From first follow-up to legal enforcement — a practical guide for businesses trading internationally.
Global trade means global credit risk. When your client is in another country, collecting an unpaid invoice becomes exponentially more complex. You face unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers, different business cultures around payment, and the practical difficulty of enforcing a judgment across borders. This guide walks through the process step by step.
Send a written payment reminder referencing the invoice number, amount, due date, and any contractual late-payment terms. Follow up by phone. Document every contact attempt. If the debtor goes silent or acknowledges the debt but does not pay, move to Step 2.
Look for an agency that meets these criteria: local presence in the debtor's jurisdiction, native-language capability, contingency fee structure with no upfront costs, transparent weekly reporting, and proven B2B commercial debt experience. INTERCOL meets all five criteria.
A credible local agent contacts the debtor in their language, referencing the applicable local legal framework. Many international debtors ignore demands from foreign creditors because they assume enforcement is impractical. When a local professional makes contact, the dynamic changes immediately.
Use jurisdiction-specific legal instruments: Letter Before Action (UK), Mahnbescheid (Germany), Injonction de Payer (France), Decreto Ingiuntivo (Italy), Proceso Monitorio (Spain), or DIFC/ADGM courts (UAE).
Once a court order becomes enforceable, local counsel pursues enforcement against debtor assets. In the EU, the European Enforcement Order (EEO) and European Account Preservation Order (EAPO) allow cross-border enforcement without re-litigation.
Waiting too long
Recovery rates drop significantly after 90 days. Act fast.
Using a domestic agency
Without local presence and legal knowledge, your agency is sending letters the debtor can ignore.
Paying upfront fees
Legitimate B2B collection agencies work on contingency. Upfront retainers signal the agency profits whether or not they recover.
Ignoring statutory interest
Under the EU Late Payment Directive, you are entitled to interest and a minimum EUR 40 recovery cost.
Managing multiple local agents yourself
Coordinating across jurisdictions is a full-time job. A centralised agency handles this for you.
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