Received a debt collection letter – what now?

Stay calm, note the deadline and first check whether the sender is genuine and the claim is justified. Then pay, agree on an instalment plan or object in writing. Simply leaving the letter unanswered is almost always the most expensive option.

Last updated: 2 October 2026. This site is operated by Blue Internet Media EOOD, a company that pursues claims on behalf of creditors. The guidance applies regardless of who wrote to you.

Step-by-step guide

Responding to a German debt collection letter in five steps

The order matters: check first, then respond – but within the deadline.

Stay calm and note the deadline

Read the letter in full and note the date, the payment deadline and the reference number (Aktenzeichen). Don't pay in a panic, but don't leave the letter lying around either: for a legitimate claim, every week without a response can trigger further costs.

Check the sender: is the collection agency real?

Debt collection agencies in Germany must be listed in the Legal Services Register (Rechtsdienstleistungsregister); lawyers are admitted by their bar association. Look up the phone number and address yourself instead of using those in the letter – they may be fake. The German consumer advice centres (Verbraucherzentralen) also regularly warn about known fake companies.

§ 10 RDG – registration requirement

Check the claim: creditor, reason and amount

Do you know the original creditor? Is there a contract – and might you already have paid? The letter must itemise interest and costs separately. Collection costs are only recoverable up to the amount a lawyer could charge. Also: many everyday claims become time-barred after three years, counted from the end of the year in which they arose.

§ 13a, § 13e RDG · §§ 195, 199 BGB

Respond – in writing and with proof

Depending on the result, pay, agree on instalments or object (see the overview below). Reply in writing and keep copies and payment receipts. Don't sign an acknowledgement of debt (Schuldanerkenntnis) before checking the claim: afterwards, objections such as limitation or prior payment usually can no longer be raised.

Take court mail seriously – immediately

A collection agency cannot issue a payment order (Mahnbescheid) – it comes from the dunning court and is formally served, usually in a yellow envelope. From service, you have two weeks to object (Widerspruch). Against an enforcement order (Vollstreckungsbescheid), you can lodge an objection (Einspruch) within two weeks. These deadlines are binding.

§§ 692, 694, 700 ZPO

Check the sender

Real or fake? How to recognise a genuine collection letter

Registered collection agencies must include certain information in their very first letter to consumers. If it is missing, ask for it – and be especially careful if you notice any of the warning signs.

What the first letter must contain

Name and address of the client, i.e. the creditor
The reason for the claim – for contracts, the subject matter and date of the contract
An interest calculation with amount, rate and period
Type, amount and basis of the collection costs
The competent supervisory authority, with address and electronic contact details

Legal basis: § 13a (1) RDG

Typical warning signs of fraud

You know neither the creditor nor the contract, and the letter stays vague
Threats of prison, immediate seizure or a home visit
Unusually short deadlines, often just a few days
Payment to a foreign account, by voucher or via a payment app
The company cannot be found in the Legal Services Register

Your situation

Which response fits your situation?

After checking, it is usually clear which case applies. Always reply in writing and keep copies.

Claim legitimate, amount correct

Pay within the deadline and keep the transfer receipt. That settles the matter, and no further costs arise.

Legitimate, but you can't pay right away

Ask for an instalment plan before the deadline expires. The collection agency must tell you in advance what additional costs an instalment agreement will cause. Calculate the instalment so that you can reliably keep it up.

Already paid

Send a copy of the proof of payment. If you paid on time, you generally don't owe any collection costs either.

Costs or interest too high

Pay the undisputed part and object to the rest in writing, giving reasons. The free collection check from the Verbraucherzentrale gives an initial assessment.

Unknown claim, nothing ordered

If the sender is registered, ask how the contract was supposedly concluded and object in writing. Don't simply ignore a letter from a genuine collection agency. If you suspect identity theft, report it to the police.

Sender not registered, suspected fraud

Don't pay, don't open links or attachments, don't give out any data. Report the case to the police and the Verbraucherzentrale.

Court payment order (Mahnbescheid)

Respond within two weeks: pay or, if the claim does not exist, return the enclosed objection form to the dunning court.

What happens if a legitimate claim goes unanswered is shown in the process from reminder to enforcement.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about collection letters

Yes. Default can occur without a reminder, for example if a fixed payment date was agreed or 30 days have passed since the due date and receipt of the invoice – for consumers only if the invoice points this out. The common belief that a collection agency may only act after three reminders is not true.

In principle yes, if the email address can clearly be attributed to you. But many fraud attempts arrive by email: don't open attachments or links, and verify the sender using contact details you have looked up yourself.

If the letter comes from a registered collection agency, yes. Ask how and when the contract was supposedly concluded and object in writing. Only in clear cases of fraud by an unregistered company do the consumer advice centres recommend not responding and filing a police report.

No. Threats of imprisonment in a collection letter are a warning sign. A court can only order coercive detention if someone refuses a court-ordered statement of assets – and that requires an enforceable title.

The deadline in a collection letter is not a statutory deadline, but missing it risks the next, more expensive stage. The binding statutory deadlines are the two weeks to object to a payment order and to lodge an objection against an enforcement order.

Sources

Legal basis and where to get help

Check the claim: checklist German terms in the glossary