Top-Rated Debt Collection Agency in Brazil
Fast and reliable debt collection in Brazil - no upfront costs, only pay for success. Request a FREE Consultation or upload your claim today.
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Recovering your debt in Brazil is easiest via this way.
Debitura is a specialized debt recovery company that offers a wide range of services in Brazil. Our team of experienced professionals can provide effective solutions for accounts receivables management, debt collection notices, pre-legal and legal debt collection, and enforcement court proceedings. We have in-depth knowledge of Brazil's debt collection laws and regulations to ensure efficient and productive debt recovery for businesses.
We provide unwavering assistance throughout the entire process.
Tailored debt recovery approach.
We have over 500 specialists available for global debt recovery.
Achieving a remarkable success rate of 87% while keeping the costs at its minimum.
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The ultimate guide about debt collection in Brazil
Are you struggling to recover debt from a business or individual in Brazil? You are not alone; we have achieved success for countless other companies who faced the same difficulty.
Receiving reimbursement can be an intimidating prospect, considering all of the language and cultural barriers, foreign regulations and legislation, as well as physical distance that stands between you and your debtor. Fortunately, our team is proficient in all local laws and customs - allowing us to make debt recovery easier than ever before!
At Debitura, we put people first- doing our utmost to recover your money while still preserving a healthy rapport with the creditor. Our PR methods are fair yet clear and concise; safeguarding your reputation is paramount for us! If you would like to learn about Brazilian debt collection from start to finish and handle retrieval yourself, continue reading this guide. Otherwise, if you'd prefer working with a local law firm that specializes in recovering debts in Brazil, we're here at Debitura ready to help!
Ready to get your debt collected in Brazil and +200 additional countries? Look no further than Debitura! All you have to do is upload your claim today. Within 24 hours, we'll provide 3 free quotes from local Brazilian debt collection lawyers right away so you can start reclaiming what's yours. At Debitura, not only do we utilize the latest technological solutions for superior contact management but also combine that with a people-oriented approach — all in an effort to preserve customer relationships while driving results. Claim back what's rightfully yours by signing up with us now! We value the relationships we've built with our network of debt collectors, attorneys, suppliers and vendors - no matter how small or large. These trusted partnerships have allowed us to accomplish all that's been set before us.
Upload claim
Begin the process of collecting your debt in Brazil today at no cost. Quickly create a free profile and upload your case in just 2 minutes.
Pre-legal
During the initial 3-month period, we will attempt to recover your claim utilizing our effective pre-legal collection method. This service is completely no-cure-no-pay.
Legal
If your claim remains unpaid in the pre-legal phase, we offer you three quotes from debt collection attorneys in your area.
24/7 updates
You get access to our online portal where you can track your case in real-time
Introduction to collecting debt in Brazil
Struggling to receive payments from your Brazilian customers? We understand the difficulty of debt collection in Brazil, and we're here to make it simpler. In this process, you—the creditor who issued the invoice—are identified as such; meanwhile, those owing a debt are known as "debtors". To collect these debts quickly and efficiently, there are two options available: first-party collections (when you manage the transactions on your own) or third-party collections that involve outsourcing this responsibility to another entity. Let us help get what's yours!
- The payment behavior of Brazilian businesses is suitable, but the standard payment terms are quite varied and Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) remains high.
- Since legal action in Brazil can be expensive and time-consuming with no guarantee of a successful outcome, it's advisable to seek amicable resolutions or use professional debt collection services as an alternative to litigating in court.
- When dealing with insolvent debtors, using recovery mechanisms like bankruptcy processes is becoming popular; however chances for recovering money from them remain very low.
Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
Brazilian companies are still managing to meet their payments, despite the economic troubles since 2014. Unfortunately, late payments are normally inevitable unless transactions have been insured - with an average DSO of 70 days and payment terms ranging from 30 days in the retail industry to 210 days for agriculture businesses. Moreover, it is noteworthy that over recent years there has been a significant rise in DSOs among listed firms.
