International debt enforcement / money collection
Active worldwide. Debtors have no chance to hide.
Worldwide network, local partners, multilingual, persistent & powerful
Success 2014-25*
73.4 %
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
International debt collection encompasses both judicial and extrajudicial proceedings for the recovery of debts from debtors based abroad. It requires debt collection teams capable of handling complex cases, operating across multiple languages, and possessing both experience and established representation in the target country. Higher costs and longer processing times are to be expected compared to domestic cases.
Within the EU, specific regulations exist for the cross-border enforcement and recovery of claims. A judgment issued in Germany, for example, can be enforced in most EU member states without the need for fresh legal proceedings. Outside the EU, enforceability depends on the relevant bilateral agreements in place. For the constellation we encounter most frequently — a debtor based in Germany with assets in Switzerland — the Lugano Convention applies. Foreign EU judgments are enforceable in Switzerland.
Different countries have varying legal procedures and requirements for the enforcement of claims. When recovering debts from abroad, it is advisable to engage a debt collection agency or law firm that is familiar with the local conditions in the debtor’s country and has access to local investigators and legal counsel.
When dealing with debtors based overseas, investigative work is even more critical than in domestic cases. Debtors can be traced through access to database records, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) methods, cooperation with consulates, local investigation agencies, technical measures, and on-the-ground personal research. However, the scope goes beyond mere location: what are the debtor’s financial circumstances? Where are the pressure points that could leverage effective negotiations? Personal presence on the ground is often a decisive factor.
Anywhere in the world
We do get your money back with international debt collecting
Debt collection is especially difficult when the debtor is located abroad. In addition to distance, there are language barriers, different legal systems and cultures. This situation is not easy for international companies, but it is almost impossible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and private individuals. For some, the challenges of international debt collection are so great that they write off their receivables abroad in advance.
Debtors sometimes speculate that they will not be found or visited abroad and can avoid legal action. They are lulled into a sense of security.
And this is our and your chance!
LIMITLESS DEPLOYMENT
Where we’ve succeeded
Working internationally to collect your money
We have a local presence for international debt collection, not just writing letters.
- Switzerland
- Germany
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- France
- Great Britain
- Greece / Crete
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Northern Macedonia
- Norway
- Portugal
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Serbia
- Spain
- Turkey
- Australia
- Brazil
- China (inkl. Hong Kong and Taiwan)
- Dominican Republic
- Hongkong
- India
- Philippines
- South Africa
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- United States (USA)
- United Arab Emirates (UAR)
- Venezuela
Debt collection abroad is not easy, and both individuals and companies often face major challenges when trying to recover their debts.
For many, the challenges of cross-border debt collection are so great that they write off their debts abroad in advance. Debtors speculate that they will not be arrested or visited abroad and can avoid prosecution. They are lulled into a sense of security.
You can’t find your debtor?
The challenges of debt collection across national borders
If you know the whereabouts, even better. Otherwise, we search for the debtor through database searches, through active searches on the Internet and through informants, through on-site searches, with our own employees or freelancers (detective agencies, etc.) working worldwide.
We find debtors in the vast majority of cases. This is true for Europe, America, and parts of Asia. With some limitations, we are also successful in Africa and the rest of Asia.
As mentioned above, international debt collection presents the following challenges:
Language barriers
Language barriers make it difficult to communicate with local contacts, lawyers, authorities, and debtors. Our team is multilingual. We have cooperation partners in almost all European countries and in many other countries who can communicate with authorities and debtors in the local language.
Legal system
There are international legal remedies (e.g. European order for payment) and conventions (e.g. Lugano Convention) that regulate and facilitate legal debt collection. In addition, local legal and administrative knowledge is required. We work with numerous lawyers in many countries.
Distance
Debtors abroad often think they are safe because of the distance. When they are unexpectedly visited by one of our staff or freelancers, it usually comes as a big shock and makes it easier to find an out-of-court solution.
