Debt Collection Agency in Belgium: No Win, No Fee
Need a debt collection agency in Belgium? For unpaid invoices from business customers in Belgium, your claims are handled by Credit Management and Advice, our licensed Belgian debt collection partner (incassobureau), registered with FOD Economie since 1998.
Questions about your case?
Write to us, we reply by email.
Why choose Debitura for debt collection in Belgium
Getting started with Belgian debt collection
- Submit your claim: Upload your invoice and debtor details via our secure dashboard. Takes under 2 minutes.
- Credit Management & Advice takes action: Our licensed partner contacts your debtor in Dutch or French, using proven amicable collection methods.
- Track and recover: Monitor real-time updates in your dashboard. Pay only when funds are recovered.
Already using accounting software or an ERP? Import by CSV or connect QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Stripe or KashFlow, or use Zapier, the REST API or our MCP server.
Transparent, success-based pricing
With Debitura you pay a success fee only when money is recovered. 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 to 24 months overdue and for claims older than 24 months.
- Legal action is optional: you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, 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 Belgium?
Debt collection in Belgium starts with an amicable phase handled locally by Credit Management & Advice: reminders and a formal payment demand, aimed at full payment or a written instalment agreement. Most straightforward claims are resolved at this stage. If the debtor still does not pay, escalation is never automatic - your partner assesses the legal route and you approve a quote before any court step.
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Amicable collection: reminders, a formal payment demand and negotiation, handled locally by Credit Management & Advice. Most undisputed claims are resolved in this phase, without going to court.
- Enforceable title: if the debtor still does not pay, your partner assesses the legal route to obtain an enforceable title and you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before anything proceeds.
- Enforcement: with a legal title, the competent enforcement authority can attach wages, bank funds and other assets until the claim is recovered.
- Insolvency: if the debtor turns out to be insolvent, recovery depends on the local insolvency proceedings and is often uncertain. Any step in those proceedings is quoted separately and only starts if you accept.
Every step is tracked in your dashboard, and nothing escalates without your approval. The full legal detail for Belgium - timelines, costs, courts and enforcement - follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Belgium - the complete 2026 guide
For in-house counsel, finance teams and cross-border creditors, this Belgium guide covers 2026 debt recovery end-to-end: costs, timelines, prescription and interest, court routes, and enforcement through a licensed huissier de justice (bailiff), with Credit Management & Advice handling the amicable phase.
On this page:
Why you can trust this guide
Written from primary legal sources and reviewed by licensed local experts in this jurisdiction.
Questions or feedback? Email us at contact@debitura.com , we update this guide based on your input.
Debitura By the Numbers:
- 180 countries covered - each case handled by a local partner
- More than 5,000 businesses registered with Debitura
- 33 days median time to first payment on European cases
About the author
Written by Lars Holdgaard, Founder of Debitura (+10 years in global B2B debt recovery).
Contributing local experts:
Last updated:
Debt collection in Belgium - quick answers
How much does debt collection cost in Belgium?
Our fee is success-based, No Cure No Pay (see pricing). If a case escalates to court, the losing party pays droits de mise au rôle (court registry fees): EUR 50 before the juge de paix, EUR 165 before the tribunal de première instance or tribunal de l'entreprise, EUR 400 on appeal and EUR 650 at the Cour de cassation.
How long does debt collection take in Belgium?
The simplified procédure sommaire d'injonction de payer, capped at EUR 1,860, requires a 15-day prior payment demand and a decision within 15 days once filed before the juge de paix. Ordinary proceedings before the tribunal de l'entreprise or tribunal de première instance take longer and depend on the court's docket and whether the claim is contested.
What are the prescription period and interest rules in Belgium?
