Debt Collection Agency in Poland - No Win, No Fee
Your claims are handled exclusively by EULEO Debt Collection, our licensed local partner (firma windykacyjna) in Poland since 2001, with 120,000+ cases resolved through amicable collection.
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Why Choose Debitura for Debt Collection in Poland
Fast, simple and risk-free debt collection in Poland
Debitura recovers unpaid invoices from debtors in Poland 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 EULEO Debt Collection, a Kraków-based debt collection agency (firma windykacyjna) founded in 2001, with 16 employees and membership in PZZW, ZPF and FENCA.
- 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: Polish-speaking specialists handle everything.
Getting started is simple
- Create your free Debitura account and submit your Polish claim with invoice details.
- EULEO Debt Collection contacts your debtor within 24 hours with a formal payment demand (wezwanie do zapłaty).
- Track real-time progress in your dashboard. Pay only when funds are recovered.
Prefer automation? Connect your ERP or accounting software to submit claims automatically.
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 Poland?
Debt collection in Poland starts with an amicable phase handled locally by EULEO Debt Collection: reminders and a formal payment demand, aimed at full payment or a written settlement. Most undisputed claims resolve 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.
- Submit your claim in 2 minutes via the Debitura platform.
- EULEO Debt Collection takes local action on your behalf.
- No Cure, No Pay: you pay nothing unless we recover.
- You stay in control and approve every escalation.
- Track progress until you get paid.
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Step 1, Amicable collection: reminders, a formal payment demand and negotiation, handled locally by EULEO Debt Collection. Most undisputed claims are resolved here, without going to court.
- Step 2, Enforceable title: if the debtor still does not pay, your partner assesses the legal route to obtain an enforceable title, and you approve a fixed-price quote before anything proceeds.
- Step 3, Enforcement: with a title, the court bailiff (komornik sądowy) can seize assets, garnish wages and freeze bank accounts until the claim is recovered.
- Step 4, Insolvency: if the debtor turns out to be insolvent, your proof of claim is filed and any distributions are monitored on your behalf.
Every step is tracked in your dashboard, and nothing escalates without your approval. The full legal detail for Poland, timelines, costs, courts and enforcement, follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Poland - the complete 2026 guide
Built for creditors, in-house counsel and finance teams, this guide sets out how debt collection in Poland works end to end: the legal framework, who does what, limitation and interest rules, the order-for-payment route (postępowanie nakazowe/upominawcze) to an enforceable title, enforcement by the court bailiff (komornik sądowy), and corporate insolvency under Prawo upadłościowe.
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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.
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Debt collection in Poland - quick answers
Poland offers a fast, low-cost order-for-payment route for undisputed money claims and an established bailiff-enforcement system. The headline rules are below.
How much does debt collection cost in Poland?
The standard court fee (opłata stosunkowa) is 5% of the claim value above PLN 20,000, capped at PLN 100,000, under Article 13 of the Ustawa o kosztach sądowych w sprawach cywilnych (the Act on Court Costs in Civil Matters); below PLN 20,000 a banded fixed fee of PLN 30 to PLN 1,000 applies. Court fees are VAT-exempt; legal-representation fees carry the standard 23% VAT. A court bailiff (komornik sądowy) charges the debtor a standard enforcement fee of 10% of the amount recovered (Ustawa o kosztach komorniczych, art. 27). In a B2B claim, the creditor can also add a fixed recovery-cost lump sum without proving costs: EUR 40 for claims under PLN 5,000, EUR 70 for PLN 5,000 to under PLN 50,000, or EUR 100 for PLN 50,000 or more.
How long does debt collection take in Poland?
Once a nakaz zapłaty (order for payment) is served, the debtor has two weeks to pay or file a sprzeciw (opposition) if service is domestic, one month if served elsewhere in the EU, or three months if served outside the EU (Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, art. 480² §2). An unopposed order has the legal effect of a final judgment and becomes enforceable without further formalities.
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Poland?
The general limitation period (przedawnienie) is six years; for periodic payments and claims connected with business activity, it is three years (Kodeks cywilny, art. 118). The period ends on the last day of the calendar year unless it is shorter than two years, and it runs from the day the claim becomes due (KC art. 120 §1). Statutory default interest under KC art. 481 §2 equals the National Bank of Poland (NBP) reference rate plus 5.5 percentage points, currently 9.25% a year from 5 March 2026, capped at twice that rate. A B2B or B2G debt carries a separate, higher commercial late-payment rate of the NBP reference rate plus 10 percentage points, or plus 8 points where the debtor is a public healthcare entity, confirmed at 14% and 12% respectively for the first half of 2026.
