Debt Collection Agency in Austria - No Win, No Fee
Your claims are handled exclusively by B4B Förderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH, our licensed Austrian debt collection partner (Inkassoinstitut) with over 20 years of expertise.
Get free expert advice
Response from a specialist within 24 hours.
Why Choose Debitura for Debt Collection in Austria
Fast, simple and risk-free debt collection in Austria
Debitura recovers unpaid invoices from debtors in Austria through our platform: submit your claim, and we assign it to a licensed local partner working on a No Cure, No Pay basis while you track progress in real time. Your case is handled by B4B Förderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH, a Vienna-based Inkassoinstitut licensed since 2002 and a member of the Inkassoverband Österreich.
- Risk-free: Pay only when we recover your money.
- Quick setup: Submit invoices in a few clicks.
- Real-time tracking: Monitor progress live in one portal.
- Local expertise: Licensed Austrian Inkasso specialists handle everything.
Getting started with debt collection in Austria
- Submit your claim: Upload your invoice and debtor details through our secure dashboard - it takes about 2 minutes.
- B4B takes action: Our Austrian partner contacts your debtor within 24 hours, using local language and legal procedures.
- Get paid: Track progress in real time. You pay only when the debt is recovered.
Already using an ERP system? Connect via API or Zapier for seamless claim uploads and automatic status updates.
Transparent, success-based pricing
With Debitura you only pay when we succeed. Pre-legal collection is No Cure, No Pay: a success fee deducted from recovered amounts, invoiced locally by your partner. Fees depend on the debtor's country, not yours.
- Debtors in Europe (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the UK and Switzerland): success fees from 6% depending on claim size.
- Debtors in the rest of the world: success fees from 7.5% depending on claim size.
- Older claims: a surcharge applies for claims 12–24 months overdue and for claims older than 24 months.
- Legal action is optional: you approve fixed-price quotes before any legal spend.
See the pricing page for the full fee schedule, or get an instant estimate when you upload a claim.
How does debt collection work in Austria?
Debt collection in Austria starts with an amicable phase handled locally by B4B Forderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH: a formal reminder and demand for payment, aimed at full payment or a written acknowledgement of the debt. Most undisputed claims are resolved at this stage. If the debtor still does not pay, escalation is never automatic; your partner assesses the legal route (for money claims up to 75,000 euro this is the mandatory payment-order procedure, the Mahnverfahren) and you approve a fixed-price quote before any court step.
- Most undisputed debts resolve in the amicable phase, without a contested hearing.
- 3-year limitation for everyday and business claims (section 1486 ABGB).
- Money claims up to 75,000 euro must go through the fast, largely automated Mahnverfahren.
- Enforcement (Exekution) through the district court: wages, bank funds and movable goods.
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Step 1, Amicable collection: a reminder and demand, handled locally by B4B Forderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH. Most undisputed claims are resolved here, without a contested hearing.
- Step 2, Enforceable title: if the debtor still does not pay, your partner obtains a title through the mandatory Mahnverfahren for claims up to 75,000 euro, and you approve a fixed-price quote before anything proceeds.
- Step 3, Enforcement: with an enforceable title, the district court can authorise enforcement (Exekution) against wages, bank accounts and movable goods, or the forced sale of real estate.
- Step 4, Insolvency: if the debtor cannot pay, bankruptcy or restructuring opens under the Insolvency Code, and your claim is lodged with the court-appointed administrator.
Every step is tracked in your dashboard, and nothing escalates without your approval. The full legal detail for Austria, covering limitation, interest, courts, enforcement and insolvency, follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Austria - the complete 2026 guide
Debt collection in Austria (also searched as debt collection Österreich) is set out here end to end for overseas and domestic creditors, in-house counsel and finance teams: the legal framework, who does what, limitation and interest rules, the mandatory payment-order procedure (Mahnverfahren), enforcement (Exekution) through the district court, and business insolvency under the Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung).
On this page:
Why you can trust this guide
At Debitura, we uphold the highest standards of impartiality and precision to bring you comprehensive guides on international debt collection. Our editorial team boasts over a decade of specialized experience in this domain.
Questions or feedback? Email us at contact@debitura.com , we update this guide based on your input.
Debitura By the Numbers:
- 10+ years focused on international debt collection
- 100+ local attorneys in our partner network
- $100M+ recovered for clients in the last 18 months
- 4.9/5 average rating from 621 reviews
Expert-led, locally validated
Written by Lars Holdgaard, Founder of Debitura (+10 years in global B2B debt recovery). Every page is reviewed by top local attorneys to ensure legal accuracy and practical steps you can use.
