Your debtor sits in Frankfurt, Munich, or Hamburg — and your reminders from abroad mean nothing to them. We place a native German collector on the case who knows the Mahnverfahren, speaks their language, and understands exactly which enforcement levers apply under German law.
German debtors respond to German authority. A demand letter from abroad lacks the legal weight of a formal Mahnung sent by a registered German collection agency under BGB §286. Our collectors understand the Mahnverfahren inside out, know which Amtsgericht to file with, and can escalate to Zwangsvollstreckung when debtors refuse to pay.
Every communication is in native German. Every legal step follows German civil procedure. Your debtor deals with a local professional who knows exactly how to apply pressure within the system.
Every call, letter, and legal filing is handled by native German-speaking professionals who understand regional business culture.
From formal Mahnung through Mahnverfahren to Zwangsvollstreckung — we handle every stage of the German enforcement process.
Access to German commercial registers, Schufa reports, and Handelsregister data to assess debtor solvency before escalation.
Standard limitation period for B2B claims under BGB §195
Statutory flat fee compensation per late invoice under BGB §288(5)
Above ECB base rate — default late payment interest for B2B under BGB §288(2)
Court threshold — Amtsgericht up to €5K, Landgericht above
German debt collection follows a structured legal escalation path. Each step increases pressure while maintaining full compliance with German civil procedure. Most cases resolve before litigation.
A formal payment demand under BGB §286 sent in German, establishing debtor default and triggering statutory late payment interest.
Direct debtor engagement by native German speakers. Payment plans, dispute resolution, and documented settlement attempts.
Filing for Mahnbescheid at the competent Mahngericht under ZPO §§688-703d. If unopposed, leads directly to Vollstreckungsbescheid.
Full court proceedings at Amtsgericht (≤€5K) or Landgericht (>€5K). Coordinated with local German litigation counsel.
Execution via Gerichtsvollzieher, Kontopfändung (bank account seizure), Vermögensauskunft (asset disclosure), and property liens.
Germany’s automated judicial payment order system. Filed at the central Mahngerichte in Stuttgart, it delivers enforceable titles within weeks for undisputed claims — without a court hearing.
The enforcement order that follows an unopposed Mahnbescheid. Once obtained, it authorises direct asset seizure, bank account attachment, and wage garnishment through the Gerichtsvollzieher.
Germany’s insolvency code governs debtor restructuring and liquidation. Early detection of insolvency risk is critical — creditors who act before proceedings begin recover significantly more.
Place your case today. No upfront fees, no risk. Our German collectors begin work within 24 hours.
Your debtor sits in Frankfurt, Munich, or Hamburg — and your reminders from abroad mean nothing to them. We place a native German collector on the case who knows the Mahnverfahren, speaks their language, and understands exactly which enforcement levers apply under German law.
When a registered German collection agency sends a formal Mahnung under BGB §286, debtors respond. When that same agency files for a Mahnbescheid at the Stuttgart Mahngericht, debtors pay. That is the difference between chasing payment from abroad and collecting through the system.
German debtors respond to German authority. A demand letter from abroad — written in English, referencing foreign law — has no legal weight in Germany and is routinely ignored. A formal Mahnung from a registered German collection agency under BGB §286 is an entirely different matter. It establishes debtor default, triggers statutory late payment interest under BGB §288, and starts the clock on a structured legal escalation path that every German business understands.
Our collectors are not translators reading scripts. They are native German-speaking recovery professionals who understand Handelsrecht, know which Amtsgericht has jurisdiction over your debtor, and can escalate from amicable negotiation to Mahnverfahren to Zwangsvollstreckung without switching firms. Every communication — every Mahnung, every phone call, every court filing — is handled in German, by German professionals, through German legal channels.
Every call, letter, and legal filing is handled by native German-speaking professionals based in Germany. Your debtor is contacted by a local agency operating under German law — not a foreign firm attempting to apply pressure from abroad. This distinction matters: German debtors take local collectors seriously because they know the consequences are real and immediate.
We handle every stage of the German enforcement process under a single mandate. Formal Mahnung under BGB §286, Mahnbescheid filing at the competent Mahngericht under ZPO §§688-703d, contested proceedings at Amtsgericht or Landgericht, and full Zwangsvollstreckung including Kontopfändung, Vermögensauskunft, and Gerichtsvollzieher enforcement. No handoffs, no delays, no additional firms.