Ordinary contract and commercial debts are time-barred after 10 years from when the right of action arose (Code civil (ancien), art. 2262bis, section 1, paragraph 1); tort claims prescribe after 5 years from knowledge of the damage, with a 20-year absolute cap. Statutory interest for 2026 runs at 4.5% on general civil debts and 10.5% on B2B commercial late payments (Loi du 2 août 2002, transposing EU Directive 2011/7/EU), accruing automatically from the day after the payment term expires, without a formal notice.
| Item | Rate/period | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| General prescription | 10 years | Code civil (ancien) art. 2262bis |
| Tort claims | 5 years (20-year cap) | Code civil (ancien) |
| Civil statutory interest, 2026 | 4.5% per year | SPF Finances fiche |
| B2B commercial interest, H1 2026 | 10.5% per year | Loi du 2 août 2002 |
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Belgium?
For a consumer (B2C) debt, keep proof of the contract and a written mise en demeure (formal demand) giving the debtor at least 15 days to pay (Loi du 20 décembre 2002, art. 5); a lawyer's signature is required for the simplified procédure sommaire d'injonction de payer. For any court filing, assemble the contract, invoices, delivery proof and correspondence showing the claim is certain, liquidated and due.
Which route should my Belgian claim take?
Amicable collection through Credit Management & Advice is the first step for undisputed claims. Uncontested B2B debts of any value fall to the tribunal de l'entreprise/ondernemingsrechtbank, which has no monetary ceiling for enterprise-vs-enterprise disputes. Claims under EUR 5,000 (raised from EUR 2,500 in 2018) go to the juge de paix/vrederechter; claims over EUR 5,000 not otherwise assigned go to the tribunal de première instance.
| Court | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Juge de paix / vrederechter | Claims under EUR 5,000, plus specific matters regardless of amount |
| Tribunal de première instance | Claims over EUR 5,000 not assigned elsewhere |
| Tribunal de l'entreprise / ondernemingsrechtbank | All enterprise-vs-enterprise disputes, no ceiling; exclusive insolvency jurisdiction |
Who does what in Belgium debt collection?
Three actors handle Belgian debt recovery: collection agencies for the amicable phase, huissiers de justice/gerechtsdeurwaarders (bailiffs) for service and enforcement, and lawyers for contested or high-value court claims.
Collection agencies in Belgium
- Role: negotiate voluntary payment and send the mandatory mise en demeure for consumer debts.
- Compliance: B2C collection follows the Loi du 20 décembre 2002, which requires FOD Economie registration, a written first demand, a minimum 15-day payment window, and bars charging the consumer any indemnity beyond the amount actually agreed in the contract.
- Debitura's advantage: our partner Credit Management & Advice is FOD Economie-registered (Reg. 220043) and a member of ABR-BVI and FENCA.
Huissiers de justice / gerechtsdeurwaarders in Belgium
- Role: execute an enforceable title (titre exécutoire): a judgment, notarial deed, tax writ, or exequatur'd foreign judgment.
- Tools: saisie-conservatoire (precautionary seizure) and saisie-exécution (post-judgment seizure) of movable/immovable property; saisie-arrêt/derdenbeslag to garnish wages and bank accounts, subject to the protected-income tiers in Code judiciaire art. 1409.
Lawyers in Belgium
- Role: represent creditors before the tribunal de l'entreprise or tribunal de première instance for disputed or higher-value claims, and in judicial reorganisation/insolvency matters.
- When needed: the claim is contested, exceeds the simplified injonction de payer's EUR 1,860 ceiling, or requires appeal.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Belgium?
Belgian civil and commercial procedure is federal, applied uniformly across the country's French, Dutch and German-speaking regions.
The civil court system in Belgium
- Juge de paix/vrederechter: claims under EUR 5,000, plus specific matters (leases, some consumer disputes) regardless of amount.
- Tribunal de première instance: claims over EUR 5,000 not assigned elsewhere.
- Tribunal de l'entreprise/ondernemingsrechtbank: all enterprise-vs-enterprise disputes with no monetary ceiling, plus exclusive insolvency jurisdiction.
Key legislation in Belgium
- Code civil (ancien), art. 2262bis: the general 10-year prescription period for personal actions.
- Loi du 2 août 2002: statutory and commercial late-payment interest, transposing EU Directive 2011/7/EU.