Contributing local experts:
Last updated:
Debt collection in Austria - quick answers
The right route for debt collection in Austria depends on the size of the claim and whether the debtor objects. For money claims up to 75,000 euro the payment-order procedure is mandatory. The headline rules are below.
How much does debt collection cost in Austria?
Pre-legal collection is commonly success-based (No Cure, No Pay), so the creditor pays only on recovery. Court action is separate: court fees (Gerichtsgebühren) are graduated by the value of the claim and paid when the claim is filed, and enforcement fees arise only if the case escalates to execution. In the Mahnverfahren these costs are usually shifted to the debtor once the payment order is final.
How long does debt collection take in Austria?
An undisputed debt is usually resolved amicably. If not, the Mahnverfahren produces an enforceable payment order quickly, because the court issues it without a hearing; the debtor must lodge an objection (Einspruch) within four weeks or the order becomes final. An objection converts the case into ordinary proceedings, which take longer.
What are the limitation periods and interest rules in Austria?
Everyday and business claims, including invoices for goods and services, are time-barred after three years (section 1486 of the Civil Code, ABGB); the general limitation period is 30 years (section 1478). Once a court title exists, the resulting judgment debt (Judikatsschuld) is subject to a 30-year period. Ordinary statutory and default interest is 4% (sections 1000 and 1333 ABGB), while default interest on business-to-business transactions is the Austrian National Bank base rate plus 9.2 percentage points (section 456 of the Commercial Code, UGB), plus a flat recovery charge of 40 euro (section 458 UGB).
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Everyday / business claim | 3 years (section 1486 ABGB). |
| General limitation | 30 years (section 1478 ABGB). |
| Judgment debt (Judikatsschuld) | 30 years from the title (40 for public-law titles). |
| Ordinary / default interest | 4% (sections 1000, 1333 ABGB). |
| B2B default interest | Base rate + 9.2 percentage points (section 456 UGB), plus 40 euro flat fee (section 458 UGB). |
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Austria?
Assemble the contract or order, the unpaid invoices and statement of account, proof of delivery or performance, and all correspondence. For the Mahnklage that starts the payment-order procedure, the claim form itself sets out the debt; supporting evidence is produced if the debtor objects and the case moves to ordinary proceedings.
Which route should my claim take in Austria?
For a money claim up to 75,000 euro, the Mahnverfahren is mandatory: you file a Mahnklage and the court issues a conditional payment order. Claims above 75,000 euro, or claims that the debtor contests, proceed as ordinary actions before the district court (Bezirksgericht) up to 15,000 euro or the regional court (Landesgericht) above that.
Is debt collection licensed in Austria?
Yes. Collection agencies (Inkassoinstitute) operate under a regulated trade licence, and the collection costs they may recover from a debtor are capped by a maximum-rates ordinance. This licensing sits alongside the conduct and data-protection rules that apply to all collectors.
Who does what in Austria debt collection?
Recovery in Austria involves collection agencies for the amicable phase, the courts for the payment order and ordinary proceedings, and the district court with its bailiff for enforcement. Debitura supports you across all stages through B4B Forderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH.
Collection agencies (Inkassoinstitute) in Austria
Agencies handle the pre-legal phase: contacting the debtor, issuing reminders and demands, and negotiating settlement. They operate under a regulated trade licence (Gewerbeberechtigung) under the Trade Act (Gewerbeordnung), and the collection costs they can recover from a debtor are capped by a maximum-rates ordinance.
Courts and enforcement officers in Austria
The district court (Bezirksgericht) handles claims up to 15,000 euro, runs the Mahnverfahren, and authorises and conducts most enforcement; the regional court (Landesgericht) handles larger claims and is the insolvency court. Enforcement is carried out by a court official and a bailiff (Gerichtsvollzieher), who act for the court rather than the creditor.
Lawyers (Rechtsanwälte) in Austria
Lawyers represent creditors in court. Representation is mandatory for district-court claims above 5,000 euro and for all regional-court proceedings; below that threshold a creditor may act without a lawyer, and no lawyer is required to file an enforcement application.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Austria?
Debt recovery in Austria runs on a codified civil-procedure system, supplemented by the Civil Code, the Commercial Code, the Enforcement Code and the Insolvency Code.