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Poland?
To obtain a nakaz zapłaty, the claim must be proven with documents attached to the statement of claim: an official document, an invoice accepted by the debtor, a written payment demand together with the debtor's written acknowledgment of the debt, or a bank-returned unpaid demand. A promissory note or cheque of undoubted authenticity also qualifies. No mandatory form is required and legal representation is optional.
Which legal route should I use to collect a debt in Poland?
The order-for-payment procedure (postępowanie nakazowe or upominawcze) is available at any claim value, is optional, and needs no mandatory legal representation, but cannot be used if the defendant cannot be served in Poland. Claims for performance up to PLN 20,000 also qualify for the simplified procedure (postępowanie uproszczone, KPC art. 505¹). Where the order-for-payment documents are missing, or an issued order is successfully opposed, the case proceeds as ordinary litigation before the sąd rejonowy (district court) or, for property claims above PLN 100,000, the sąd okręgowy (regional court, KPC art. 17 pkt 4).
Do I need a lawyer to collect a debt in Poland?
No. Legal representation is not mandatory for the order-for-payment procedure or the simplified procedure, and many creditors file these themselves or through EULEO Debt Collection. A lawyer (adwokat or radca prawny) becomes practically important once a debtor opposes a claim, the case moves to ordinary litigation, or cross-border service and enforcement are involved.
| Item | Rate or threshold |
|---|---|
| Standard court fee | 5% above PLN 20,000, capped at PLN 100,000 |
| Bailiff enforcement fee | 10% of the amount recovered (debtor pays) |
| Statutory (civil) default interest | NBP rate + 5.5pp (9.25% from 5 Mar 2026) |
| B2B late-payment interest | NBP rate + 10pp (14% for H1 2026) |
| Sąd okręgowy threshold | Property claims over PLN 100,000 |
Who does what in Poland debt collection?
Recovery in Poland involves collection firms for the amicable phase, court bailiffs for enforcement, and lawyers for litigation. Debitura supports you across all stages through EULEO Debt Collection.
Collection agencies in Poland
No general licence is currently required to run a private debt-collection business in Poland; sole traders, ordinary commercial companies and banks may all collect debts. A Ministry of Justice draft law (project UD435) proposing a licensing regime for debt collectors and the profession of windykator (debt collector) has been in the pre-parliamentary phase since 2023, with no evidence of further parliamentary progress. Collection firms handle the pre-legal phase: demands, negotiation and settlement agreements, before any legal escalation.
Bailiffs in Poland
Court bailiffs (komornicy sądowi) are court-attached enforcement officers, regulated by the Ustawa o komornikach sądowych, with their fees set separately by the Ustawa o kosztach komorniczych. A creditor lodges an enforceable title directly with the bailiff attached to the competent district court to start enforcement. Bailiffs seize movable and immovable property, garnish wages and freeze bank accounts, always subject to statutory debtor exemptions.
Lawyers in Poland
An adwokat (advocate) or radca prawny (legal counsel) represents creditors in ordinary litigation and in disputed or higher-value cases. Legal representation is not mandatory for the order-for-payment procedure, but becomes practically important once a debtor opposes a claim or the case involves cross-border or complex legal questions.
Courts and regulators in Poland
Sądy rejonowe (district courts) handle first-instance civil matters in most cases; sądy okręgowe (regional courts) take first-instance property claims above PLN 100,000 and hear appeals from the rejonowe. UOKiK (the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection) enforces against unfair collection practices affecting consumers, and UODO (the Personal Data Protection Office) oversees debtor data processing under the GDPR and Poland's Ustawa o ochronie danych osobowych.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Poland?
Debt collection in Poland runs on a codified civil-law system, with EU instruments layered on top for cross-border claims.
The civil court system in Poland
Sądy rejonowe (district courts) hear first-instance civil matters in most cases. Sądy okręgowe (regional courts) hear first-instance property claims above PLN 100,000 (Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, art. 17 pkt 4) and act as the appeal court for sąd rejonowy decisions. Sądy apelacyjne (courts of appeal) hear appeals from sąd okręgowy decisions, and the Sąd Najwyższy (Supreme Court) supervises the ordinary courts for lawfulness and consistency.