The SERASA database is open to all companies, allowing them to access records of late payers and payment failures. This makes it hard for unreliable debtors to secure new lines of credit. It should be acknowledged that this public information only applies domestically; there are no publicly available data about international debts.
Common payment types in Brazil
Below is a comprehensive list of the most prevalent payment methods:
Bank transfers are increasingly becoming the go-to option for payments, as they guarantee a speedy and secure transaction with their well-developed banking networks both domestically and globally.
An Export Credit Insurance policy can provide assurance for export transactions, protecting against any potential customer insolvency. Allianz Trade's global network of risk offices will continuously monitor customers' financial health and assign each a designated credit limit that clients may transact with and apply for reimbursement should anything unexpected arise. Standby Letters of Credit serve as dependable guarantees and are regarded as symbols of good faith since they can be triggered to pay if the debtor falls short in fulfilling their contractual obligation. Banks guarantee the credit quality and repayment capabilities, making them an effective 'payment of last resort.' Additionally, securing an irrevocable and confirmed Documentary Letter of Credit (in which a debtor is responsible for providing a specified number of funds to the beneficiary by means of their bank after certain conditions are met) can be done quickly from local banks.
The financial sector has made remarkable advancements, so much so that duplicata, the traditional form of bill used in business-to-business dealings is being replaced by bank bills or payment slips (boleto bancario).
Typically, bank guarantees can be attained but may remain costly depending on the issuing body. In accordance with legal requirements, advance payments of up to a maximum of 100% of the invoice are accepted.
Establishing the Fundamental Corporate Building Blocks
Depending on the legal structure used, liability for business debts can differ. The following outlines how liabilities are assigned: Corporations (Sociedade Anônima, SA) and Limited Companies (Limitadas, LTDA) are commonly used in the formation of subsidiaries and joint ventures. They may be wholly owned by domestic or international people/companies with no minimum capital restrictions (though there could be certain prohibitions for protected industries). Limitadas must have at least two shareholders; individual LLCs can also be created if necessary. Moreover, Mixed-Capital Companies enable private backers to collaborate with state agencies (which take charge).
The debt collection process in Brazil
The process of debt collection in Brazil is usually carried out through a series of steps.
The image below explains the steps we take to collect debt in Brazil:
1 Upload your claim:
If you want to get help recovering your debt, you will find a debt collection partner and upload your claim to their website. If you use Debitura, we will give you 3 quotes from local partners in the South America country that is relevant to your case. This is free - no strings attached.
2 Amicable collection:
Debitura will try to contact the person who owes you money using email, SMS, and other ways of communication available in that person's country. The goal is to get the debtor to pay what they owe or at least start making payments on the debt. If Debitura is successful in getting the debtor to pay, then you will only have to pay a small success fee. Therefore, there is no risk in using Debitura for amicable collections!
3 Evaluation:
If the person you lent money to has not given it back after you talked to them, it is time to decide what to do next. We will look at how much money you are owed, the chance of getting paid back, and other things to help you decide what to do. There are three typical next steps:
A: Surveillance:
If your claim is for a small amount of money, it might not be worth it to take legal action. In this case, we can do something called "debt surveillance." This means that we will keep trying to contact the person you owe money to and try to reach an agreement.
B: Legal collections:
It is a good idea to go through legal procedures when you want to claim for something big. The way of doing it will vary depending on the type and amount of what you are claiming for. Typically, it takes around 1 to 1 and a half year to finish.
C: Debt enforcement:
If the person you are trying to get money from agrees that you are owed money, or if there is a court order, you can go to the bailiff's court.
At Debitura, we are happy to be at your service in Brazil and help you with every step of the way.
Amicable collection in Brazil
Debitura is proud to offer a 100% risk-free and highly effective process for Amicable collections. Just submit your claim, and our team will be on it in less than 24 hours!
We'll contact the debtor through every channel accessible in Brazil - emails, SMS messages, letters, calls & social media so you can rest easy knowing that we've got this covered.
Through this process, we aim to:
A) Secure full payment from the debtor or
B) Obtain acknowledgement of debt and initiate a payments arrangement.
