Debt Collection Agency in Greece: No Win, No Fee
Need a debt collection agency in Greece? For unpaid invoices from business customers in Greece, your claims are handled by Law Firm Nikolaos Tsesmeloglou, our partner law firm in Athens and a member of the Athens Bar. You pay only when money is recovered.
Questions about your case?
Write to us, we reply by email.
Why choose Debitura for debt collection in Greece
Start collecting in Greece in under 2 minutes
- Upload your invoice and debtor details via our secure dashboard.
- Law Firm Nikolaos Tsesmeloglou reviews your claim and contacts your debtor.
- Track every update in real time and receive payment directly when the debt is 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 Greece?
Debt collection in Greece starts with an amicable phase handled locally by Law Firm Nikolaos Tsesmeloglou: reminders and a formal 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, and you approve a legal quote before any court step.
- Average payment delays in Greece: 67 days (Allianz Trade)
- Payment order procedure: 3-4 months for undisputed claims
- Legal escalation available if amicable efforts fail
- Enforcement via bailiff seizure of bank accounts or assets
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Amicable collection: reminders, a formal demand and negotiation, handled locally by Law Firm Nikolaos Tsesmeloglou. Most undisputed claims are resolved here, 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 title, the enforcement authorities can attach and sell assets, freeze bank accounts and garnish income, and take other measures 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 Greece follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Greece - the complete 2026 guide
Built for overseas and domestic creditors, in-house counsel and finance teams, this guide sets out how debt collection in Greece works end to end: the legal framework and courts, who does what, the interest rules, the documentary order-for-payment route (Diatagi Pliromis) to an enforceable title, enforcement by the bailiff, and insolvency.
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 Greece - quick answers
Greece offers a documentary order-for-payment route with no upper value limit, a tightly regulated amicable-collection regime, and court-run enforcement through a bailiff.
How much does debt collection cost in Greece?
Pre-legal collection is commonly success-based (No Cure, No Pay). Court filing carries stamp duty and a judicial stamp duty (broadly 8 per thousand of the sum claimed where it exceeds 200 euro); enforcement adds the bailiff's scaled fees. The court generally orders the losing party to bear costs, though recovery is limited in the small-claims procedure.
How long does debt collection take in Greece?
The order-for-payment (Diatagi Pliromis) is decided on documents without a hearing and is enforceable from issuance, but the debtor has 15 working days to oppose (a further 10 on a second service). Greek procedure publishes no uniform durations, so your partner gives a case-specific estimate.
What are the limitation periods and interest rules in Greece?
Substantive limitation periods are set by the Greek Civil Code (Astikos Kodikas) and vary by the type of claim, so the applicable period should be checked for each debt. Statutory default interest (tokos yperimerias) is fixed at 2 percentage points above the maximum contractual rate published by the Bank of Greece (Law 2842/2000, article 3(2)); from 17 June 2026 the maximum statutory default rate is 9.65% (maximum contractual 7.65%).
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Statutory default interest | 9.65% from 17 June 2026 (Bank of Greece; Law 2842/2000). |
| Order for payment | Documentary, no value limit; 15-working-day opposition (CCP arts. 623-634). |
| Court by value | District court up to 20,000 euro; Court of First Instance above. |
| Small claims | Up to 5,000 euro, obligatory procedure, no appeal (CCP arts. 466-469); court fees EUR 39.68 stamp duty plus EUR 39.68 advance fee. |
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Greece?
The order-for-payment route requires a public or private document certifying the claim and the exact sum, such as invoices, a signed contract, cheques or bills of exchange; the claim can be proven only by documents, not witnesses. Foreign-language documents need a statutory translation.
Which route should my claim take in Greece?
A documented money debt suits the order-for-payment (Diatagi Pliromis). A claim not certified by documents, or against a debtor abroad, needs an ordinary action. A claim up to 5,000 euro follows the obligatory small-claims procedure. A cross-border EU claim can use the European Payment Order.
Who does what in Greece debt collection?
Recovery in Greece involves regulated debtor-information companies for the amicable phase, lawyers for court proceedings, and a bailiff for enforcement. Debitura supports you across all stages through Law Firm Nikolaos Tsesmeloglou.
