diff --git a/app/Services/Billing/PlatformEmailClient.php b/app/Services/Billing/PlatformEmailClient.php
index 2057b7e..80b9c10 100644
--- a/app/Services/Billing/PlatformEmailClient.php
+++ b/app/Services/Billing/PlatformEmailClient.php
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 
 class PlatformEmailClient
 {
+    private ?string $lastError = null;
+
+    public function lastError(): ?string
+    {
+        return $this->lastError;
+    }
+
     private function base(): string
     {
         return rtrim((string) config('smtp.platform_api_url', 'https://ladill.com/api/smtp'), '/');
@@ -19,7 +26,11 @@ class PlatformEmailClient
 
     public function send(string $ownerPublicId, string $to, string $subject, string $html, ?string $text = null): bool
     {
+        $this->lastError = null;
+
         if (! $this->isConfigured()) {
+            $this->lastError = 'Outbound email is not configured on this Events instance.';
+
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -36,12 +47,14 @@ class PlatformEmailClient
                 ]));
 
             if ($res->status() === 402) {
+                $this->lastError = (string) ($res->json('error') ?: 'Insufficient Bird email credits. Add funds in Billing and try again.');
                 Log::warning('Platform email send: insufficient balance', ['user' => $ownerPublicId]);
 
                 return false;
             }
 
             if ($res->failed()) {
+                $this->lastError = (string) ($res->json('error') ?: 'The email could not be sent. Please try again.');
                 Log::warning('Platform email send failed', ['status' => $res->status(), 'body' => $res->body()]);
 
                 return false;
@@ -49,6 +62,7 @@ class PlatformEmailClient
 
             return (bool) ($res->json('success') ?? true);
         } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            $this->lastError = 'The email could not be sent. Please try again.';
             Log::warning('Platform email send error', ['error' => $e->getMessage()]);
 
             return false;
diff --git a/app/Services/Events/EventEmailService.php b/app/Services/Events/EventEmailService.php
index 6372fdd..9bb865c 100644
--- a/app/Services/Events/EventEmailService.php
+++ b/app/Services/Events/EventEmailService.php
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ class EventEmailService
 {
     public function __construct(private readonly PlatformEmailClient $platform) {}
 
+    public function lastError(): ?string
+    {
+        return $this->platform->lastError();
+    }
+
     public function sendProgrammeShare(
         string $ownerPublicId,
         string $to,
diff --git a/app/Services/Events/EventSpeakerInviteService.php b/app/Services/Events/EventSpeakerInviteService.php
index 10a627a..a811550 100644
--- a/app/Services/Events/EventSpeakerInviteService.php
+++ b/app/Services/Events/EventSpeakerInviteService.php
@@ -249,7 +249,8 @@ class EventSpeakerInviteService
         if (! $sent) {
             return [
                 'ok' => false,
-                'error' => 'The invitation email could not be sent. Check your Ladill wallet balance and try again.',
+                'error' => $this->email->lastError()
+                    ?: 'The invitation email could not be sent. Check your Bird email balance and verified sending domain, then try again.',
             ];
         }