Debt Collection Agency in China - No Win, No Fee
Your claims are handled exclusively by Ningbo Esteem Consulting (NB Esteem), our licensed local partner for debt collection (zhai wu cui shou) in China. With 12+ years of expertise and membership in LIC International, your debt recovery is in safe hands. Submit your claim in minutes, track progress in real time, and pay only when your money is recovered.
Why Choose Debitura for Debt Collection in China
Fast, simple and risk-free debt collection in China
Debitura connects you with Ningbo Esteem Consulting (NB Esteem), a Ningbo-based consulting firm with 12+ years of expertise and membership in LIC International - a network of approximately 3,700 debt collection professionals worldwide.
- 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: Bilingual team handles everything in English and Chinese.
How to start debt collection in China
- Upload your claim: Enter debtor details and upload invoices via Debitura's dashboard, API, or ERP integration. Takes under 2 minutes.
- NB Esteem takes over: Our local partner contacts your debtor in Chinese within 24 hours, using proven negotiation strategies.
- Track and receive payment: Monitor progress in real time. When funds are recovered, you receive payment minus the success fee.
Already using SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics? Connect via our ERP integrations for automated claim submission.
Transparent, success-based pricing
With Debitura, you pay only when your money is recovered. There are no upfront fees, no subscriptions, and no hidden charges.
- No Cure, No Pay: Success fee applies only after recovery.
- No upfront costs: Start your case for free.
- Local invoicing: NB Esteem invoices you directly in RMB or your preferred currency.
- Full transparency: All costs visible before you commit.
Fast, simple and risk-free debt collection in China
Debitura connects you with Ningbo Esteem Consulting (NB Esteem), a Ningbo-based consulting firm with 12+ years of expertise and membership in LIC International - a network of approximately 3,700 debt collection professionals worldwide.
- 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: Bilingual team handles everything in English and Chinese.
Debt Collection Process in China - Clear, Fast and Fully Managed
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 Robin Tam (16 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:
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From first contact to final recovery, your Chinese debt collection follows a proven four-stage journey. Most commercial debts resolve during amicable collection (xie shang zhui shou), with legal escalation available only if needed and always under your control.
- Approximately 30% of cases close during the amicable phase (NB Esteem).
- Three-year statute of limitations for general civil claims under Civil Code Article 188.
- Payment Order Procedure available for clear, undisputed debts - court issues order within 15 days.
- Enforcement via People's Courts Enforcement Divisions with asset freezing and behavioral restrictions.
Step 1: Claim submission and debtor investigation - Claim evaluation (suo pei ping gu) 📤
Within 24 hours of receiving your claim, NB Esteem conducts a thorough pre-investigation to assess recoverability and build a case strategy.
- Review all creditor documentation including contracts, invoices, and correspondence.
- Verify debtor registration status, offshore company status, and registered capital.
- Check litigation history and court blacklist status.
- Rights protected under Civil Code of PRC Article 118 (definition of creditor's rights) and Article 119 (binding force of contracts).
⏳Typical duration: 1-3 business days.
Step 2: Amicable demand and negotiation - Friendly collection (you hao cui shou) 🤝
NB Esteem contacts your debtor directly in Chinese, seeking voluntary payment through professional negotiation. NB Esteem works jointly with local law firms for certain pre-legal actions—e.g., demand letters may be issued on law-firm letterhead and negotiations may be handled together. If court action is required, we’ll source fixed-fee proposals from vetted Chinese law firms and you decide whether to proceed.
- Formal demand letter establishing breach and right to claim.
- Telephone contact and negotiation in Mandarin.
- No mandatory pre-court notice required under Civil Procedure Law Article 119, though demand letters serve as evidence.
- Interest claims supported: courts apply 1.3-1.5x Loan Prime Rate when contracts are silent (SPC Interpretation FaShi [2014] No. 8).
Approximately 30% of cases resolve at this stage (NB Esteem).
⏳Typical duration: 2-8 weeks.
Step 3: Legal escalation and court procedures - Court litigation (su song cheng xu) 🏦
If amicable efforts fail, legal action is available through China's People's Courts system.
- Payment Order Procedure (du cu cheng xu): For undisputed debts with clear evidence. Court issues order within 15 days per Civil Procedure Law Articles 189-192.