Key legislation in Poland
- Kodeks cywilny (the Civil Code): obligations, limitation (art. 118) and statutory interest (art. 481).
- Kodeks postępowania cywilnego (the Code of Civil Procedure): court jurisdiction, the order-for-payment procedure and the simplified procedure.
- Ustawa o kosztach sądowych w sprawach cywilnych (the Act on Court Costs in Civil Matters): court fees.
- Ustawa o komornikach sądowych and the Ustawa o kosztach komorniczych: bailiff organisation and enforcement fees.
- Ustawa o przeciwdziałaniu nadmiernym opóźnieniom w transakcjach handlowych (the Act on Counteracting Excessive Delays in Commercial Transactions): B2B and B2G late-payment interest and recovery costs.
- Prawo upadłościowe (the Bankruptcy Law) and Prawo restrukturyzacyjne (the Restructuring Law): insolvency.
Limitation, suspension and interruption in Poland
Limitation is suspended (paused) during minority against parents, incapacity against guardians, marriage between spouses, force majeure, mediation, and a zawezwanie do próby ugodowej (a formal summons to a settlement attempt) (KC art. 121). It is interrupted by any action before a court, authority or arbitral tribunal pursuing the claim, or by the debtor's acknowledgment of the debt; after interruption, the period restarts (KC arts. 123-124). A claim confirmed by a final judgment or court settlement prescribes in six years even where the underlying claim carried a shorter period (KC art. 125 §1).
Consumer and data protection in Poland
UOKiK (the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection) enforces against collection practices that harm consumers collectively, including cease-and-desist orders and fines. Data protection in debt collection is governed by the GDPR and Poland's Ustawa o ochronie danych osobowych (the Act on the Protection of Personal Data), enforced by UODO (the Personal Data Protection Office).
The role of the Sąd Najwyższy
The Sąd Najwyższy (Supreme Court) does not re-try facts. It hears cassation appeals (skarga kasacyjna) from sąd apelacyjny judgments, reviewing whether the lower courts applied the law correctly, and its rulings on legal questions guide how sądy rejonowe and sądy okręgowe interpret the Kodeks cywilny and the Kodeks postępowania cywilnego in later cases.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Poland?
Amicable collection in Poland means recovering an unpaid invoice without going to court, through a wezwanie do zapłaty (a payment demand) and negotiation. For a B2B or B2G debt, statutory late-payment interest and a fixed recovery-cost lump sum accrue automatically once the invoice passes its due date, under the Ustawa o przeciwdziałaniu nadmiernym opóźnieniom w transakcjach handlowych, giving the creditor a documented, quantifiable claim before any escalation.
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| Payment demand (wezwanie do zapłaty) | Formal written demand; a qualifying document for the order-for-payment route if the debtor acknowledges it in writing. |
| Statutory interest and costs | Accrue automatically on a B2B/B2G debt once the default 30 or 60-day payment term passes. |
| Settlement attempt | A zawezwanie do próby ugodowej (a court-mediated settlement summons) suspends the limitation clock while pending. |
| Escalation | Apply for a nakaz zapłaty, or file an ordinary suit if the claim is disputed. |
When to escalate to court in Poland
Escalate when the demand goes unanswered, the debtor disputes the claim without substance, or the limitation period approaches. For a documented, undisputed claim, the order-for-payment procedure is usually the fastest first step.
How EULEO Debt Collection runs the amicable phase
EULEO Debt Collection reviews and accepts a submitted claim within 48 hours, then contacts the debtor by phone, email and written demand. It negotiates payment plans or settlements where appropriate, and monitors the case with reminders until payment is received or the file is referred for legal escalation.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Poland?
To enforce a debt in Poland, you first need an enforceable title. The order-for-payment procedure is the fast track for most claims, with ordinary litigation for disputed or unqualified ones.
The order-for-payment procedure (nakaz zapłaty)
Available at any claim value and issued only on the claimant's request, the nakaz zapłaty needs no mandatory legal representation. Qualifying documents include an official document, an invoice accepted by the debtor, a written demand plus the debtor's written acknowledgment, a bank-returned unpaid demand, or a promissory note or cheque of undoubted authenticity (KPC arts. 480¹-480⁴). The debtor has two weeks to pay or oppose if served domestically, one month if served elsewhere in the EU, or three months if served outside the EU. An unopposed order has the effect of a final judgment.
