Recovering B2B debts across all 50 states — from a polite demand letter in Delaware to a UCC lien filing in Texas. Our American collectors know exactly which statute of limitations applies, which state court has jurisdiction, and how to turn an unpaid invoice into a court judgment. No recovery, no fee.
The United States isn’t one legal market — it’s fifty. Each state has its own statute of limitations, interest rate caps, court procedures, and enforcement rules. A demand letter that works in New York may carry zero legal weight in California. An international creditor trying to recover a $200,000 invoice from a Texas-based distributor needs someone who knows the difference between a UCC-1 filing and a mechanic’s lien — and when each one applies.
Our American collectors operate across all 50 states with licensed attorneys and registered agents on the ground. We know that Florida gives you five years on a written contract while Delaware gives you three. We know that New York charges 9% statutory interest while the federal rate hovers around 3.5%. And we know that “friendly persuasion” recovers 87% of B2B debts before anyone files a single motion.
Your debtor gets a call from a professional American collector who speaks their language, understands their business culture, and knows exactly which legal phrases make invoices move to the top of the payment queue. There’s a reason “please remit” hits different when it comes from someone in their own timezone.
Every state has different rules. Our network of licensed attorneys covers all jurisdictions — from California’s 4-year limitation period to New York’s 6-year window. We file in the right court, cite the right statute, and apply the right pressure. No guesswork, no jurisdictional surprises.
When negotiation fails, we escalate through state courts, federal courts, or both. Bank levies, wage garnishments, property liens, UCC filings — the American legal system gives creditors serious teeth. We know how to use every one of them without tripping over the FDCPA or state-specific collection laws.
Watch how Intercol's American debt collection process works — from the first demand letter through UCC filings, state court litigation, and federal enforcement. Two short videos that explain what happens to your debtor's invoice at every stage.
How B2B debt collection works in the United States — a 3-minute overview of demand letters, court filings, and enforcement.
From UCC liens to bank levies — how we enforce judgments across all 50 states.
Typical B2B Limitation Period (varies by state, 3–10 years)
Average Court Filing Fee (state small claims)
Common Statutory Interest Rate (varies by state)
Small Claims Court Threshold (typical, varies by state)
Every case follows the same disciplined escalation path — from a carefully worded demand letter to full federal enforcement. Most debts never make it past step two. The ones that do wish they hadn't.
We issue a formal demand letter on attorney letterhead, citing the specific state statute that governs your debtor’s obligation. This isn’t a template — it references the exact UCC article, limitation period, and statutory interest rate for the debtor’s jurisdiction. Over 60% of our US cases resolve at this stage.
If the demand letter doesn’t produce payment within 14 days, our American collectors begin structured telephone negotiations. We propose payment plans, partial settlements, and creative solutions — always documenting everything for potential court use. We speak the debtor’s language, literally and commercially.
We file suit in the appropriate jurisdiction — state court for debts under the diversity threshold, federal court for cross-state disputes exceeding $75,000. In many states, we use expedited summary judgment procedures that can produce an enforceable order in 60–90 days.
Once we have a judgment, we execute immediately. Bank levies freeze the debtor’s accounts. Wage garnishment orders redirect income. Property liens attach to real estate and business assets. In the US, a judgment is valid for 10–20 years depending on the state — and renewable.
For stubborn debtors, we conduct full asset discovery — subpoenas for bank records, property searches, UCC filing reviews, and debtor examinations under oath. If assets exist, we find them. If they’ve been fraudulently transferred, we pursue them under the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act.
The UCC governs virtually all commercial transactions in the US, providing a standardized framework for contracts, secured transactions, and payment obligations across state lines. UCC Article 2 covers the sale of goods, while Article 9 allows creditors to file security interests against debtor assets — a powerful pre-litigation tool that puts your claim ahead of unsecured creditors.
The US operates a dual court system. State courts handle most B2B disputes, with small claims divisions for lower amounts and superior/circuit courts for larger cases. Federal courts handle cross-state disputes exceeding $75,000 (diversity jurisdiction). Each system offers distinct advantages — state courts for speed, federal courts for enforcement across state lines.
American judgments carry real weight. Creditors can levy bank accounts, garnish wages (up to 25% of disposable income under federal law), place liens on real property, and seize business assets. Judgments remain enforceable for 10–20 years and can be renewed. The Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act means a judgment from one state can be enforced in another.
A UK-based logistics company was owed $340,000 by a Florida-based freight distributor. The debtor had ignored six months of invoices, two internal collection attempts, and a strongly worded email from the CEO. The creditor engaged Intercol.
Our Florida-licensed attorney reviewed the contract, verified the statute of limitations (5 years for written contracts in FL), and confirmed jurisdiction in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.
Formal demand letter issued on attorney letterhead, citing Florida Statute §95.11 and the contractual late payment clause. 14-day deadline to respond.