Debtor-information companies in Greece
Amicable collection is tightly regulated by Law 3758/2009. Debtor-information companies (Etaireies Enimerosis Ofeileton) have the exclusive statutory purpose of out-of-court notification of overdue debts; they are prohibited from collecting the debt themselves and from subcontracting, must be entered on a public Register kept by the Ministry of Development, and must hold minimum own capital of 350,000 euro. Breaches carry administrative fines of 5,000 to 500,000 euro.
Lawyers in Greece
A lawyer is not required at the district court (Eirinodikeio) for claims up to 12,000 euro, but is required for claims between 12,000 and 20,000 euro and for all Court of First Instance (Protodikeio) claims over 20,000 euro (Code of Civil Procedure, article 94).
The bailiff in Greece
Enforcement is carried out by a bailiff (dikastikos epimelitis), a public official who seizes assets and draws up the enforcement report; a notary acts as auctioneer for the sale.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Greece?
Greek debt recovery runs on the Code of Civil Procedure and Civil Code, with a dedicated statute governing amicable collection and EU instruments for cross-border claims.
The civil court system in Greece
Money claims up to 20,000 euro go to the district court (Eirinodikeio); higher claims go to the Court of First Instance (Protodikeio), sitting as a single-member or multi-member court. Claims up to 5,000 euro follow a special, obligatory small-claims procedure (Code of Civil Procedure, articles 466-469) whose decisions cannot be appealed.
Key legislation in Greece
- Kodikas Politikis Dikonomias (the Code of Civil Procedure): the order for payment (articles 623-634) and enforcement (articles 904-931).
- Astikos Kodikas (the Civil Code): the substantive debt and limitation rules.
- Law 3758/2009: debtor-information companies and amicable-collection conduct.
- Law 2842/2000: the statutory-interest basis.
Conduct and data protection in Greece
Amicable collection is governed by Law 3758/2009, and debtor data is protected by the EU General Data Protection Regulation and Greek Law 4624/2019, supervised by the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Greece?
Pre-legal collection recovers an unpaid invoice through notification and negotiation, and in Greece it is tightly regulated by Law 3758/2009. Before contact, the creditor must confirm the debt, identify the debtor, and inform the debtor that their data has been passed to the notification company. The aim is full payment or a written arrangement.
| Rule (Law 3758/2009) | Effect |
|---|---|
| Contact frequency | No more than one contact every second day. |
| Debt breakdown | Full written breakdown within 10 working days of first contact, on request. |
| Prohibited practices | No home or workplace visits, threats, defamation, or impersonation of lawyers or bailiffs. |
| Arrangement | An agreed settlement suspends all further contact while it is observed. |
When to escalate to court in Greece
Escalate when the notification phase does not produce payment or a settlement. Where the debt is certified by documents, the order-for-payment procedure is usually the fastest next step.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Greece?
To enforce a debt you need an enforceable title. Greece's fast route for documented debts is the order for payment, with an ordinary action for claims that cannot be proven by documents.
The order for payment (Diatagi Pliromis)
Under the Code of Civil Procedure (articles 623-634), a creditor with a money claim certified by a public or private document can obtain a payment order without a hearing; there is no upper value limit. The application goes to the district court (Eirinodikeio) for claims up to 20,000 euro or the Court of First Instance (Protodikeio) above that. The claim can be proven only by documents. A payment order cannot be issued against a debtor resident abroad or of unknown domicile without a representative in Greece.
Enforceability, opposition and validity
The payment order is enforceable from issuance, but the debtor may oppose within 15 working days of service (a further 10 working days on a second service); once these windows lapse without opposition it acquires res judicata. If the order is not served within two months of issuance, it ceases to be in force (article 630A). A rejected application cannot be appealed, but the creditor may re-apply or bring an ordinary action.
Determining the appropriate court in Greece
Jurisdiction follows the value of the claim (district court or Court of First Instance) and the territorial rules of the Code of Civil Procedure.
More on court proceedings in Greece
Small-claims and ordinary actions
Claims up to 5,000 euro follow the obligatory small-claims procedure, decided without appeal. Where a claim is not certified by documents, an ordinary declaratory action produces a judgment that is itself an enforceable title.
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Greece?
Enforcement requires an enforceable title (Code of Civil Procedure, articles 904-905), such as a judgment, a notarised deed or a payment order. It is carried out by a bailiff, with a notary acting as auctioneer.
Ways to enforce a claim in Greece
- Attachment of movables: the bailiff seizes movable property for sale at auction.