If the debtor contests your statement, it is not recommended to pursue an amicable resolution but instead begin directly with legal collections.
Late payment interest
According to the Civil Code, late payment interest may be charged from the day following an overdue amount. Yet in reality, it is better practice for both parties to reach a contractual agreement regarding such fees beforehand. Traders within this region are accustomed to paying these interests (as they commonly occur), and often use them as leverage when seeking prompt payments.
Get started with
amicable debt collection
Upload your claim and get started with our 100% no-cure-no-pay collection solution.
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Legal collection in Brazil
If your claim is denied during the amicable stage or the debtor denies it, we will provide you with three no-cost quotes from our local debt collection attorneys. During this legal phase, these lawyers will reach out to your debtor and try to broker a payment deal. Additionally, they can take your case before court in order to obtain an enforceable payment order that can be used for collecting payments through an enforcement tribunal.
Ordinary proceedings
It is worth noting that distance may be a concern. Jurisdiction depends on the debtor's location, and in large countries this could make proceedings difficult (although if the contract states otherwise it should not be an issue). Additionally, locating the debtor can prove challenging due to their geographic position which will likely delay trial until notification of service process has been sent out.
Prior to commencing the legal route, a creditor must mail out the Credit Title for Legal dunning (protesto) – this registered Demand Letter reminds debtors of their obligation to pay back what is owed including late payment interest either according to contractual agreement or with reference to legally accepted rates.
For swift collection of debt, the fast track proceedings (Ação de Execução) is an ideal option. If a creditor has written evidence approved by two witnesses and registered in notary public (having been translated into Portuguese with authentication from a sworn translator), if the debtor’s liability can be proved as certain, liquid and due (certo, liquido e exigivel), the First Degree Courts typically issue Payment Orders within 15 days. Should the debtor neglect to comply with the Order within three days, it will become enforceable. While they may oppose execution through providing a guarantee (ex. Surety Bond) to the court and meeting certain conditions stipulated by law, failure to do so could result in harsh penalties.
An alternate path is an Ordinary legal action (Ação Monitória), ideal for when a creditor must establish a solid, precise and enforceable credit title to be executed. The plaintiff needs to deliver the defendant with a legally-registered Writ of Summons, which should be answered within 15 days after reception. This step is essential since Brazilian courts are highly rigorous concerning how defendants should proceed in court proceedings.
The process of a tribunal commences with some inquisitive proceedings, followed by an investigative period led by the court and then a testing phase. The final step is for the court to hear arguments. Nevertheless, if no response has been made after being properly served with notice of a writ, then this may lead to what's known as 'revelia', which is essentially when the claim automatically deemed legitimate - leading to an outcome that reflects its validity.
Brazil consists of 26 states, along with the Federal District, and is subject to a unique legal framework that operates on both federal and state levels. At the federal level are two courts: Justiça Federal em Primeiro Grau and Tribunais Regionais Federais; they handle cases related to all federal laws within their geographic jurisdiction (including Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre & Recife). Every individual state has its own court system responsible for adjudicating matters not covered by national law.
The Brazilian legal system is based on Common Law, meaning that the court must abide by established statutes, but decisions can also be made in accordance to "jurisprudencia", which may mistakenly be considered as a part of Common Law since it's an understanding formulated after multiple rulings with similar outcomes. For this reason, navigating Brazil’s judicial landscape can prove daunting and lengthy battles within litigation are not uncommon.
If you're looking for the most competitive legal fees, Debitura provides an easy way to compare quotes from multiple attorneys based on your claim's size and complexity. With just a few clicks of a button, you'll be able to get personalized price estimates tailored to suit your needs!
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legal debt collection
Upload your claim and get 3 FREE quotes from our local collection partners.
Debt enforcement in Brazil
If you have obtained a written confirmation of your claim from the debtor or court order, Brazil's bailiff court can enforce it. Leveraging this legally-binding power is valuable for obtaining resolution and satisfaction of any claims in Brazil.
