Stop chasing the site manager for payment
The site manager can only pass it on
An unpaid invoice often stalls because everyone keeps talking to the same person. The site manager may pass messages on, but they usually do not control the accounts. That leaves you polite, frustrated and still unpaid. The fix is to move the conversation to the person who can actually authorise money, while keeping the site manager in the loop. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
Start by asking who approves payments and who handles invoices for the company. Check the contract, purchase order and any company details you already hold. ASIC notes that a company has a registered office and principal place of business, and officeholder details can be searched on the register, which helps you confirm the right entity and contact path. ([asic.gov.au](https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/companies/company-building-blocks/company-addresses))
Find the person who can pay
Once you know the business name and ACN, write directly to the director, owner or accounts manager. Keep it short: the work is complete, the invoice is overdue, and you want payment or a response by a set date. business.gov.au recommends clear reminders, written evidence and checking the contract terms before escalating. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
Copy the site manager on the email, not as the main recipient, but so they can see the issue is being handled above site level. That preserves the relationship and stops the job from becoming a chain of vague verbal promises. Use plain language, avoid emotion, and ask for the person who can make the payment decision. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
Source: Official guidance
Put the ask in writing
A good escalation email does three things. It identifies the invoice, says what is owed, and names the deadline. If the debtor says they need time, ask for a payment date and a reason in writing. business.gov.au suggests moving from reminder to letter of demand if reminders do not work, so your email should already feel like the next formal step. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
Do not keep restarting the conversation with the site manager after every missed promise. If the accounts person does not answer, call the office, ask for the decision maker, and leave a message that repeats the deadline. The point is not to be harsh. It is to make the account harder to ignore than it was on site. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
Keep the pressure professional
The practical benefit of escalation is clarity. The right person can authorise payment, explain the dispute, or admit there is a cash problem. Any of those answers is better than another week of 'I'll chase it'. If the account is still drifting, keep all emails, invoices and notes together so you can show what was asked and when. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
If the business details look inconsistent, check the company record before you send another round of messages. ASIC says official notices go to the registered office, and the register can show the company name, ACN and officeholder details. That can help you avoid chasing a site contact who has no authority and no access to the books. ([asic.gov.au](https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/companies/company-building-blocks/company-addresses))
Set the deadline, then take the next step
Today, find the approving person, send one direct email, copy the site manager, and set a clear deadline. If no useful reply arrives, move to a formal letter of demand or speak with a recovery specialist before the trail gets colder. Keep your file tidy, because clean records make the next step easier. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))
If you want help turning the chase into a proper recovery process, call CRP today. CRP coordinates independent qualified professionals who can review the account, the documents and the pressure points with you, then help you decide the next practical move. This is general information only and not legal advice. ([business.gov.au](https://business.gov.au/finance/financial-trouble/what-to-do-when-you-havent-been-paid))