Debt Collection Agency in Slovakia: No Win, No Fee
Need a debt collection agency in Slovakia? For unpaid invoices from business customers in Slovakia, your claims are handled by B4B Inkasso, a Vienna-based collection agency licensed since 2002. Track progress in real time and pay only when money is recovered.
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Why choose Debitura for debt collection in Slovakia
Getting started with debt collection in Slovakia
- Create your free account - Sign up in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no commitment.
- Upload your claim - Enter invoice details and upload supporting documents. B4B Inkasso receives your case.
- Track progress - Monitor every update in real time. 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 Slovakia?
Debt collection in Slovakia starts with an amicable phase handled by B4B Inkasso: a formal reminder and 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 (usually a payment order, platobný rozkaz, for an undisputed claim) and you approve a legal quote before any court step.
- Most undisputed debts resolve in the amicable phase, without a hearing.
- 3-year limitation for civil claims; 4 years for commercial (B2B) claims.
- Fast-track payment order (platobný rozkaz) for undisputed monetary claims.
- Enforcement by a court enforcement agent (súdny exekútor) through one national court.
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Amicable collection: a reminder and demand, handled by B4B Inkasso. Most undisputed claims are resolved here, without going to court.
- Enforceable title: if the debtor still does not pay, your partner obtains a title, usually a payment order (platobný rozkaz) for an undisputed claim, and you approve a legal quote, with court costs stated separately, before anything proceeds.
- Enforcement: with an enforceable title, a court enforcement agent (súdny exekútor) can attach earnings and bank accounts, and sell movable property, securities or real estate.
- Insolvency: if the debtor cannot pay, bankruptcy or restructuring opens, and your claim is lodged with the court-appointed trustee (správca).
Every step is tracked in your dashboard, and nothing escalates without your approval. The full legal detail for Slovakia, covering limitation, interest, courts, enforcement and insolvency, follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Slovakia - the complete 2026 guide
Debt collection in Slovakia is set out here end to end for overseas and domestic creditors, in-house counsel and finance teams: the legal framework, who does what, the civil and commercial limitation periods, the default-interest rules, the fast-track payment order (platobný rozkaz), enforcement through the single national enforcement court, and business insolvency under the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Act.
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 Slovakia - quick answers
The right route for debt collection in Slovakia depends on whether the claim is civil or commercial, whether it is disputed, and whether you already hold an enforceable title. The headline rules are below.
How much does debt collection cost in Slovakia?
Pre-legal collection is commonly success-based (No Cure, No Pay), so the creditor pays only on recovery. Court action is separate: the payment-order and ordinary-suit court fees scale with the claim, and the enforcement petition carries a fixed court fee of EUR 16.50, with the enforcement agent's remuneration set by regulation. These costs arise only if the case escalates.
How long does debt collection take in Slovakia?
An undisputed debt is usually resolved amicably. If not, the payment order (platobný rozkaz) is issued for an undisputed monetary claim without hearing the debtor; if the debtor files an objection (odpor) in time, the case proceeds to an ordinary trial. Once a title exists, enforcement is centralised and largely electronic, though the timeline depends on the debtor's assets.
What are the limitation periods and interest rules in Slovakia?
Slovakia runs a genuine business-to-consumer and business-to-business split, in two different codes. A civil claim, which covers consumer debts, is time-barred after three years from the day the right could first be exercised (§ 101, Občiansky zákonník, the Civil Code, Act No. 40/1964 Zb.). A commercial claim between entrepreneurs is time-barred after four years (§ 397, Obchodný zákonník, the Commercial Code, Act No. 513/1991 Zb.). Interest splits the same way: a civil debt carries the ECB base rate plus 5 percentage points (Government Regulation No. 87/1995 Z.z.), while a commercial debt carries the ECB base rate plus 8 percentage points, recalculated each calendar half-year, unless the creditor elects instead a rate fixed for the whole period of default at the ECB rate on the first day of default plus 9 percentage points (§§ 369 and 369a Commercial Code, Government Regulation No. 21/2013 Z.z.).
