European Debt Collection Agency: A Creditor's Hiring Guide

ECB+8ppDirective 2011/7/EU Art.2(6)

EUR 40Art.6 fixed recovery compensation

10–25%Single contingency fee

What a European Debt Collection Agency Actually Is

ECB+8ppDirective 2011/7/EUFrom day after due date

EUR 40Art.6 per invoiceNo proof required

30 daysMax B2B payment term60d max by express agreement

EOPReg.1896/2006Cross-border payment order

EAPOReg.655/2014Cross-border bank freeze

Collection process

1

EU Late Payment Directive — automatic rights

Art.3: 30-day default B2B term. Art.6: EUR 40 per invoice from day 1. Art.2(6): ECB+8pp from due date — no reminder needed. Book ALL three into every demand letter from day one.

2

National payment order (4-8 weeks)

Mahnverfahren (DE), decreto ingiuntivo (IT), monitorio (ES), injonction de payer (FR), platební rozkaz (CZ), injuncão (PT), fizetési meghagyas (HU). Single creditor file → local licensed partner → native language demand.

3

Brussels I Recast enforcement

Regulation 1215/2012 abolished exequatur: EU judgment directly enforceable across all 27 member states. One German Vollstreckungsbescheid or Italian decreto → enforceable in France, Spain, Poland without re-litigation.

A European collection agency is a coordinating firm with licensed local partners across the EU. One mandate, one contingency fee, one monthly reconciliation. The local German Rechtsdienstleister, Italian studio, Spanish gabinete, or French cabinet does the native-language work under their own licence.

National Payment Orders Accessible Through the Network

CountryProcedureTimeline

Germany

4–6 weeks

Mahnverfahren ZPO §§688-703d — Amtsgericht Wedding for cross-border

4–6 wk

Italy

30–90 days

Decreto ingiuntivo CPC Arts.633-656 — 10yr limitation, Art.642 fast-track

30–90d

Spain

20–40 days

Proceso monitorio LEC Arts.812-818 — no amount cap since Law 37/2011

20–40d

France

4–8 weeks

Injonction de payer CPC Arts.1405-1425 — ECB+10pp (highest EU rate)

4–8 wk

Czech Republic

4–8 weeks

Platební rozkaz §§172-174a CPC — sodní exekutor enforcement

4–8 wk

Sweden

2–4 weeks

Betalningsföreläggande — Kronofogdemyndigheten (Enforcement Authority)

2–4 wk

What is a European debt collection agency?

A coordinating firm with licensed local partners across EU Member States. One creditor mandate, one contingency (10-25%). Home agency: intake, jurisdiction analysis, strategy. Local partner: native-language demand under national licence. Brussels I Recast: EU judgment directly enforceable in all 27 states without exequatur.