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Debt Collection Bucharest:
what are the options?
Are you dealing with a debtor in Bucharest who is not paying an outstanding invoice or another claim? Late payments from debtors abroad are every entrepreneur’s nightmare. Suddenly, you have to rely on the Romanian legal system and face the language barrier.
Whether it’s a simple debt collection case or a complex legal dispute, Collection Company takes your worries off your hands. As an international debt collection agency, we can help you recover your invoice with the assistance of our legal experts and bailiffs in Bucharest.
- Nationwide coverage throughout Romania
- One dedicated English speaking contact
- Proven track record
- Tailor-made services for each case
- Expert advice and a transparent process
- 24/7 online access
Specialized in Romanian debt collection
If you do business in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, you will encounter a different language, varying legislation, and customs that may be unfamiliar to you. This may become problematic when your client suddenly fails to pay.
Collecting debts abroad is a complex and time-consuming matter. All of a sudden you’ll have to deal with a different language and different laws apply than those in your country. How can you collect your unpaid invoice? What are your rights? Where can you turn for help?
Fortunately, Collection Company is here to assist you in recovering your outstanding debts. We not only have a proven international debt collection strategy, but we also work with local lawyers, bailiffs, and attorneys in major cities like Bucharest. They speak Romanian and are knowledgeable about the relevant laws and regulations regarding debt collection and are able to contact local authorities.
Our local experts can also help foreign clients with their business decisions, by conducting credit checks on companies that are active on the Romanian market.
As a client, you have one dedicated English-speaking point of contact. This international debt collection specialist coordinates the process and maintains contact with local parties, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
You can monitor the progress of the collection 24/7 in our Online Cockpit.
Would you like more information about our international debt collection strategy? Then request a free and non-binding consultation.
Why choose Collection Company for debt collection services in Bucharest?
- Global coverage
- One dedicated English speaking contact
- Experienced debt collection specialists with knowledge of Romanian legislation
- Broad network with local lawyers and bailiffs
- Seamless connection from extrajudicial to judicial action
- Effective local approach
- 24/7 tracking through your own Online Cockpit
Submit your claim now
Do you have a debt collection case in Bucharest? Submit your details and we will contact you shortly to discuss your case.
A proven debt collection process
Our debt recovery process in Bucharest consists of two phases: the extrajudicial and judicial phases. During the extrajudicial collection, we remind your debtor of the debt and gradually increase the pressure, but no court is involved at this stage.
In the judicial phase, we initiate legal proceedings against your debtor. Because we have local lawyers and attorneys, we can do this in the Bucharest court as well. Your debtor will understand immediately that they cannot simply avoid the consequences of non-payment.
Below, we explain in more detail what both the extrajudicial and judicial processes entail.
- Upload your invoice online
- We'll start your case
- We'll start with the debt collection process
- Together we decide the best strategy for collecting your debts
- Monitor the status of your case 24/7
- Any questions? Your personal accountmanager will answer them all!
- Your invoice is payed
Extrajudicial Collection in Bucharest
An extrajudicial collection is an efficient and cost-effective option for recovering outstanding debts in Bucharest. A letter from a debt collection agency is often enough to encourage your debtor to make a payment.
During this amicable phase, we first send your debtor a payment reminder. This is not mandatory in Romania, but it serves as a prompt for payment and as evidence that we have requested payment.
Additionally, we will contact your debtor. This can be done via phone, email, or by sending SMS or WhatsApp messages. If relevant, this will be done in Romanian.
If payment is still not received, we will announce that we will initiate legal proceedings. We will inform your debtor directly about the costs associated with this.
In most cases, we are able to recover the debt during the extrajudicial phase.
Legal procedures
Sometimes, if your debtor ignores the payment reminders (or if there is a dispute about the delivered work or service) there’s nothing else to do but take them to court. The exact legal procedure in Bucharest depends on the amount of the claim and whether you have a written agreement. We work with local specialists to handle the litigation.
Small claims
For small claims (up to 10,000 RON), there is a special small claims procedure in Romania (procedura privind cereri cu valoare redusă). For this process, we need to fill out a form and send the claim details to the court in Bucharest.
Subsequently, your debtor can file an objection using a form. If the judge deems it necessary, witnesses or external experts may be called. The court will issue a ruling within 90 days.
Payment Order Procedure
If the agreement is clearly documented in writing and signed by your debtor, it is also possible to initiate a payment order procedure. The judge reviews the documents and issues a payment order based on this. If your debtor does not pay voluntarily afterward, we can use the payment order to seize assets of your debtor.