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Civil (incl. consumer) claim | 3 years from when the right could first be exercised (§ 101 Civil Code, Act No. 40/1964 Zb.). |
| Commercial (B2B) claim | 4 years (§ 397 Commercial Code, Act No. 513/1991 Zb.). |
| Civil default interest | ECB base rate + 5 percentage points (Government Regulation No. 87/1995 Z.z.). |
| Commercial default interest | ECB base rate + 8 pp, reset each half-year; or + 9 pp fixed for the whole default period at the creditor's election (Government Regulation No. 21/2013 Z.z.). |
| Commercial recovery costs | EUR 40 flat per claim, automatic and without a reminder (§ 369c Commercial Code). |
| Enforcement petition fee | EUR 16.50. |
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Slovakia?
Assemble the contract or order, the unpaid invoices and statement of account, and all correspondence. To start enforcement you need a duplicate of the enforceable title and a declaration that the debt is unpaid; for a consumer contract, the contract documents must be enclosed.
Which route should my claim take in Slovakia?
An undisputed monetary claim suits the payment order (platobný rozkaz); the electronic payment-order procedure (upomínacie konanie) handled centrally through the Banská Bystrica District Court carries a court fee of half the standard percentage rate. A disputed claim proceeds as an ordinary district-court (okresný súd) action. Once you hold a title, enforcement runs through a court enforcement agent.
Where is enforcement handled in Slovakia?
Since 1 April 2017, all enforcement petitions are lodged electronically with a single court, the Banská Bystrica District Court (Okresný súd Banská Bystrica), regardless of where the debtor lives. The court assigns a court enforcement agent (súdny exekútor) at random.
Who does what in Slovakia debt collection?
Recovery in Slovakia involves collection agencies for the amicable phase, the district courts for the payment order and ordinary proceedings, and the court enforcement agent for enforcement. Debitura supports you across all stages through B4B Inkasso.
Debt collection agencies in Slovakia
Agencies handle the pre-legal phase: contacting the debtor, issuing reminders and demands, and negotiating settlement. There is no special debt-collection licence; agencies operate under a general trade licence, and the collection costs recoverable from a consumer debtor are capped by regulation.
The court enforcement agent (súdny exekútor) in Slovakia
Enforcement is carried out by a court enforcement agent (súdny exekútor), a state-appointed officer exercising public power, assigned at random by the Banská Bystrica District Court. The agent chooses enforcement measures proportionate to the debt and accounts for the proceeds.
Courts and lawyers in Slovakia
District courts (okresný súd) hear claims at first instance, regional courts (krajský súd) hear appeals, and the Supreme Court (Najvyšší súd Slovenskej republiky) sits above them; the Banská Bystrica District Court is the single court for enforcement. Lawyers (advokáti) are enrolled with the Slovak Bar Association and represent creditors in contested proceedings.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Slovakia?
Debt recovery in Slovakia runs on the Civil Code and Commercial Code for the substantive claim, the Civil Dispute Procedure Code for the court process, the Enforcement Code for execution, and the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Act for insolvency. Which of the first two codes governs your claim decides both your deadline and your interest rate.
The civil court system in Slovakia
Money claims are heard at first instance by the district courts (okresný súd), with appeals to the regional courts (krajský súd) and, on points of law, to the Supreme Court (Najvyšší súd Slovenskej republiky). The general jurisdiction is the defendant's domicile or registered seat, but enforcement is always centralised at the Banská Bystrica District Court.
Civil or commercial: which code governs your claim
The Commercial Code governs relationships between entrepreneurs (§ 261 Obchodný zákonník); everything else, including debts owed by consumers, falls under the Civil Code. The consequence is concrete rather than academic. A commercial claim is time-barred after four years under § 397 of the Commercial Code, while a civil claim is time-barred after three years under § 101 of the Civil Code, so a claim against a consumer expires a full year sooner. A written acknowledgement of the debt restarts the clock in both regimes, on a new four-year period for a commercial obligation (§ 323 and § 407 Commercial Code) and a ten-year period for a civil one (§ 558 and § 110 ods. 1 Civil Code).
Key legislation in Slovakia
- Občiansky zákonník (the Civil Code, Act No. 40/1964 Zb.): the three-year civil limitation period (§ 101) and civil default interest (§ 517 ods. 2).