- Loi du 20 décembre 2002: the mandatory framework for amicable consumer-debt collection (registration, mise en demeure, 15-day window, cost cap).
- Code de droit économique, Livre XX (2017, in force 2018): the bankruptcy/judicial reorganisation framework.
- Loi du 5 juillet 1998: règlement collectif de dettes, the over-indebted-individual debt-settlement procedure.
Consumer protection in Belgium
- The Loi du 20 décembre 2002 requires a written first demand and bars charging the consumer any indemnity beyond the amount actually agreed in the underlying contract.
- Collection firms must be registered with FOD Economie; enforcement of a title against a debtor is reserved to a licensed huissier de justice.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Belgium?
Amicable collection in Belgium is handled by Credit Management & Advice, our licensed partner: for a consumer (B2C) debt, the process must start with a written mise en demeure (formal demand) that gives the debtor a minimum 15-day payment window (Loi du 20 décembre 2002, art. 5); no indemnity beyond the amount actually agreed in the contract can be charged to the consumer. For B2B claims, statutory interest and a fixed compensation for recovery costs accrue automatically once the payment term expires, without any formal notice (Loi du 2 août 2002).
| Day | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Invoice due; statutory B2B interest begins accruing automatically the next day. |
| Day 1-15 | Written mise en demeure sent (mandatory 15-day window for consumer debts). |
| Day 15-45 | Follow-up contact and negotiation; instalment plan offered where appropriate. |
| Day 45-60 | Amicable phase closes; unresolved and undisputed claims move to the tribunal de l'entreprise or the simplified injonction de payer (if under EUR 1,860). |
Escalation to court is never automatic: Credit Management & Advice assesses the legal route and you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before anything proceeds.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Belgium?
Go to court when a claim is disputed or the amicable phase fails. The route depends on whether the claim is undisputed and its value.
Fast-track: procédure sommaire d'injonction de payer
Available before the juge de paix for claims up to EUR 1,860, this simplified route also serves as Belgium's domestic channel for a European Payment Order application. It requires a lawyer's signature on the application, a 15-day prior payment demand, and a decision within 15 days.
Ordinary proceedings
Claims over EUR 5,000 not otherwise assigned go to the tribunal de première instance; every enterprise-vs-enterprise dispute, regardless of value, goes to the tribunal de l'entreprise/ondernemingsrechtbank, which also holds exclusive insolvency jurisdiction. Claims under EUR 5,000 go to the juge de paix/vrederechter.
Court costs
Droits de mise au rôle (registry fees) are paid by the losing party after judgment: EUR 50 (juge de paix), EUR 165 (tribunal de première instance/tribunal de l'entreprise), EUR 400 (cour d'appel) and EUR 650 (Cassation).
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Belgium?
A creditor may enforce only with a titre exécutoire (enforceable title): a judgment, a notarial deed, a tax writ, or a foreign judgment granted exequatur. Enforcement is carried out exclusively by a licensed huissier de justice/gerechtsdeurwaarder (bailiff).
Ways to enforce a claim in Belgium
- Saisie-conservatoire: a precautionary seizure to secure assets before or during proceedings.
- Saisie-exécution: post-judgment seizure and sale of movable or immovable property.
- Saisie-arrêt / derdenbeslag: garnishment reaching wages and bank accounts, subject to the protected-income tiers in Code judiciaire art. 1409.
The enforcement process in Belgium
- Confirm the title: the huissier verifies the judgment, deed or exequatur before acting.
- Serve and demand: the huissier formally serves the title and demands payment.
- Seize: where payment does not follow, the huissier executes saisie-exécution or saisie-arrêt against identified assets, wages or bank accounts.
- Distribute: proceeds are applied to principal, statutory interest and court-ordered costs; any surplus returns to the debtor.
Belgian judgments generally remain enforceable for the 10-year general prescription period. Within the EU, Brussels I bis Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 lets a Belgian judgment be enforced in another member state, and a foreign EU judgment be enforced in Belgium, without a separate exequatur.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Belgium?