The electronic order-for-payment procedure (EPU)
A fully electronic variant, the elektroniczne postępowanie upominawcze (EPU), runs through the Ministry of Justice's e-Sąd platform, handled by a single dedicated court (Sąd Rejonowy Lublin-Zachód w Lublinie, VI Wydział Cywilny) for the whole country. It follows the same order-for-payment logic as the paper procedure, filed and served electronically.
The simplified procedure
Claims for performance up to PLN 20,000 qualify for the postępowanie uproszczone (simplified procedure), which uses official forms and routes appeals from sąd rejonowy to sąd okręgowy, or from sąd okręgowy to sąd apelacyjny (KPC art. 505¹).
Ordinary litigation and choosing the court
Ordinary litigation applies where the order-for-payment documents are missing, or an issued order is successfully opposed. Sąd rejonowy (district court) hears claims at or below PLN 100,000; sąd okręgowy (regional court) hears property claims above that value (KPC art. 17 pkt 4). The losing party pays the winning party's necessary litigation costs, including legal representation (KPC art. 98 §1).
More on court proceedings in Poland
Costs of ordinary litigation
A costs order itself carries statutory default interest from the date it becomes final (KPC art. 98 §1¹). Court fees are VAT-exempt; legal-representation fees carry the standard 23% VAT.
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Poland?
With an enforceable title, a creditor lodges it with a court bailiff (komornik sądowy) attached to the competent district court to start enforcement.
Enforceable titles in Poland
Final or immediately-enforceable court judgments and court settlements, notarial deeds where the debtor has submitted to enforcement, and foreign judgments declared enforceable all qualify as enforceable titles. A first-instance court typically attaches the enforceability clause to its own judgment within days of it becoming final.
Ways to enforce a claim in Poland
- Movable-property seizure and sale: the bailiff seizes and auctions the debtor's movable assets.
- Wage garnishment: the bailiff attaches the debtor's salary, subject to statutory exemptions.
- Bank-account freeze: the bailiff freezes and withdraws funds from the debtor's bank accounts.
- Real-estate seizure and sale: the bailiff seizes, values and auctions the debtor's real property.
- Other property rights: the bailiff can also attach other property rights and claims the debtor holds against third parties.
Debtor exemptions and the bailiff's fee in Poland
Certain items are protected from enforcement, including essential household and subsistence items, one month's food and fuel, work tools other than vehicles, a subsistence-level minimum of livestock, and social-assistance benefits (KPC art. 829). The bailiff charges the debtor a standard proportional fee of 10% of the amount recovered (Ustawa o kosztach komorniczych, art. 27). If the creditor discontinues enforcement, a 5% fee on the unrecovered balance falls on the creditor, shifting to the debtor at a rate of 10% if the debtor pays after one month of the enforcement notice (art. 29).
Challenging a bailiff's actions in Poland
A bailiff's actions can be challenged by a complaint (skarga) to the competent district court within one week. Enforceability-clause orders and any stay or discontinuance decision are separately appealable.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Poland?
A Polish debtor is insolvent when unable to pay due monetary obligations, presumed once payment delay exceeds three months; for a legal entity, insolvency also arises when liabilities exceed assets for more than 24 months (Prawo upadłościowe, art. 11).
Two regimes: bankruptcy and restructuring
Bankruptcy (Prawo upadłościowe) liquidates the debtor's assets to satisfy creditors, while attempting to preserve the enterprise where feasible. Restructuring (Prawo restrukturyzacyjne) offers four composition procedures, from a simple composition-approval process to a full remedial procedure, letting a debtor at risk of insolvency reach an agreement with creditors instead of liquidating. The party obliged to file for bankruptcy must do so within 30 days of the grounds arising, on pain of personal liability for the resulting damage (art. 21).
Creditor priority in Polish bankruptcy
Claims are satisfied in order: employment, farmers' produce-supply and maintenance claims and social-insurance contributions rank first; taxes and other public levies rank second; interest, fines and gift or legacy claims rank third; shareholder or partner-loan claims rank fourth. Secured creditors (mortgage, pledge or registered pledge) are paid in priority from the secured asset's proceeds, ahead of the general ranking.