- Small Claims Procedure: For amounts below 50% of provincial average annual wages - final at first instance, no appeal.
- Summary Procedure: Single judge, 3-month time limit for simple cases.
- Ordinary Procedure: Collegiate bench, 6-month first instance limit, two-tier appeal.
Basic People's Courts handle claims under RMB 50 million; Intermediate Courts handle larger amounts.
⏳Typical duration: 3-12 months depending on procedure selected.
Step 4: Enforcement and asset recovery - Compulsory execution (qiang zhi zhi xing)
Once a judgment is obtained, the People's Courts Enforcement Divisions execute the award - China has no private bailiffs.
- Bank account freezing (up to 1 year, renewable), including Alipay and WeChat Pay balances.
- Asset seizure and auction, income garnishment, equity freezing.
- Behavioral restrictions: High Consumption Orders prohibiting air travel, luxury hotels, and property purchases.
- Listing on Dishonest Judgment Debtors database and exit bans via border control.
- Application deadline: 2 years from judgment effective date per Civil Procedure Law Article 239.
- Post-judgment interest: 0.0175% per day (approximately 6.39% annually) under SPC Interpretation FaShi [2014] No. 8.
⏳ Typical duration: 3-18 months depending on debtor cooperation.
Start your debt collection in China today - submit your claim via Debitura's dashboard and NB Esteem will begin working on your case within 24 hours.
Debt Collection Fees in China - Success-Based, Transparent and Competitive
With Debitura's No Cure, No Pay model, you pay only when your money is recovered. All costs are disclosed upfront with no hidden charges.
- No upfront fees - start your case at zero cost.
- Success fees from 7.5% for claims over USD 150,000; up to 30% for smaller claims.
- Legal action quotes sourced from vetted local firms - up to 3 fixed-price offers.
- Local invoicing by NB Esteem in RMB or your preferred currency.
Pre-legal collection fees in China
Debitura's success fee is calculated in USD at the time of collection, regardless of the currency in which you submit your claim. For international claims (including China), the standard tiers are:
- Claims above USD 150,000: from 7.5%
- Claims USD 75,000 - USD 149,999: from 10%
- Claims USD 8,000 - USD 74,999: from 15%
- Claims USD 1,000 - USD 7,999: from 20%
- Claims USD 100 - USD 999: from 30%
NB Esteem invoices you directly after funds are recovered. You may receive invoices in RMB or your preferred currency. Legal services in China are subject to 6% VAT.
Optional legal action in China
- If legal escalation is required, Debitura sources 1-3 fixed-price quotes from vetted Chinese law firms. You review the offers and decide whether to proceed - no obligation.
- Court filing fees in China vary by claim value under Supreme People's Court fee regulations. For detailed procedural costs, consult the quote from your selected firm.
- Important: Legal fees are typically not recoverable from the debtor in China unless explicitly stipulated in the underlying contract.
Who We Help with Debt Collection in China
Collecting debts in China presents unique challenges: professional debt collection may only be conducted by licensed Chinese law firms, language barriers complicate negotiations, and three-year limitation periods require timely action. NB Esteem, our bilingual partner with 12+ years of expertise, helps businesses of all sizes recover what they are owed.
SMEs and growing businesses
- Have 1-100 overdue invoices per year from Chinese customers.
- Need a simple, risk-free way to pursue unpaid debts.
- Cannot justify hiring Chinese legal counsel for one-off cases.
Ideal for: Exporters, e-commerce sellers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and service providers with Chinese buyers.
Enterprises and multinationals
- Manage 50+ cases per month across multiple subsidiaries.
- Require unified reporting and one global contract.
- Need API or ERP integrations for automated claim submission.
Ideal for: Credit control teams, treasury departments, and shared services centres managing China AR.
International creditors
- Hold debts from Chinese companies but lack local presence.
- Need a partner who understands both international business practices and Chinese legal requirements.
- Require bilingual communication and document handling.
Ideal for: Businesses from the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other major trading partners with Chinese counterparties.
Our China and International Expertise
Debitura's network spans 183 countries and jurisdictions, with 500+ vetted collection partners worldwide. Whether your debtor is in China, Europe, the Americas, or Africa, you access local expertise through a single contract and unified dashboard.