- Bank-account garnishment: money the debtor holds with a third party such as a bank can be seized; the bank must state within eight days whether the claim exists and pay it over.
- Immovable property, ships and aircraft: these can be seized and auctioned.
- Protected income: salary, pensions, insurance benefits and statutory maintenance are exempt from seizure, subject to a partial exception for maintenance claims.
The enforcement process in Greece
The creditor issues the enforcement order on the official copy (Apografo) to a bailiff, who seizes assets and prepares the auction. The debtor may challenge enforcement by an opposition (anakopi) under article 933, and may seek suspension of the auction under article 1000 (filed at least 15 working days before the auction, for up to six months). Acts on the same order cannot be effected more than one year later.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Greece?
Where a trader or company cannot pay, insolvency becomes the collective route, now consolidated under the Debt Settlement and Second Chance Code (Law 4738/2020). On declaration of insolvency, individual creditor enforcement is automatically suspended, except for secured creditors acting on their collateral.
Opening insolvency and lodging your claim
A creditor with a legal interest may apply where the debtor is in cessation of payments. Creditors must lodge their claims in writing with the registrar of insolvencies within one month of publication of the insolvency judgment; a court-appointed administrator (syndikos) verifies the claims against the debtor's books.
Outcomes and ranking
The estate's costs, the administrator's remuneration and estate claims are met first, then general and special (secured) privileges, with overlapping privileges following the Code of Civil Procedure (articles 975-978). The process leads either to a ratified reorganisation plan that binds all creditors, or to liquidation and distribution; unsecured trade creditors often recover only part of the debt.
The insolvency process for creditors in Greece
Lodge your claim within the one-month deadline, with the contract, invoices and statement of account; monitor the verification and any distribution.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Greece
- Our fee: success-based, No Cure, No Pay (see pricing).
- Court & enforcement fees: statutory court and enforcement fees apply only if the case escalates to legal action, and are generally recoverable from the debtor if you win.
- Statutory debtor items: statutory default interest runs at 2 percentage points above the maximum contractual rate published by the Bank of Greece (Law 2842/2000), which is 9.65% from 17 June 2026; court filing carries stamp and judicial-stamp duty, and enforcement carries the bailiff's scaled fees.
- Who keeps what: recovered principal is yours; interest and costs follow the contract, the statute and the court's order.
Cross-border debt collection in Greece
For a claim against a debtor elsewhere in the EU, the European Payment Order (Regulation 1896/2006) provides a uniform, form-based order-for-payment route for uncontested claims, enforceable across member states. The European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation 861/2007) handles cross-border claims not exceeding 5,000 euro. Under the Brussels I recast Regulation (1215/2012), a judgment given in one member state is recognised and enforced in the others without a declaration of enforceability.
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
Nexus Law Firm is a premier law firm in Thessaloniki offering effective Debt Collection services in Greece, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2014, with a strong reputation in corporate legal matters and expertise in non-performing loans.
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Gregoriou Law Firm is a premier law firm in Athens offering effective Debt Collection services in Greece, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery with over 35 years of experience, a Fellow of CIArb, and memberships in VIAC and WIPO.
Ioannis Giannatos is a premier law firm in Athens offering effective Debt Collection services in Greece, established in 2002 and known for cost-transparent processes, with memberships in the Athens Bar Association and the Supreme Court of Greece.
Stefanos Economou Law Offices is a premier law firm in Athens offering effective Debt Collection services in Greece, established in 1950 and recognized as one of the Leading Law Firms in Greece, with membership in the Athens Bar Association.
Bregiannos Law Firm is a premier law firm in Athens offering effective Debt Collection services in Greece, established in 1980, with accolades such as the Best Corporate & M&A Law Firm award and memberships in several international chambers, serving clients across the EU, China, and North America.
Rokas Law Firm is a premier law firm in Athens offering effective Debt Collection services in Greece, established in 1977, renowned for top-tier recognition in The Legal 500 EMEA, and serving clients across Central and Southeastern Europe.
Law Firm Nikolaos Tsesmeloglou is a premier law firm in Greece offering effective debt collection services, established in 1995 and renowned as the go-to partner for debt recovery, boasting memberships in LIC and TCM Group, serving Greece, Germany, and beyond. As a Debitura partner in Greece, the firm provides No Cure No Pay debt collection based on Debitura's No Cure, No Pay standard terms and pricing.
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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