Judicial procedure
If you do not have a written agreement and the claim is higher than 10,000 RON, you cannot use the small claims procedure or the payment order procedure. In that case, a standard civil procedure will follow at the local court. Claims under 20,000 RON are handled initially by the local court (Judecatorii). Claims above that amount go to the district court (Tribunale). At this last court, you will need a lawyer. Collection Company works with the best lawyers in Bucharest.
A civil procedure involves a written round where both parties can present their evidence. Following that, a hearing will take place where both sides can support their positions. Witnesses and experts may also be summoned. Ultimately, the judge will issue a ruling. With the court ruling we can seize assets from your debtor.
Cross-Border claims within the European Union
If you live in another EU country and your debtor is located in Romania, we can also collect your claim through one of the designated European procedures for cross-border claims. These expedited procedures are specifically designed to recover unpaid claims abroad.
European Small Claims Procedure
For small claims (under 5,000 euros), there is a special European Small Claims Procedure within the EU. This expedited procedure is conducted entirely online (if both parties agree to this). To utilize this procedure, we can submit your claim to the court in your country, which will then forward your claim to your debtor. If they do not respond, the judge will automatically grant your claim.
If your debtor does contest the claim, both parties can submit their evidence. The judge can also organize a digital hearing. Ultimately, the judge will make a ruling, and this judgment is enforceable throughout the EU (except Denmark).
European Payment Order (EPO)
Does your debtor not dispute the claim? Then we can also request a European Payment Order (EPO). Undisputed claims are those where your debtor does not contest the claim but still fails to pay.
We can request a European Payment Order by submitting your claim to the court in the country you are based. This can only be done at the District Court in The Hague. The judge then issues a payment order and sends this document to your debtor in Bucharest.
The debtor will have the opportunity to contest the claim at that point. If they do not do so, the payment order becomes enforceable, and we can engage a Romanian bailiff to seize assets from your debtor.
How does the collection procedure proceed in Bucharest?
Step 1
Every debt collection process begins with an amicable phase, where we attempt to collect your claim without going to court. We do this by sending a reminder and reaching out to your debtor via phone, email, and WhatsApp.
Step 2
During the amicable phase, we gradually increase the pressure on your debtor in Bucharest. We start with a friendly approach that becomes progressively stricter. At the end of the extrajudicial phase, we inform your debtor that we will take legal action if payment is further delayed.
Step 3
Ultimately, the creditor decides whether they actually want to initiate a legal procedure. Our debt collection specialist will inform you thoroughly beforehand, discuss the options, and provide an indication of the chances of success.
Enforcement procedures
When the court has issued a (European) payment order or there is a court ruling, we can engage a bailiff in Bucharest to actually collect your money. Bailiffs in Romania can, for example, seize income and bank assets from your debtor. A bailiff is also allowed to seize movable and immovable property, which can be sold at auction. From the proceeds of the auction, the bailiff can pay you.
Interim attachment
To secure the assets of your debtor in the lead-up to and during the lawsuit, it is also possible in Romania to place an interim attachment. This is a temporary attachment designed to prevent your debtor from having the opportunity to remove assets before a court ruling is made.
To have an interim attachment placed, we must file a request with the court in Bucharest. We need to demonstrate that it is likely your debtor will continue to refuse to pay the debt, even after the court has ruled.
If the judge agrees, a procedural order (ordonanța președințială) will be issued, allowing a bailiff to attach assets until there is a ruling from the court. The assets that are attached will remain under the bailiff’s control until the judge has delivered a verdict.
Insolvency of your debtor
Can your debtor not pay the debt? Or do they claim that they cannot? As a creditor, you have the option to file for your debtor’s bankruptcy. In Romania, it is possible to file a bankruptcy petition if your debtor is at least 60 days late with payment.
With a bankruptcy petition, we can apply significant pressure. If your debtor goes bankrupt, they lose their business and/or personal assets. Most debtors will therefore do everything possible to make the payment.
If your debtor truly cannot pay, the local or district court will declare the bankruptcy. A trustee will be appointed to try to pay all creditors as much as possible from the bankrupt estate. Certain creditors, such as mortgage lenders and employees owed back wages, will receive priority in this process.
Advice on your case?
Fill in your contact details and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Areas of law for debt collection
Collection Company can collect any outstanding invoice in Bucharest for you. But we don’t just carry out debt collection to recover unpaid business claims. We also help our clients with other legal matters. For example, we can also collect damages or handle claims related to rental and purchase disputes.
