Guide

Customer not paying, what now? The clear path to your money

Your customer is not responding, the money is missing from your account, and every reminder you write yourself costs time. We show you the clear escalation path and take over everything once you hand the claim over as a debt collection institute licensed in Austria and Germany, with an approach confirmed by the OGH. 100% of the claim for you.

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The path to your money
1Payment reminderfriendly first nudgeyou
2Reminder with deadlineclear deadline, when default beginsyou
3Hand over the claimlicensed debt collection recovers itus
From here we take over, 100% for you

The overview

Customer not paying: the three steps to your money

When a customer does not pay, you proceed in three steps: first a friendly payment reminder, then a reminder with a clear deadline, and if the customer still does not respond, you hand the open claim over to a licensed debt collection institute that recovers it for you. Through incaseof.law you hand over online and keep 100% of your principal claim, because the defaulting customer bears the debt collection costs.

1

Payment reminder

Often it is just forgetfulness. A factual reminder resolves many cases, still without extra cost and without pressure.

state the invoice number and amount
new payment date, factual tone
2

Reminder with deadline

A clear reminder with a deadline is enough. More than one is goodwill, not a must. Endless follow-up reminders only cost you liquidity.

set a clear payment deadline
default costs possible once in default
3

Hand over the claim

If the customer does not respond, licensed debt collection is the fastest way. Hand over online, we take care of the rest.

licensed, confirmed by the OGH
100% of the claim for you

Act now

What to do when a customer is not paying? The checklist

Before you put more time and nerves into your own reminders, work through these four points. They are done in a few minutes and bring you to a solution quickly.

1

Check the payment date and default

Look up when the invoice was due. If the payment date has passed, your customer is in default. That is the point at which you should act, not only after weeks.

note the invoice date and deadline
2

Send a factual reminder

Often it is just forgetfulness. A short, friendly payment reminder with invoice number and amount resolves many cases, without pressure and without straining the customer relationship.

factual tone, new payment date
3

Set a reminder with a clear deadline

If the customer does not respond, a reminder with a specific deadline follows. One is enough. Endless follow-up reminders only cost you liquidity and buy the defaulting customer time.

clear deadline, default costs once in default
4

Hand over the open claim

If payment still does not arrive, you hand the claim over to a licensed debt collection institute. Through incaseof.law you start online in a few minutes, we recover it, and 100% of the claim stays with you.

licensed, confirmed by the OGH, from here we take over

The earlier you act, the better. With every week an open claim sits unattended, willingness to pay drops and the risk grows that the customer becomes insolvent. An early, clear demand is taken more seriously than your own fifth reminder.

The context

The fastest path to your money

From your perspective as a creditor, this is a question of the goal, not the status.

For the pure monetary claim

A specialised debt collection institute is usually the fastest way, because the entire process is built for it and starts online. The cost consequence for the defaulting customer is clearly regulated.

When it goes to court

If court proceedings become necessary, we prepare them and carry them forward digitally via the electronic legal communication system. You do not have to organise the switch between the steps yourself.

Debt collection or lawyer, which makes more sense?

For a pure monetary claim against a defaulting customer, a licensed debt collection institute is usually the more direct way: the process is built for recovery, starts online and the customer bears the costs. If the case becomes contentious or has to go to court, we take on that step for you as well, without you having to look for a lawyer yourself.

What if the customer cannot pay at all?

Even if a customer appears insolvent, the handover is worthwhile: we assess the situation and secure your claim, for example with an enforceable title that stays valid for many years. That way you get your money even if the customer can only pay again later.

The most common dispute

The customer will not pay because they are dissatisfied

Often there is no bad intent behind an open invoice, but a complaint: the customer is dissatisfied with the service, sees a defect or considers the amount too high. These cases require a bit more care, but they are solvable. Here is how you proceed.

Take the objection seriously

Have the customer state in writing exactly what is being complained about. Often the dispute clears up as soon as the expectation and the service delivered are set side by side. A documented objection also protects you later.

Separate the undisputed part

If only part of the service is disputed, the rest is still due. Demand the undisputed amount clearly. Claiming a defect does not automatically void a valid invoice.

Hand over when things stall

If the customer stops responding or uses the objection only to buy time, you hand the claim over. We assess the facts and recover the justified amount for you, factually and on a sound legal basis.

Important with defect objections: A customer may not simply reduce an invoice because they are dissatisfied. As long as you have delivered the service, your claim remains. A factual clarification is the first step, and it must not end in an accepted loss of payment.

The escalation path

From default to enforcement, step by step

Each step is only initiated if the previous one did not reach the goal. Most cases end early, because the demand from a licensed debt collection institute is taken seriously. From the handover on, we steer the entire path, you keep the overview and initiate nothing yourself anymore.

from due date
Payment defaultThe payment date has passed. From here, default costs can arise, which the defaulting customer bears.
day 1 to 14
Reminder and noticeA factual reminder, then a reminder with a deadline. One unsuccessful reminder is enough to hand over.
after handover
Out-of-court debt collectionAs a licensed debt collection institute, we demand payment. A large share of cases is settled here within a few weeks.
if needed
Order for payment procedureIf the customer does not pay, we obtain an enforceable title, digitally via the electronic legal communication system.
final step
EnforcementWith the title we enforce the claim. We steer the whole path, you see the status in the portal.