Brazilian courts are responsible for enforcing judgments once they become final and no further appeals can be made. To expedite the enforcement process, reforms enacted in 2005 and 2006 created a mandate that allows creditors to attach assets of debtors failing to abide by a final order within three days. Additionally, 'Penhora on-line' instrument permits any amount present in the debtor's account to be frozen until judgment is enforced. These measures have decreased enforcement periods significantly and enable swift response times when it comes to collecting owed payments. Although it can be a daunting undertaking, executing this practice is essential as there are few options available to track assets in Brazil.
The cost and procedures for your case may differ, so to get the best, most accurate quotes tailored specifically to you - simply upload your details on Debitura. Within just 24 hours you'll receive three competitive quotes!
Get started with
debt enforcement
Upload your claim and get 3 FREE quotes from our local collection partners.
Insolvency proceedings in Brazil
If your debtor does not have the means to pay his debts, you can initiate insolvency proceedings as a final resort. The aim of this process is to liquidate the debtors' possessions and divide them amongst creditors based on their prioritizations. This procedure offers an effective way for all parties involved to recoup their losses in order to move forward and start anew.
- The law allows for out-of-court restructuring proceedings, which give the debtor a chance to negotiate a restructuring plan informally and confidentially with its creditors, without involving courts.
- The Reorganization Plan is presented within 60 days of the judge's approval of the judicial reorganization processing. It details the creditors and the way the company can pay (discounts, instalments, etc.). This plan will be voted on at the Creditors' Meeting.
- A stay period of 180 days is granted initially. During this suspension period, most debts before recovery cannot be collected. And those assets that are necessary for the maintenance of the company cannot be taken during the course of the judicial reorganization.
- At the Creditors' General Assembly, when the qualifications and judgment of the challenges to t he amounts and credit legitimacy have already taken place , there is a vote on the Recovery Plan. If such a vote by the creditors is positive ,the judge ratifies it. Failing to do so ,the parties may shift to a bankruptcy procedure.
The analysis is concluding that the risk of doing business in Brazil is medium. Based on this medium score, we recommend being careful providing credit and considering charging upfront payment or using credit insurance when trading if you don't know the customer in Brazil well. If possible, provide a short credit period or even better upfront payment. The medium risk score is based on the following factors:
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The economic risk in Brazil
Economic risk in Brazil is medium-high (4 out of 6). An economic risk of 4 out of 6 is pretty average in South America.
GDP and economic growth are critical drivers for economic risk.
The GDP of Brazil is 1608.98 bn. USD (2021), growing by 4.62% per year.
In terms of the size of its economy, Brazil ranks #13 out of 183 countries and has a large economy.
Looking at the growth rate, it is ranked #87 out of 183 countries and is therefore considered an excellent growing economy.
GDP per capita is 7519 USD, ranking Brazil number #77 out of 183 countries. This means the purchasing power of citizens in Brazil is average compared to the rest of the world.
You can see a more throughout picture of GDP and economic growth in Brazil in the table below:
Another critical driver for the economic risk score is the inflation rate and the interest rates. You can see a more throughout picture of monetary key performance indicators in Brazil in the table below:
The inflation in Brazil was 8.3% in 2021 which is considered a high inflation rate.
Businesses has an interest rate which is 30.02%.
The business environment risk in Brazil
Our analysis shows that the business environment risk in Brazil is medium-high (4 out of 6), which is a relatively high risk score in South America.
Economic freedom and rights has a big influence on the business environment risk in a country. You can see the critical facts for Brazil in the table below:
In the above table, you can see, the property rights index is 55 in Brazil, which is considered quite low in South America.
The business freedom index is based on 10 indicators, using data from the World Bank’s Doing Business study. The Index is 58 in Brazil, a quite average score for a country in South America.
Brazil's overall economic freedom index is 53 out of 100 and is based on factors such as the rule of law, regulatory efficiency, and market openness.
The political risk in Brazil
The political risk in Brazil is medium-high, with a score of 4/6. This is a pretty average political risk score in South America.
The governance and political stability indicators are important drivers for political risk. An overview of Brazil can be seen in the graphs below:
The rule of law index analyses to which extent agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, in particular the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the quality of the courts, and the police's ability to enforce court orders.