Before we escalate, we investigate. Access to Handelsregister (commercial register), Schufa credit reports, Bundesanzeiger (federal gazette) insolvency publications, and commercial credit databases gives us a complete picture of your debtor’s financial position. We know whether your debtor can pay before we decide how to make them pay.
We had €340,000 outstanding from a Munich automotive supplier who had ignored our payment reminders for five months. Intercol’s German team filed a Mahnbescheid within the first week and recovered the full amount — including statutory interest — within 28 days. No litigation required.
Our experience collecting from German debtors from abroad was consistently poor — until we engaged Intercol. Their native German collectors resolved a disputed €87,000 invoice through structured negotiation in 18 days. The debtor told us they would only deal with a German agency. That said everything.
Trusted by 700+ international creditors across manufacturing, logistics, technology, construction, and professional services
Standard limitation period for B2B commercial claims under BGB §195. Once expired, your claim becomes unenforceable. Act before the clock runs out.
Statutory flat-fee compensation per late invoice under BGB §288(5). Automatically owed on top of the principal — most creditors never claim it. We always do.
Default late payment interest rate for B2B transactions under BGB §288(2). Currently translates to over 12% annually — a powerful incentive for debtors to settle quickly.
Court jurisdiction threshold in Germany. Claims up to €5,000 go to Amtsgericht (local court). Above €5,000, Landgericht (regional court) applies. Our lawyers handle both.
Watch how our German collection process works — from initial Mahnung through Mahnverfahren to full enforcement. See why 700+ international creditors trust us with their German receivables.
German debt collection follows a structured legal escalation path defined by the BGB (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and ZPO (Zivilprozessordnung). Each step increases pressure while maintaining full compliance with German civil procedure. Most debts resolve before litigation — but when they don’t, we are prepared to go the distance.
A formal written payment demand under BGB §286 is sent to the debtor in German, by registered post and email. The Mahnung specifies the outstanding amount, applicable late payment interest under BGB §288(2), the €40 flat-fee compensation under BGB §288(5), and a clear deadline for payment.
The Mahnung legally establishes debtor default (Verzug). Without it, the debtor can claim they were not formally notified. With it, interest accrues automatically and the path to court is open.
Native German-speaking collectors engage the debtor directly — by phone, email, and written correspondence. We identify the reason for non-payment, assess the debtor’s financial position, negotiate payment in full or structured instalments, and document every interaction for potential legal proceedings.
Over 70% of commercial debts in Germany are resolved at this stage when handled by a local professional. Debtors who ignored foreign creditors engage immediately with a German agency because they understand the consequences of continued non-payment.
We file for a Mahnbescheid at the competent central Mahngericht (Stuttgart for most cases) under ZPO §§688-703d. This is Germany’s fast-track judicial payment order system. If the debtor does not contest within 14 days, we obtain a Vollstreckungsbescheid — an enforceable court order — without a hearing.
The Mahnverfahren is the most efficient path to an enforceable title in Germany. It bypasses full litigation for undisputed claims, delivers results in weeks rather than months, and costs a fraction of court proceedings.
If the debtor contests the Mahnbescheid or the claim is disputed, we escalate to full civil proceedings. Claims up to €5,000 are heard at the Amtsgericht (local court). Claims above €5,000 go to the Landgericht (regional court). Our German litigation counsel handles the entire process — from Klageschrift (statement of claim) through oral hearings to judgment.
Litigation in Germany is structured, predictable, and efficient by international standards. The losing party pays the prevailing party’s legal costs, which creates a strong incentive for debtors with weak positions to settle before judgment.
Once we hold an enforceable title — whether from Vollstreckungsbescheid, court judgment, or notarised agreement — we execute enforcement through every available mechanism: Kontopfändung (bank account seizure), Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiff enforcement), Vermögensauskunft (compulsory asset disclosure under oath), Lohnpfändung (wage garnishment), and property liens.
An enforceable title in Germany is valid for 30 years. We do not simply obtain judgments — we enforce them aggressively until the debt is recovered or the debtor is confirmed insolvent.
German commercial debt collection operates within a well-defined legal framework. Understanding these provisions is essential for international creditors seeking to recover debts from German companies. Our team navigates these laws daily.
Germany’s automated judicial payment order system. Filed electronically at the central Mahngericht in Stuttgart, it delivers enforceable titles within weeks for undisputed claims — without a court hearing, without oral arguments, and at a fraction of litigation costs. The most efficient path to enforcement in Germany.