The creditor process in Poland
A creditor lodges a claim with the bankruptcy administrator within 30 days of the bankruptcy declaration, to be entered in the schedule of claims. A natural-person debtor may request a creditor payment plan within 30 days of the bankruptcy's conclusion; the court typically sets a repayment obligation running 36 to 84 months, with discharge following completion. Discharge excludes maintenance claims, injury compensation and intentionally undisclosed debts, and may be refused if the debtor caused their own insolvency or was discharged within the prior 10 years.
Monitoring an insolvent debtor in Poland
Because full satisfaction from an insolvent estate is rare, a creditor's best position comes from filing early and precisely: lodging the claim within the administrator's deadline, with the underlying contract, invoices and any court judgment attached, then monitoring creditors' meetings and distributions until the case closes.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Poland
- 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. The standard court fee is 5% of the claim value above PLN 20,000 (capped at PLN 100,000), with fixed banded fees below that threshold.
- Statutory debtor items: civil-law default interest of the NBP reference rate plus 5.5 percentage points (9.25% a year from 5 March 2026) applies automatically, and a B2B or B2G claim also carries the higher commercial late-payment rate (NBP rate plus 10 or 8 percentage points) plus a fixed recovery-cost lump sum of EUR 40 to EUR 100, no proof required.
- Enforcement fee: the court bailiff charges the debtor a standard 10% of the amount recovered; if enforcement is discontinued at the creditor's request, a 5% fee on the unrecovered balance falls on the creditor instead.
- Who keeps what: recovered principal is yours; statutory interest and costs follow the contract, the statute and the court's order. Court fees are VAT-exempt; legal-representation fees carry the standard 23% VAT.
Cross-border debt collection in Poland
For a claim against a debtor elsewhere in the EU, the European order for payment (Regulation 1896/2006) offers a uniform, cross-border order-for-payment route with a 30-day opposition window for the defendant, and Poland participates fully in the scheme. The European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation 861/2007, as amended by Regulation 2015/2421) covers civil and commercial claims up to EUR 5,000 excluding expenses, available in every EU country except Denmark; Poland's fixed court fee for this procedure is PLN 100, for both the claim form and an appeal. Within the EU, a judgment from one member state's courts is recognised and enforced in Poland, and vice versa, without a separate declaration of enforceability, under the Brussels I recast Regulation (EU) 1215/2012, subject only to limited grounds of refusal.
Find a Local Debt Collection Lawyer
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FGGK is a premier law firm in Warszawa offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery with over 15 years of experience, serving clients across Europe and Asia, and recognized by Orły Prawa.
BRILLAW Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Mikulski & Partners is a premier law firm in Warsaw offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2000, with accolades and memberships enhancing its trusted reputation.
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Kancelaria Adwokacka Adwokat Dawid Suszyński is a premier law firm in Gdańsk offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, established in 2017, and recognized by Orły Prawa, serving both domestic and international clients with trusted expertise.
Kancelaria Adwokacka Maciej Bartnik is a premier law firm in Kraków offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, established in 2008, providing full service in English with offices in Kraków and Warsaw, specializing in legal assistance for foreigners.
Tomasz Staszak Kancelaria Adwokacka is a premier law firm in Kraków offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2016, with a reputation for excellence and comprehensive legal expertise.
ICG Sc is a premier debt recovery agency in Glogow offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, recognized for its 20 years of experience, no-win-no-fee pricing, and operations in over 50 countries, with accolades like the Expert’s Laurel.
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RK Legal is a premier law firm in Warsaw offering effective Debt Collection services in Poland, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery with a foundation in 2006, membership in Euro Collect Net Lawyers, and expertise in both B2C and B2B debts.
Europejskie Biuro Ochrony Finansów Sp. z o.o. Sp. K. (EBOF) is a premier debt recovery agency in Poland offering effective risk-free debt collection services; founded in 2012, the agency is an exclusive Debitura partner, providing No Cure No Pay solutions based on Debitura's standard terms, and is recognized for accolades such as Brylant Polskiej Gospodarki and memberships in leading financial associations.
EULEO is a premier debt recovery agency in Poland offering effective risk-free Debt Collection services, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2001 with a success-fee model, multiple accolades, and international reach; EULEO is an exclusive Debitura partner in Poland, offering No Cure No Pay debt collection based on Debitura's risk-free 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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