.
Done poorly, they feel like a tax office letter that accidentally landed in your inbox.

A clear failed payment email template does three important jobs at once.
It explains in plain language what happened and what the customer needs to do next.
It shows a frictionless path to update payment details without making people hunt through old login links.
Finally, it protects your brand by sounding human, calm, and transparent rather than needy or aggressive.

How to think about your failed payment email template strategy

Before you copy any of the SaaS dunning email examples below, think about the journey.
You are not just sending a single payment failed email template in isolation.
You are guiding a customer from first failure, through retries, all the way to either recovery or cancellation.

Most healthy setups follow a simple arc that respects the customer relationship.
First you send a gentle heads up and attempt automatic retries behind the scenes.
Then you increase urgency over several days while keeping your tone respectful and clear.
If recovery fails, you send a final notice, pause the account, and then continue with a subtle win back sequence.
That last step often gets ignored, even though recovered users are usually your most engaged fans.

As you design your flow, keep one thing in mind because it matters more than any clever subject line.
You are trying to help the customer stay in a product they already chose to pay for.
This is not cold outbound, it is more like a helpful concierge tapping someone on the shoulder at a hotel desk.

Quick checklist before you paste any template

Before you plug in any copy, make sure your setup covers the basics.
I have seen teams with beautiful emails that still lose revenue because buttons go to confusing pages.
A few minutes of checking this list can save you many annoyed support tickets later.
Your future self will definitely appreciate the effort.

Here is a simple checklist you can run through with your team.

  1. Confirm Stripe retry rules and make sure your timing matches the email delay.

  2. Test the update payment button in a private browsing session like a new customer.

  3. Keep the subject line clear rather than clever, especially for earlier notices.

  4. Localise currency and plan names wherever possible so the email feels familiar.

  5. Make sure support can see dunning status, so they reply with confidence when people answer emails.

You can paste these into any email tool, or let Revello send them automatically right after Stripe fails a charge.
That one sentence alone has probably saved a few hours of manual follow up for more than one founder.

8 failed payment email templates for SaaS you can copy

Below you will find eight templates that cover the main situations.
You will see failed card notices, expiring card nudges, final warnings, and a friendly welcome back message.
Treat these as starting points, then adjust tone and branding so they match your product.

Template 1 gentle notice after first failed payment

This is your softest touch.
No threats, no drama, just a clear explanation and a simple next step.
Think of it as a friendly tap on the shoulder before anything serious happens.

Subject line: We could not process your recent payment for {{product_name}}

Hi {{first_name}},

We tried to charge your {{card_brand}} card ending in {{card_last4}} for your {{product_name}} subscription, and the payment did not go through.

This usually happens when a card expires or a bank temporarily blocks an online charge.

Please take a moment to update your payment details here: {{update_payment_url}} so we can keep your account active without interruption.

If you believe this message is a mistake, just reply and our team will gladly look into it.

Thank you for staying with {{company_name}}.

Template 2 second reminder with clear deadline

If the first email gets ignored, you raise the stakes a little.
Here you add a clear date and describe what will happen if nothing changes.
You still sound calm, but you no longer treat it as a minor glitch.
I like to imagine this one being read on a crowded train, so clarity really matters.

Subject line: Your {{product_name}} account needs an updated card

Hi {{first_name}},

We are still unable to process your recent payment for {{product_name}} on your {{card_brand}} card ending in {{card_last4}}.

To avoid any disruption, please update your payment details before {{deadline_date}} using this secure link: {{update_payment_url}}.

If the payment is not completed by that date, your workspace may lose access to key features until the payment is successful.

If you have any questions or need an invoice copy, reply to this email and we will gladly help.

We appreciate you using {{product_name}} every day.

Template 3 expiring card warning before failure

This one technically goes out before a failure, which is even better.
You are giving customers a chance to avoid problems before they start.
Card networks and Stripe usually know when a card is about to expire.
You might as well use that signal to send a proactive reminder.

Subject line: Your card on file for {{product_name}} is about to expire

Hi {{first_name}},

A quick heads up that the {{card_brand}} card ending in {{card_last4}} on your {{product_name}} account is due to expire soon.

To make sure future subscription payments continue without interruption, please update your card details here: {{update_payment_url}}.

It only takes a few seconds and helps prevent any accidental pauses in your team access.

If you already updated your card recently, you can safely ignore this message.

Thanks again for trusting {{company_name}} with your business.

Template 4 urgent notice before account suspension

At this point several attempts have failed and the deadline is close.
You now need to be very clear about the consequence while staying respectful.
This is where good copy avoids sounding like a collection agency script.

Subject line: Action required to keep your {{product_name}} account active

Hi {{first_name}},

Despite several attempts, we are still unable to process your recent payment for {{product_name}}.