In China, NB Esteem brings 12+ years of on-the-ground experience as a member of LIC International - a network of approximately 3,700 debt collection professionals. Their bilingual team bridges the gap between international creditors and Chinese debtors, ensuring professional communication and culturally appropriate negotiation strategies.
All partners operate under Debitura's No Cure, No Pay standard terms, meaning you only pay when your money is recovered - wherever in the world your debtor may be.
Tech-Enabled Debt Collection in China - ERP, API, AI and Secure Integrations
Managing debt collection across 183 countries traditionally means juggling multiple agencies, contracts, and reporting formats. Debitura consolidates everything into one platform, giving you unified oversight of your China and global AR recovery with NB Esteem and partners worldwide:
- ERP integrations: Connect SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, and other major systems for automated claim submission.
- API access: Build custom workflows with our RESTful API - documentation available for developers.
- Zapier compatibility: Link 5,000+ apps without coding for flexible automation.
- AI-powered matching: Claims are automatically routed to the best-fit local partner based on debtor location, claim type, and language requirements.
- Enterprise-grade security: encrypted data transfer, and GDPR-ready processing.
- Credit checks: Access debtor creditworthiness data before or during collection to inform your strategy.
- Amicable Attempts Prior: Initial steps involve amicable efforts for debt recovery before pursuing legal actions.
- Legal Firm Collaboration: Specialized legal firms authorized for debt collection ensure adherence to Chinese laws.
- Foreign Judgments: Chinese courts enforce both Chinese and foreign judgments, aligning with the New York Convention.
- Enforcement Measures: Execution includes property disclosure, cash seizing, income withholding, and other stringent actions for debt recovery.
- Interest and Costs: In litigation, charging interest and collection costs are permissible under Chinese law.
- Courts Hierarchy: Claim value determines the jurisdiction, with distinct courts handling cases above or below RMB 50 million.
- Consequences for Debtors: Non-compliance may result in fines, detention, and potential criminal responsibility.
- Debtor Protection: Laws ensure protection for a debtor’s minimum living standards, safeguarding essential income and assets from seizure.
- Cultural Nuances: Understanding the unique cultural and legal landscape is vital for successful debt recovery in China.
- Enterprise Bankruptcy Law: Governs insolvency procedures, applicable to companies in Mainland China, focusing on creditor claims satisfaction.
- Voluntary vs. Creditor-Initiated: Bankruptcy can be initiated by the debtor or creditors, with creditors able to request asset seizure for debt recovery.
- Personal Bankruptcy Regional Application: Personal bankruptcy laws apply in areas like Hong Kong and Shenzhen, differing from Mainland China's approach.
- Court Involvement: Chinese courts with economic divisions handle insolvency, emphasizing judicial oversight in the bankruptcy process.
- Legal Representation: Advised for companies during bankruptcy proceedings to navigate complex legal procedures effectively.
- Restructuring, Liquidation, or Compromise: Enterprise Bankruptcy Law offers these options for companies, based on the financial situation.
- Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Criteria: Determination of insolvency under the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law, critical for initiating proceedings.
- Documentation Requirement: Necessitates comprehensive filing, including insolvency claim, debtor's financial status, and proposed procedure.
- Implementation of Preventive Measures: Courts may order preventive asset attachment or activity prohibition, safeguarding creditor interests.
- Appeal and Enforcement Challenges: Decisions can be appealed within 15 days, but enforcement of judgments often faces hurdles.
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
Tianjin Bozhuan Law Firm is a premier law firm in Tianjin offering effective Debt Collection services in China, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery, founded in 2017, with accolades from the China Ministry of Justice and membership in the Tianjin Lawyers Association.
GladTrust Management Co., Ltd. is a premier debt recovery agency in Qingdao offering effective Debt Collection services in China, recognized for its innovative solutions since 2006, operating on a "no collection, no fee" basis, and serving over 200 countries with notable awards and industry memberships.
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Ningbo Esteem Consulting Co., Ltd. is a premier debt recovery agency in China offering effective risk-free Debt Collection services, established in 2013; as an exclusive Debitura partner, it provides No Cure No Pay collection based on Debitura's risk-free standard terms and pricing, serving international clients with bilingual capabilities and recognized by the League International for Creditors.
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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