In your industry

Customer not paying, depending on the industry

The solution path is the same everywhere, the starting situation differs.

Trades and crafts

Removing installed material again is usually not a practical solution. The reliable way is to have the open invoice recovered.

Small businesses and freelancers

Without your own accounting, there is no time for following up. You hand over, we recover, and the money comes back to you.

E-commerce and online retail

With many small open amounts, the handover is especially worthwhile, because the effort for you stays minimal.

88%

Recovery rate

You will see your money again

We recover 88% of the claims handed to us. No more weeks of chasing, no more worrying whether anything will come at all. You hand over the open invoice, we pursue it consistently, and the money lands where it belongs: in your account. The difference is the fast, fully digital process that starts the same day, as a licensed debt collection institute confirmed by the OGH.

100%of the claim for you
out-of-courta large share of cases ends here
1,000+companies on board

What it costs

What does it cost to have the invoice recovered?

Your principal claim arrives with you at 100%. The defaulting customer bears the debt collection costs. You do not pay to get your own money back.

What debt collection costs
100%

of the claim for you. The defaulting customer bears the debt collection costs.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions when a customer is not paying

What to do when a customer does not pay the invoice?

First send a factual payment reminder, then a reminder with a deadline. If payment does not arrive, hand the claim over to a licensed debt collection institute that recovers it for you. One unsuccessful reminder is enough to hand over. More on what to do when an invoice is not paid.

Debt collection or lawyer, which makes more sense for a defaulting customer?

For a pure monetary claim, a licensed debt collection institute is usually the more direct way, because the process is built for recovery, starts online and the defaulting customer bears the costs. If the case becomes contentious or has to go to court, we take that on for you as well, without you having to look for a lawyer yourself.

My customer will not pay because they are dissatisfied. What can I do?

Have them state in writing what is being complained about, and separate the undisputed part that is still due. A claimed defect does not void a valid claim. If the customer stays inactive while things stall, you hand the claim over. We assess the facts and recover the justified amount.

The customer is not paying due to alleged defects. May they reduce the invoice?

Not just like that. As long as the service is delivered, your claim remains. If only part is disputed, the rest is still due. A factual clarification comes first, and it must not end in an accepted loss of payment.

How many reminders do I have to send before I can engage debt collection?

Legally, one reminder with a deadline is enough. Further reminders are goodwill, not an obligation. So you can hand the claim over after the first unsuccessful reminder.

Is debt collection worthwhile even for small amounts?

Yes. Since the defaulting customer bears the debt collection costs, your principal claim stays untouched. Even smaller open amounts can be recovered economically this way.

What is the fastest way when a customer is not paying?

For the pure monetary claim, a specialised debt collection institute is usually the fastest way, because the process is built for it and starts online. If court proceedings become necessary, we prepare them.

What does it cost me to have an open claim recovered?

Your principal claim arrives with you at 100%. The defaulting customer bears the debt collection costs. You do not pay to get your own money back.

My customer in the trades is not paying, can I remove the installed material again?

That is usually not a practical solution and legally tricky. The reliable way is to have the open invoice recovered through a licensed debt collection institute.

From when can I engage debt collection if my customer is not paying?

As soon as your customer is in payment default and a reminder was unsuccessful. A certain minimum number of reminders is not necessary, one unsuccessful reminder is enough in practice. The earlier you hand over, the higher the chance of full payment.

Does my customer relationship stay intact?

Yes. As a licensed debt collection institute, we communicate factually and on a sound legal basis. The goal is payment, not escalation. A defaulting customer can be a good customer again tomorrow, which is why we take on the unpleasant part without straining the relationship unnecessarily.

How quickly do I get my money?

A large share of cases is settled out-of-court within a few weeks. After successful recovery, we pay out to you. You can see the status of every step live in your portal at any time.

How do I hand my claim over to incaseof.law?

You start online, upload the open invoice and hand the claim over in a few minutes. We take over the processing and pay the recovered amount out to you.

Is it a crime if a customer does not pay?

In the vast majority of cases, no. An open invoice is first a civil matter and not a case for a criminal report. Only if the customer never intended or was never able to pay and concealed that, more may be behind it. The reliable way to get your money remains handing over to a licensed debt collection institute.

What can I do if the customer is insolvent?

Even then the handover is worthwhile. We assess the situation and secure your claim, for example with an enforceable title that stays valid for many years. That way you get your money even if the customer can only pay again later.

What can I do if my customer does not pay despite the reminder?

If your customer does not pay despite the reminder, you have reached the point where following up yourself rarely helps anymore. Hand the claim over to a licensed debt collection institute. A demand from a debt collection institute is usually taken far more seriously than your next own reminder.

Is incaseof.law a licensed debt collection institute?

Yes. incaseof.law is a debt collection institute licensed in Austria, confirmed by the OGH, and recovers claims in Austria and Germany.

Get your money back

Your customer is not paying? Hand the open claim over online, we recover it for you. 100% of the claim for you. Your money belongs in your account.

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