The debtor’s counsel contacted us proposing a 12-month payment plan. We countered with a 60-day structured settlement at 85% of the principal.
When the debtor missed the response deadline, we filed a motion for summary judgment in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, attaching all invoices and delivery confirmations.
Court granted summary judgment for the full $340,000 plus $12,400 in statutory interest and $8,200 in attorney’s fees.
Facing a bank levy order, the debtor paid in full via wire transfer. Total recovered: $340,000 principal + $12,400 interest.
Intercol recovered a six-figure debt from a client in Germany that we had written off. Their local legal knowledge was invaluable.
Nous avions des factures impayées dans toute l’Europe. Intercol a traité la France, l’Allemagne et l’Italie simultanément. Résultats remarquables.
Die Kombination aus Mahnverfahren und persönlicher Verhandlung hat unsere Forderung in weniger als 6 Wochen beglichen. Sehr professionell.
We tried to collect from our Italian distributor for months. Intercol got us paid in three weeks. Their knowledge of decreto ingiuntivo was critical.
El equipo de Intercol manejó nuestra cartera de deudores morosos en España con una tasa de recuperación del 91%. Superó todas nuestras expectativas.
Intercol’s approach to our Swiss debtor was incredibly professional. They navigated the Betreibungsamt process flawlessly and recovered CHF 420,000.
Outstanding service. Intercol recovered £340,000 from three separate debtors across Europe in under 90 days. Their multi-jurisdictional expertise is unmatched.
Intercol a récupéré 280 000 € que nous avions considérés comme irrécouvrables. Leur équipe française connaît parfaitement la procédure d’injonction de payer.
Wir hatten eine komplexe Forderung gegen ein deutsches Unternehmen. Intercol hat das Mahnverfahren und die anschließende Vollstreckung in 8 Wochen erledigt.
From first contact to full recovery in 22 days. Intercol’s Italian team knew exactly which court to file in and which enforcement tools to use.
Intercol gestionó la recuperación de nuestra deuda de 150.000€ contra una empresa española con total profesionalidad. Recomendado al 100%.
Onze Nederlandse schuldenaar betaalde binnen twee weken na het eerste contact van Intercol. Hun kennis van het Nederlandse incassorecht is indrukwekkend.
Whether it’s a $10,000 invoice from a small claims matter in Ohio or a $2 million contract dispute in federal court — our American team is ready. Submit your case and receive a recovery strategy within 24 hours.
Submit Your Case →Our process follows a structured escalation: formal demand letter, structured telephone negotiation, court filing (state or federal), judgment enforcement, and asset discovery. We begin with a demand letter on attorney letterhead citing the relevant state statute. Over 60% of US B2B cases resolve before litigation. When court action is needed, we file in the appropriate jurisdiction and pursue summary judgment for a faster resolution.
A UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filing — specifically a UCC-1 Financing Statement — is a public notice that a creditor has a security interest in a debtor’s assets. Filing a UCC lien puts your claim ahead of unsecured creditors and appears on the debtor’s credit profile, making it difficult for them to secure new financing until the debt is resolved. It’s one of the most powerful pre-litigation tools available in the American legal system.
Intercol operates on a “no recovery, no fee” contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we recover your money. Our contingency rate depends on the age and size of the debt. Court filing fees vary by state (typically $75–$400 for state courts). Attorney’s fees are often recoverable from the debtor if the contract includes a fee-shifting clause.
The statute of limitations varies by state and contract type. For written B2B contracts, it typically ranges from 3 to 10 years: California is 4 years, New York is 6 years, Florida is 5 years, and Texas is 4 years. The clock usually starts on the date of default or last payment. Acting quickly is critical — once a debt is time-barred, courts will dismiss collection lawsuits.
Absolutely. Intercol specialises in cross-border B2B collection. If you’re a European, Asian, or Middle Eastern company owed money by a US-based business, we handle everything — from identifying the correct jurisdiction and serving process to enforcing judgments across state lines. You don’t need a US presence or a US attorney. We are your American team.
We need the original contract or purchase order, copies of unpaid invoices, proof of delivery (shipping documents, signed receipts), any correspondence with the debtor, and a statement of account showing the outstanding balance. The more documentation you provide, the stronger our demand letter and the faster we can escalate to court if needed.
Amicable collection (demand letter + negotiation) typically takes 30–60 days. If litigation is required, state court cases usually reach judgment within 90–180 days, depending on the jurisdiction and whether the debtor contests. Summary judgment motions can shorten this to 60–90 days. Federal cases generally take longer but offer stronger cross-state enforcement.
The US provides powerful enforcement tools: bank account levies (freezing and seizing funds), wage garnishment (up to 25% of disposable income), property liens on real estate and business assets, UCC filings against business collateral, and debtor examinations under oath. Judgments are enforceable for 10–20 years and can be renewed. The Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act allows enforcement across state lines.