When doing business in a country, the rule of law index is critical as it describes your ability to enforce commercial contracts.
In Brazil, the rule of law index is at -0.28 points, with the score going from -2.5 (weak) to 2.5 (strong). Brazil has, therefore, a low rule of law index, which means it often is very difficult to enforce your contracts. We, therefore, recommend avoiding credits and recommend charging upfront payment instead.
Other drivers for the medium-high political risks are the very weak control of corruption, the very weak political stability index, and the very large shadow economy that is 35.22% of Brazil's GDP.
The commercial risk in Brazil
In Brazil, the commercial risk score is 3/4, which in our model is a medium score. This medium commercial risk score is relatively high compared to the average in South America.
The commercial risk is impacted by a country's international trade relationships. You can see some of the key facts for Brazil in the table below:
Brazil has a total of foreign exchange reserves of 362.21 bn. USD.
Brazil has a positive trade balance of 1.02% of GDP. This means that Brazil imports fewer goods and services than the country exports.
The annual growth of exports of goods and services has been growing 5.79% annually - now 20.1% of GDP. Import of goods and services represents 19.08% of the GDP in Brazil.
The financing risk in Brazil
We have calculated the financing risk to be 2/4, which equals a low risk. A low financing risk score is pretty average for countries in South America.
The country's banking system, efficiency, and stability influence the financing risk. You can find the critical facts for Brazil in the table below:
In Brazil, the credit information sharing index is 8 on a scale from 0 (low) to 8 (high). The consequence of that number, is that the access and quality of credit information available in Brazil is high.
This makes it easy for you to understand the credit risk of your counterpart in Brazil. You should therefore be able to find a good local credit rating agency that can help you analyse the creditworthiness of your specific customers.
Your legal rights as a creditor (and as a borrower) are 2 out of 12 and, therefore, very weak.
The low financing risk for creditors also impacts the high interest rate in the private sector of 30.02%.
Debt Collection in Brazil: Frequently Asked Questions
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Debt collection in Brazil involves identifying the creditor who issued the invoice and the debtor owing the debt. Options for collections include first-party collections managed by the creditor or third-party collections through an external entity. Because legal action can be expensive and time-consuming with no guarantee of success, amicable resolutions or professional debt collection services are recommended. Late payments are inevitable in Brazil, and average DSO is 70 days, with no publicly available data for international debt. Debt collection involves a series of steps, including upload, amicable collection, evaluation, surveillance, legal collections, and debt enforcement.
The debt collection process in Brazil involves three steps: pre-legal collection, legal debt collection, and debt enforcement. Pre-legal collection includes uploading your claim to a debt collection partner's website. Legal debt collection may take up to 1.5 years and includes various legal procedures to claim large amounts. Debt enforcement involves going to the bailiff's court once there is a court order or agreement with the debtor. Debitura provides debt collection services in Brazil and can assist you throughout all these steps.
Legal options for debt collection in Brazil include civil lawsuits for disputed debts, debt enforcement through a payment order, and insolvency proceedings. Local lawyers are necessary for legal action, while insolvency proceedings can liquidate a debtor's possessions to pay off creditors. The Brazilian legal system operates on both federal and state levels, and navigating it can be challenging. Debitura provides a way to compare quotes from multiple attorneys for the most competitive legal fees. The Reorganization Plan is presented within 60 days of the judge's approval of the judicial reorganization processing.
The cost of debt collection in Brazil varies depending on the type of case. At Debitura, we offer a no-cure-no-pay model for pre-legal collection with a success fee of 10-20%. For legal actions, the price depends on your specific case and desired actions. We can provide you with 3 quotes from the best debt collection lawyers in Brazil.
The length of debt collection in Brazil depends on the complexity of the case and the cooperation of the debtor. If the case can be resolved in the pre-legal phase, it usually takes 3-6 months. However, if legal actions are required, it takes 12-18 months. The duration of the process varies from case to case, and our team strives to provide efficient and effective debt collection services to our clients.
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