Belgian bankruptcy is governed by the Code de droit économique, Livre XX (2017, in force 2018). A company enters the bankruptcy state on two cumulative conditions, with no minimum monetary threshold: a persistent cessation of payments, and credit undermined (art. XX.99). The tribunal de l'entreprise/ondernemingsrechtbank holds exclusive insolvency jurisdiction.
Types of insolvency and likely outcomes in Belgium
- Réorganisation judiciaire/PRJ (judicial reorganisation): the alternative for a recoverable enterprise, allowing a court-supervised restructuring plan.
- Faillite (bankruptcy/liquidation): opens once the two-condition test is met; the debtor's assets are realised and distributed to creditors.
- Règlement collectif de dettes: the separate procedure (Loi du 5 juillet 1998) for over-indebted individuals without merchant status; admission suspends interest and pauses individual enforcement.
The insolvency process for creditors in Belgium
- Detect and verify: identify the proceeding, the tribunal de l'entreprise case number, and the appointed curateur/trustee.
- Stop individual action: insolvency generally pauses individual enforcement against the debtor's assets.
- File a proof of claim: submit supporting documentation within the court-set deadlines.
- Track distributions: secured and privileged creditors rank ahead of ordinary unsecured creditors; recovery depends on the estate's assets and your claim's ranking.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Belgium
- Our fee: success-based, No Cure No Pay (see pricing).
- Court & enforcement fees: droits de mise au rôle (registry fees) apply only if the case escalates to court: EUR 50 (juge de paix), EUR 165 (tribunal de première instance/tribunal de l'entreprise), EUR 400 (appeal), EUR 650 (Cassation); the losing party pays after judgment.
- Statutory debtor items: B2B late-payment interest of 10.5% per year (H1 2026) and general civil interest of 4.5% per year accrue automatically once the payment term expires (Loi du 2 août 2002); for consumer debts, no indemnity beyond the amount actually agreed in the contract may be charged (Loi du 20 décembre 2002).
- Who keeps what: recovered principal is yours; statutory interest and court-ordered costs follow the contract, the statute and the court's order.
Cross-border debt collection in Belgium
Foreign creditors can recover Belgian debts without a local entity. Our guide to international debt collection covers the general route. For EU cross-border claims up to EUR 5,000, the European Small Claims Procedure runs through Belgium's ordinary courts, since no distinct national small-claims track exists. The European Payment Order is examined through the same domestic simplified procedure used for the EUR 1,860-capped procédure sommaire d'injonction de payer. Within the EU, Brussels I bis Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 allows a judgment from another member state to be recognised and enforced in Belgium without a separate declaration of enforceability (exequatur).
Partners in our network
These firms are partners in our network for this country. Open a profile to learn more about each one. If court action is needed on your case, your partner sends a quote on the platform; nothing starts until you accept it.
- Verified specialists
- Nothing starts until you accept the quote
- Fair, pre-negotiated rates
Optimal Recover is a premier debt recovery agency in Nivelles offering effective Debt Collection services in Belgium, positioning itself as the go-to partner with a success-based fee model, 20 years of experience, and cross-border capabilities, serving both national and international clients.
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Trivion is a premier debt recovery agency in Belgium offering effective Debt Collection services, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery, operating on a No Cure No Pay model since 2025, and serving clients internationally; as a Debitura partner in Belgium, Trivion adheres to Debitura's No Cure, No Pay standard terms and pricing.
Legal Avenue is a premier law firm in Brussels offering effective Debt Collection services in Belgium, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery with a presence in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Ireland, founded in 2021 and a member of esteemed legal associations.
Collection Attorneys Europe BV is a premier debt recovery agency in B-2000 ANTWERPEN offering effective Debt Collection services in BELGIUM, trusted since 1987 with a contingency-based model and memberships in IACC, CSA, and ICE, serving across Europe and beyond.
Credit Management & Advice is a premier debt recovery agency in 9320 Erembodegem offering effective Debt Collection services in Belgium, founded in 1998, renowned for its 'no cure, no pay' model, and a member of FENCA and ABR BVI.
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.
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