As an international debt collection agency, we operate within the following legal areas:
- Construction law
- Rental and leasing
- Buying and selling
- Labor law
- Agency agreements
- Transportation
- Damages and wrongful acts
We work not only for creditors themselves but also for intermediaries such as law and accounting firms.
Other legal services
- Locating debtors
- Drafting contracts and terms
- Credit checks on Romanian companies
- Disputes regarding retention of title and right of reclamation
- Mediation in informal payment arrangements and debt settlements
Submit your debt collection case in Bucharest
Submit your claim directly through our debt collection registration form. Prefer to discuss your claim with one of our debt collectors first? Leave your details or call us at +31 70 762 0330.
More information?
Submit your personal information and plan your free consult.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about debt collection in Bucharest
FAQ: What do we need from you for a collection in Bucharest?
Do you want to file a claim with us? Then we would like to receive as many relevant documents related to your claim as possible. For example, think of sent invoices, reminders, dunning letters, concluded purchase agreements, payment transactions, and correspondence with your debtor.
We understand that you may not always have all these documents. That’s not a problem. You can simply submit your claim to us. Our international collections specialist will then contact you to discuss what (written) evidence you have for your claim.
If you have them, we would appreciate receiving the following documents:
- A copy of the agreement
- Email correspondence with a confirmation
- A fax confirmation
- Your summary of what was agreed upon
- Invoices
- Dunning letters
- A copy of your general terms and conditions
- Possibly proof of delivery
FAQ: How much does a court collection cost in Romania?
Pursuing a lawsuit against your debtor costs money. The court fees must be paid (filing fees), and you incur costs for legal assistance and engaging a bailiff.
In Romania, the filing fees for small claims procedures range from 50 to 200 RON, depending on the amount of the claim.
For a regular civil procedure, you pay a percentage based on the claim amount for filing fees.
- Up to 500 RON: 8% (with a minimum of 20 RON)
- 501 – 5,000 RON: 7% on the amount above 500 RON
- 5,001 – 25,000 RON: 355 RON + 5% on the amount above 5,000 RON
- 25,001 – 50,000 RON: 1,255 RON + 3% on the amount above 25,000 RON
- 50,001 – 250,000 RON: 2,105 RON + 2% on the amount above 50,000 RON
- Above 250,000 RON: 6,105 RON + 1% on the amount above 250,000 RON
We will always try to recover these legal costs from your debtor. The judge generally assigns (most of) the court costs to the losing party.
By the way, we manage to recover your claim 9 out of 10 times during the extrajudicial process, so before we go to court.
FAQ: Is there a retention of title in Romania?
If you do business in Bucharest, you can agree on a retention of title with your customer. This means that ownership of delivered goods (the item) only transfers to the customer once full payment has been made. Normally, the customer becomes the owner immediately upon receiving the delivered goods.
In Romania, the retention of title must be registered with a specialized office. Additionally, the retention of title in Romania is only valid for a limited time.
FAQ: What is the statute of limitations for claims in Bucharest?
In Romania, there is a standard limitation period of 3 years for claims. In certain sectors, claims may expire faster or more slowly. For instance, the limitation period in the retail sector is only 1 year.
FAQ: Why not hire a collection agency in Bucharest?
If you have an outstanding invoice in Bucharest, you can, of course, hire a debt collection agency located in Bucharest. The downside of contracting a local agency is that you would still have to deal with the language barrier.
Moreover, most debt collection agencies can only handle the amicable phase of debt collection since they do not have lawyers and bailiffs.
Collection Company specializes in debt collection in Romania and works with attorneys, legal professionals, and bailiffs based in Bucharest, allowing us to carry out the entire debt collection process for you.
As a client, you will communicate with our English-speaking debt collection specialist, who will coordinate the work with the local experts. This means you won’t need to maintain direct contact with these parties. We will also manage communication with your debtor.
You can continuously monitor the progress of the debt collection process through our Online Cockpit.
Why 40.000 customers tried our services
- The #1 collection company in the Netherlands and abroad
- Regional & local specialists
- Years of experience with international invoices
- Your own personal contact
- Extensive advice on the legal process
- Monitor the status of your case 24/7
Meet our specialized legal team
Joost Konings LLMLaw expert- May Leung LLMLaw expert
- Wesley Boeters LLMInterim lawyer