The civil court system in Austria
Money claims up to 15,000 euro are heard by the district court (Bezirksgericht); larger claims and certain subject-matters go to the regional court (Landesgericht). Appeals lie to the higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht) and, on points of law, to the Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof). The general forum is the defendant's residence or registered seat.
Key legislation in Austria
- Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (the Civil Code, ABGB): limitation (section 1478 general, section 1486 everyday and business claims) and statutory or default interest (sections 1000, 1333).
- Unternehmensgesetzbuch (the Commercial Code, UGB): business-to-business default interest at base rate plus 9.2 points (section 456) and the 40 euro flat recovery fee (section 458).
- Zivilprozessordnung (the Code of Civil Procedure, ZPO): ordinary procedure and the Mahnverfahren.
- Exekutionsordnung (the Enforcement Code, EO): enforcement against wages, receivables, movable goods and real estate.
- Insolvenzordnung (the Insolvency Code, IO): bankruptcy (Konkursverfahren) and restructuring (Sanierungsverfahren).
- Gerichtsgebührengesetz (the Court Fees Act, GGG): the graduated court fees.
Consumer and data protection in Austria
The General Data Protection Regulation (EU Regulation 2016/679) applies directly to the handling of a debtor's personal data, alongside the national Data Protection Act. Consumer debtors have additional protection under Austrian consumer-protection law.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Austria?
Pre-legal collection means recovering an unpaid invoice without a contested court case, through reminders, a formal demand and negotiation. The aim is full payment or a written acknowledgement of the debt plus an instalment plan. A licensed collection agency (Inkassoinstitut) may add recoverable collection costs, but only within the caps set by the maximum-rates ordinance. Under Austrian law a reminder alone does not interrupt limitation, so a timely escalation preserves the claim.
Amicable collection timeline
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| First reminder | State the invoice, due date and amount, and confirm the debt. |
| Formal demand | A demand setting the sum, a deadline and the intended next step. |
| Negotiation | Settlement or an instalment plan, ideally with a written acknowledgement. |
| Hand-over | If unpaid, the file passes to the Mahnverfahren (money claims up to 75,000 euro). |
When to escalate to court in Austria
Escalate when the demand goes unanswered, the debtor disputes the claim without substance, the limitation period is approaching, or assets appear to be at risk. For a money claim up to 75,000 euro the mandatory next step is the Mahnverfahren, a fast and largely automated payment-order procedure; larger claims are brought as ordinary regional-court actions.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Austria?
To enforce a debt you need an enforceable title (Exekutionstitel). For money claims up to 75,000 euro the law channels you through the payment-order procedure; larger or contested claims proceed as ordinary actions.
The mandatory payment-order procedure (Mahnverfahren)
A money claim up to 75,000 euro must be filed as a Mahnklage. The court issues a conditional payment order (Zahlungsbefehl) without hearing the debtor. If the debtor does not lodge an objection (Einspruch) within four weeks, the order becomes an enforceable title. If the debtor objects, the case is transferred to ordinary proceedings.
Ordinary proceedings
Claims above 75,000 euro, and claims the debtor contests, are heard as ordinary civil actions, before the district court (Bezirksgericht) up to 15,000 euro and the regional court (Landesgericht) above that. Lawyer representation is mandatory above 5,000 euro in the district court and in all regional-court cases.
Determining the court in Austria
The court is set by the value of the claim (Bezirksgericht up to 15,000 euro, Landesgericht above) and by the defendant's residence or registered seat. Filing within the limitation period is essential.
More on court proceedings in Austria
Court fees (Gerichtsgebühren)
Court fees are graduated by the value of the claim and paid when the claim is filed, under the Court Fees Act (Gerichtsgebührengesetz). In the payment-order procedure the fees are usually shifted to the debtor once the order is final.
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Austria?
Once you hold an enforceable title, you apply to the district court (Bezirksgericht) for enforcement (Exekution). No lawyer is required to file the enforcement application, but the creditor must know the debtor's address (and, for salary enforcement, the debtor's date of birth if the paying office is unknown, so the court can locate it).
Ways to enforce a claim in Austria
- Enforcement on movable goods (Fahrnisexekution): the bailiff seizes, pledges and auctions the debtor's movable property.
- Enforcement on receivables and salary (Gehaltsexekution): a lien is placed on the debtor's claims, and the employer pays over the seizable part of wages.