Debt collection abroad with Inkasso-Team AG
International debt collection makes high logistical, legal, and linguistic demands. You must respect the respective legal system, be able to correspond with debtors, lawyers and courts in the local language and be able to travel to distant places in the world in person. As a rule, we too can only fulfil these requirements with the help of local staff and local legal advice. If we cannot fulfil these requirements, we will refuse the mandate.
Our approach to foreign debt collection is also that we do not simply limit ourselves to legal debt collection, but also carry out direct debt collection. Debtors can easily let legal debt collection come to nothing, e.g., by not being registered anywhere, avoiding visits by the bailiff, sending their company into insolvency, shifting funds to third parties, filing for personal insolvency, etc.
Two skills are necessary for the success of direct debt collection abroad: 1. We research and clarify on site. 2. We are present on the spot, negotiate with the debtor and exert pressure if necessary. How do we manage this? We have a network of freelancers, private investigators, and lawyers in numerous countries in and outside Europe. We only take on cases where we have or can quickly build up such a network. Furthermore, permanent members of our team usually travel to the debtor’s country themselves to organize debt collection activities on the spot and to negotiate with debtors.
“As a rule, we find debtors worldwide. Since 2014, we have only failed to do so in 4 cases.”
International debt collection with experts
International debt collection places high logistical, legal and linguistic demands. You must be able to comply with the respective legal system, conduct correspondence with debtors, lawyers, and courts in the local language and be able to travel to remote locations around the world in person.
As a rule, we too can only fulfil these requirements with the help of local employees and local legal advice. If we are unable to meet the requirements, we reject the mandate.
Our approach to international debt collection is also that we do not simply limit ourselves to legal debt collection, but instead engage in direct debt collection. Legal debt collection can easily leave debtors in the lurch, e.g. by not being registered anywhere, evading visits from the bailiff, sending their company into insolvency, shifting funds to third parties, filing for personal insolvency, etc.
Two skills are necessary for the success of direct debt collection abroad:
- We investigate and clarify matters on site.
- We are present on site internationally, negotiate with the debtor and exert pressure if necessary.
How do we do this?
- Through a network of freelancers
- private investigators
- lawyers in numerous countries in and outside Europe
We only take on cases where we have such a network or can quickly establish one. Furthermore, members of our team usually travel to the debtor’s country themselves in order to organize debt collection activities locally and negotiate with debtors.
Success rate of over 70 % for international debt collection too
It’s worth commissioning us.
What if I have a case somewhere else?
Cases outside these areas
If the country where your debtor is located is a possibility, but we do not yet have experience, we will make the necessary connections with lawyers and local collection partners at our expense.
We refuse to work in countries with wars, rebel wars or insufficient infrastructure for security and cost reasons. Due to Putin’s war in Ukraine, we recently had to decline a request related to Russia.
For debt collection in countries as: Africa, Russia, China, India, etc. please contact us.
Our international services
Overview of our foreign debt collection services
Only cross-border combinations are considered. The starting point is the definition of the domicile of the creditor (client) and the debtor. There are two basic combinations: Debt collection abroad, debt collection from abroad. A very common constellation is the collection mandate between Germany and Switzerland.
| Creditor in | Debtor in | Claim amount from | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | European Union | German-speaking area EUR 50’000.—, lower sums on requestoutside EUR 100’000.— |
Investigations and tracing of debtors
Direct collection on site by own staff and/or freelancers Debt collection proceedings / European order for payment / legal debt collection Procurement / support of a lawyer in the debtor’s country Legal action in case of non-existent titles Obtaining enforceability of judgments |
| Switzerland | European Union | ||
| European Union | Switzerland | Switzerland from EUR/CHF 50’000.–, lower sums possible | |
| Europe | whole world outside Europe | from EUR/USD 300’000.– | |
| outside Europe | Europe | from EUR/USD 100’000.– |
Please scroll to the right to view claim amounts and our services.
Due to a special legal constellation, we are authorized to legally collect debts in all countries. We would be happy to discuss this with you.
Inkasso-Team
Persistent, assertive, international.
Get the best collectors for the best results!
Professional debt collectors in all countries over the globe.
Pressure to act within the legal framework
Fair conditions to our clients, regardless where we act