The legal foundation of every collection case. A debtor enters default when they fail to pay after receiving a Mahnung (formal demand) or when 30 days have passed since the invoice due date. Default triggers the right to claim interest, compensation, and damages — and opens the path to judicial proceedings.
B2B transactions attract default interest of 9 percentage points above the ECB base rate — currently over 12% annually. Additionally, creditors are entitled to a flat €40 compensation per late invoice under §288(5). These statutory entitlements apply automatically and are recoverable alongside the principal.
The enforcement order that follows an unopposed Mahnbescheid. If the debtor fails to contest within 14 days, the Vollstreckungsbescheid is issued — granting the creditor a fully enforceable title equivalent to a court judgment. It authorises bank seizure, bailiff enforcement, compulsory asset disclosure, and wage garnishment.
Germany’s comprehensive enforcement framework. Once an enforceable title is obtained, creditors can pursue Kontopfändung (bank attachment), Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiff) actions, Vermögensauskunft (sworn asset disclosure), Lohnpfändung (wage garnishment), and Sicherungshypothek (liens on real property). Titles remain enforceable for 30 years.
Germany’s insolvency code governs corporate restructuring and liquidation. Early detection of insolvency risk — through Handelsregister monitoring, Bundesanzeiger publications, and credit report analysis — is critical. Creditors who file claims before or immediately upon insolvency proceedings recover significantly more than those who wait.
A Scandinavian industrial supplier had been chasing payment from a Munich-based automotive components manufacturer for five months. Multiple payment reminders sent from abroad — in English — had been ignored. The debtor claimed a quality dispute and refused further communication. The creditor engaged Intercol.
File received, debtor investigated through Handelsregister and Schufa. Manufacturing firm confirmed solvent with €12M annual revenue. No insolvency indicators.
Formal demand under BGB §286 sent by registered post and email in German. Outstanding principal of €340,000 plus €40 flat compensation and accrued interest at 9% above ECB base rate.
Debtor failed to respond. Mahnbescheid filed electronically at the Stuttgart Mahngericht. Debtor served with 14-day deadline to contest.
Upon receiving court papers, the debtor’s legal counsel contacted our German team. Quality dispute discussed and determined to be without merit based on signed delivery confirmations.
Debtor agreed to pay the full principal (€340,000) plus statutory interest (€8,200) plus €40 flat compensation. Funds received within 6 business days. Total recovered: €348,240.
Everything you need to know about collecting debts in Germany through Intercol.
What does it cost to use Intercol for German debt collection?
Intercol operates on a no-collection, no-fee basis. You only pay when we successfully recover your funds. There are no upfront charges, retainer fees, or hidden costs. Our commission is deducted from the amount collected.
How long does debt collection in Germany typically take?
Most cases are resolved within 30 days. The initial formal demand (Mahnung) is sent within 24 hours. If uncontested, the Mahnbescheid court order process adds approximately 2–3 weeks. Complex or disputed cases may take longer.
Do I need to send a demand letter before engaging Intercol?
No. Issuing the formal demand letter (Mahnung) is our first step. We draft and send it in German, in full compliance with BGB §286 requirements, via registered post and email.
What is a Mahnbescheid and how does it work?
A Mahnbescheid is a German court payment order obtained through the Mahnverfahren (dunning procedure). It is filed electronically and does not require a court hearing. If the debtor fails to contest within 14 days, it becomes a fully enforceable title — equivalent to a court judgment.
Can Intercol pursue legal action in German courts?
Yes. Our network of licensed German attorneys can file lawsuits in any German court. This includes Amtsgericht (local court) for claims under €5,000 and Landgericht (regional court) for larger amounts. Legal costs are recoverable from the debtor.
In what language does Intercol communicate with German debtors?
All communication with debtors is conducted in German — written correspondence, phone calls, and legal filings. This removes the language barrier that often causes foreign creditors’ collection attempts to be ignored.
What is your success rate for German debt recovery?
Our success rate exceeds 85% for commercial debts in Germany. This is significantly higher than creditors attempting collection from abroad, where success rates typically fall below 20% due to language and jurisdictional barriers.
What happens if the debtor refuses to pay?
We escalate through a structured legal pathway: formal demand, Mahnbescheid court order, enforcement proceedings (Zwangsvollstreckung), asset seizure, and if necessary, insolvency petition (Insolvenzantrag). Each step increases pressure while remaining fully compliant with German law.
Submit your case in under two minutes. Our German team begins work within 24 hours. No upfront fees — you only pay when we collect.
No upfront fees
85%+ success rate
German legal team
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