Unless the payment succeeds within the next {{days_remaining}} days, your account will be temporarily suspended and your team will lose access.

You can prevent any interruption by updating your payment details here: {{update_payment_url}} and confirming the charge.

If there is an issue on our side or you need more time, just reply to this email so we can work something out.

We would really like to keep you onboard.

Template 5 final notice after suspension

Sometimes suspension is necessary, especially when you provide costly infrastructure.
This email sets expectations and explains what happens to data and access.
It also leaves a clear path open to restore the account without drama.

Subject line: Your {{product_name}} account has been suspended

Hi {{first_name}},

We were unable to collect payment for your {{product_name}} subscription after multiple attempts, so your account is now suspended.

Your data is still stored securely, but your team no longer has access to premium features until a valid payment method is added.

To reactivate your account, please update your payment details here: {{update_payment_url}} and the system will automatically retry the charge.

If you believe this suspension is unexpected, reply to this email and our support team will investigate quickly.

Thank you for your understanding.

Template 6 payment failure for annual or larger invoices

Bigger charges can feel scary for customers when banks flag them.
This template acknowledges that context and emphasises receipts and documentation.
Think of it as a mix between finance team reassurance and simple step by step guidance.

Subject line: Issue with your recent {{billing_cycle}} invoice for {{product_name}}

Hi {{first_name}},

We attempted to charge {{amount_with_currency}} for your {{billing_cycle}} {{product_name}} subscription, and the payment did not succeed.

Because this is a larger charge, some banks automatically block the first attempt until you confirm it.

Please contact your bank if needed, then update or confirm your card here: {{update_payment_url}} so we can retry the payment.

Once the payment clears, we will send an updated invoice marked as paid for your records.

If your finance team needs anything specific, reply to this message and we will provide the details.

Template 7 recovery confirmation and welcome back

Now for the fun part of the journey.
The payment finally goes through and this is your chance to celebrate the recovery.
You are reminding the customer that everything is back to normal, and that you value them.
This email also closes the psychological loop started by the first warning.

Subject line: You are all set, {{first_name}}

Hi {{first_name}},

Good news, your recent payment for {{product_name}} has now been processed successfully.

Your account is fully active again and your team can continue using every feature without interruption.

You can review your latest invoice or update your billing details any time from the billing page here: {{billing_portal_url}}.

If you ran into any confusion during this process, we would love your feedback so we can improve future messages.

Thank you for sticking with {{company_name}}.

Template 8 gentle win back for cancelled accounts

Not every dunning journey ends in recovery.
Some customers churn, and that is part of the subscription game.
However a respectful and tempting win back message can bring a few of them home again.
Just do not send this one every week or you will look desperate.

Subject line: We would love to have you back at {{product_name}}

Hi {{first_name}},

We noticed your {{product_name}} subscription was cancelled after an unpaid invoice, so your workspace is currently inactive.

If the timing was difficult or the card issue was never resolved, you can restart your account in a few clicks here: {{reactivation_url}}.

Many returning customers use this moment to adjust their plan, so feel free to choose a different option that fits your current needs.

If cost is the main concern, reply to this email and tell us more about your situation, and we will see what we can do.

Either way, thank you for having tried {{product_name}} in the past.

Using Revello to automate these SaaS dunning email examples

You can copy and paste every failed payment email template above into your current tool and be done.
That alone will probably make your dunning flow ten times clearer than generic default messages.
However the real power comes when these emails are triggered automatically and tuned to Stripe events.

Revello connects directly to your Stripe account and listens for card failures, expiries, and successful recoveries.
You can plug in these payment failed email template examples, set delays, add conditions, and then forget about the plumbing.
Instead of manually chasing every invoice, your team can focus on product, support, and sales.
Revello keeps the uncomfortable money conversations running in the background so you do not have to babysit retries.

If you are already using another email platform, that is perfectly fine.
You can still treat this article as a swipe file and adapt lines to your own voice.
Just make sure your subject lines are clear, your buttons work, and your Stripe events match your delays.
Then as your revenue grows, you can decide whether you want a dedicated recovery tool sitting on top of your billing stack.

Final thoughts on failed payment emails and churn

Failed payments are rarely the most glamorous part of running a SaaS company.
You probably did not start your product dream so you could write polite emails about card declines.
Still, this is where a quiet percentage of your monthly recurring revenue either survives or disappears.
A little care with copy, timing, and automation can give you an invisible uplift that compounds every month.

So treat each failed payment email template as part of your retention story, not just a system notification.
Start with a gentle tone, add urgency when needed, then close the loop with a grateful welcome back.
Use tools like Revello to wire these flows into Stripe so they run consistently while you sleep.
Your future churn report will look better, and your support inbox will feel calmer as well.

And if a customer replies with a funny story about losing their wallet for the third time this year, at least you will know your emails are being read.