- Forced sale of real estate (Zwangsversteigerung): the debtor's real property is sold at auction through the land-registry court.
- Simple enforcement package: where no method is specified, enforcement on movable goods and salary combined with the recording of a list of assets (Vermögensverzeichnis).
Debtor protection and process in Austria
Salary enforcement must leave the debtor an unseizable minimum-subsistence amount (Existenzminimum), which is scaled by income and maintenance obligations and increased each year. An appeal against the enforcement authorisation must be lodged within 14 days. Seized property is realised under the court's supervision, and the proceeds are applied to the debt, interest and costs.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Austria?
Insolvency is the collective route when the debtor cannot pay. It runs under the Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung, IO) at the regional court (Landesgericht), and individual enforcement generally gives way to it once the proceedings open. There are two main procedures: bankruptcy and liquidation (Konkursverfahren) and restructuring (Sanierungsverfahren).
Bankruptcy and restructuring
In a Konkursverfahren the estate is realised and distributed to creditors; secured creditors realise their security, and unsecured creditors share the remainder pro rata. In a Sanierungsverfahren the debtor proposes a restructuring plan (Sanierungsplan), which must offer creditors at least 20% (without self-administration) or 30% (with self-administration), payable within a maximum of two years, and needs a creditor majority and court confirmation.
The creditor process in Austria
A court-appointed insolvency administrator (Masseverwalter) manages and realises the estate. Creditors must lodge their claims (Forderungsanmeldung) by the deadline, and the administrator recognises or contests each claim. Openings, deadlines and key steps are published in the online insolvency register (Insolvenzdatei), so creditors can track the procedure. For individuals, a debt-repayment plan and a debt-discharge procedure are also available.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Austria
- Our fee: success-based, No Cure, No Pay (see pricing).
- Court & enforcement fees: graduated court fees (Gerichtsgebühren) on filing, plus enforcement fees on execution, apply only if the case escalates, and are usually shifted to the debtor in the payment-order procedure.
- Statutory debtor items: ordinary and default interest is 4% (sections 1000 and 1333 ABGB); on business-to-business transactions, default interest is the Austrian National Bank base rate plus 9.2 percentage points (section 456 UGB), plus a 40 euro flat recovery charge (section 458 UGB). Recoverable agency collection costs are capped by the maximum-rates ordinance.
- Who keeps what: recovered principal is yours; interest and recoverable costs follow the statute and the court's order.
Cross-border debt collection in Austria
Because Austria is in the European Union, a creditor in another member state can use the European Order for Payment (Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2006) for an uncontested cross-border claim, or the European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation (EC) No. 861/2007) for smaller cross-border claims. A judgment given in another EU member state is recognised and enforced in Austria under the Brussels I Recast Regulation (EU Regulation No. 1215/2012), without a separate declaration of enforceability.
A judgment from a non-EU country is recognised and enforced in Austria under Austrian enforcement law and any applicable bilateral treaty, on conditions of jurisdiction, due process and reciprocity.
Find a Local Debt Collection Lawyer
Need court-ready representation? Share your case once and receive up to three proposals from vetted litigation attorneys. Free, fast, and with no commitment.
- Verified specialists
- Quotes in 24 h, no hidden fees
- Fair, pre-negotiated rates
PRIME LAW is a premier law firm in Wien offering effective Debt Collection services in Austria, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since its founding in 2021, with memberships in the Vienna Bar Association and Austrian Federal Bar.
Mag. Hubert Wagner LLM is a premier law firm in Wien offering effective Debt Collection services in Austria, established in 2001, renowned for integrity and professionalism, with multilingual support and transparent billing, and a member of the Rechtsanwaltskammer Wien.
Proxauf Meyer Zeilinger Rechtsanwalte GmbH is a premier law firm in Innsbruck offering effective Debt Collection services in Austria, recognized for its expertise since 2009 and backed by prestigious memberships in ÖRAK and the Tiroler Rechtsanwaltskammer.
B4B Forderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH is a premier debt recovery agency in Austria offering effective risk-free debt collection services, founded in 2002, with accolades from Inkassoverband Österreich, and serving Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Poland; as an exclusive Debitura partner in Austria, it provides No Cure No Pay debt collection based on Debitura's risk-free standard terms and pricing.
.webp)
.png)
.png)
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our most common FAQs below, or reach out directly at contact@debitura.com if you need help with a specific case.
.svg){kind=icon}
.png)
.png)
.svg)
.svg)
