As of: February 19, 2024, 10:04 a.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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If a letter from a debt collection agency lands in your mailbox, you need to react quickly.
There are a few points to consider.
It happened quickly: Especially in hectic everyday working life, it's easy to end up with unpaid invoices.
If you slip through a few of these letters, the next thing you may find is a letter from a debt collection agency in your mailbox.
First of all, this is no reason to panic.
However, you should under no circumstances ignore the debt collection letter.
Otherwise, the bailiff could show up at the door at some point.
Check your debt collection case first
First of all, you should look at your documents and check whether the stated claim is actually true.
You should also investigate whether the debt collection company in question is actually entitled to demand money from you, warns the online portal
riverty
: “The prerequisite for this is registration with the responsible registration authority.” If, for example, a debt collection company is not listed in the legal services register, it is This is a clear indication that the company is dubious.
A letter from a debt collection agency can come as a shock to those affected.
© Rena Föhr / DALL-E (AI-generated)
If the authenticity of the letter is confirmed, it is strongly recommended that you respond to it.
If you ignore the letter and further attempts to contact the debt collection agency, you run the risk of legal action being taken against you.
Then at the latest it can get really expensive for you.
If you are unable to pay the requested amount, it is advisable to contact the debt collection agency directly to discuss further steps and avoid additional costs.
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If there are legitimate objections, the debt collection agency is left out
In the vast majority of cases, a debt collection letter specifies a date by which you must pay the outstanding amount.
If you refuse payment because there is a legitimate objection to the claim - such as a defective product - the conflict between customer and creditor will, in the worst case scenario, be resolved in court.
“In such a case, debt collection companies are left out,” explains
NDR
.
If you believe that all or part of the claim is being made unfairly, you should seek professional advice.
You can do this at consumer advice centers, lawyers or debt advice centers.
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Don't worry: If you receive a debt collection letter, this does not automatically mean that you will have a Schufa entry where some things have changed.
However, the letter is the preliminary stage of a Schufa entry.
Debt collection agencies often announce a corresponding entry in the event of non-payment, explains
ERGO insurance: “
If you don't pay and don't contradict the claim, the Schufa entry can be the next step.
You must also expect a payment notice or a civil action for payment.”