- Obchodný zákonník (the Commercial Code, Act No. 513/1991 Zb.): the four-year commercial limitation period (§ 397), business-to-business default interest (§§ 369, 369a) and the EUR 40 flat recovery-cost compensation (§ 369c).
- Civilný sporový poriadok (the Civil Dispute Procedure Code, Act No. 160/2015 Z.z.): ordinary procedure and the payment order (platobný rozkaz).
- Zákon o upomínacom konaní (Act No. 307/2016 Z.z., in force from 1 February 2017): the electronic payment-order procedure.
- Exekučný poriadok (the Enforcement Code, Act No. 233/1995 Z.z.): enforcement by the court enforcement agent.
- Zákon o konkurze a reštrukturalizácii (the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Act, Act No. 7/2005 Z.z.), with preventive restructuring under Act No. 111/2022 Z.z.
- Government Regulations No. 87/1995 Z.z. and No. 21/2013 Z.z.: the civil and commercial default-interest rates.
Consumer and data protection in Slovakia
The General Data Protection Regulation (EU Regulation 2016/679) applies directly to the handling of a debtor's personal data, alongside the national Personal Data Protection Act. Consumer protection bites in enforcement: the court must refuse a title based on an unfair consumer-contract term.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Slovakia?
Pre-legal collection means recovering an unpaid invoice without a court case, through reminders, a formal demand and negotiation. The aim is full payment or a written acknowledgement of the debt plus an instalment plan. Recoverable collection costs against a consumer debtor are capped by regulation. A reminder alone does not restart limitation, so a timely escalation preserves the claim within the three-year civil (§ 101 Civil Code) or four-year commercial (§ 397 Commercial Code) period.
Amicable collection timeline
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| First reminder | State the invoice, due date and amount, and confirm the debt. |
| Formal demand | A demand setting the sum, a deadline and the intended next step. |
| Negotiation | Settlement or an instalment plan, ideally with a written acknowledgement. |
| Hand-over | If unpaid, the file passes to the payment order (platobný rozkaz) or an ordinary suit. |
Why a written acknowledgement is worth pursuing
A written acknowledgement of the debt does more than confirm the sum. For a commercial obligation it starts a fresh four-year period (§ 323 and § 407 Commercial Code); for a civil one it starts a ten-year period (§ 558 and § 110 ods. 1 Civil Code). On a claim that is already well into its limitation period, obtaining the acknowledgement can be worth more than obtaining a part payment.
When to escalate to court in Slovakia
Escalate when the demand goes unanswered, the debtor disputes without substance, the limitation period is approaching, or assets appear to be at risk. For an undisputed monetary claim the usual next step is the payment order (platobný rozkaz); a disputed claim is brought as an ordinary district-court action.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Slovakia?
To enforce a debt you need an enforceable title. Slovakia offers a fast-track payment order for undisputed monetary claims and an ordinary suit for disputed claims, and it recognises several non-judgment titles for enforcement.
Fast-track: the payment order (platobný rozkaz)
Under the Civil Dispute Procedure Code (Act No. 160/2015), a court can issue a payment order for an undisputed monetary claim without hearing the defendant. If the debtor files an objection (odpor) in time, the case proceeds to an ordinary trial. An electronic payment-order procedure handled centrally through the Banská Bystrica District Court is available at a reduced court fee.
Ordinary proceedings
A disputed claim is brought as an ordinary action before the district court (okresný súd) with general jurisdiction at the defendant's domicile or registered seat, resulting in a judgment.
Titles that can be enforced
Enforceable titles include court judgments, notarial deeds in which the debtor has consented to enforceability, arbitration awards, inheritance and administrative decisions, decisions of EU institutions, and foreign enforceable titles that are enforceable in Slovakia. Tax and social-security arrears are also enforceable titles.
More on court proceedings in Slovakia
Court fees
The payment-order and ordinary-suit court fees are set by the Court Fees Act and scale with the value of the claim, while the electronic payment order carries a reduced fee. The separate enforcement petition carries a fixed fee of EUR 16.50.
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Slovakia?
Once you hold an enforceable title, you lodge an enforcement petition electronically with the Banská Bystrica District Court and pay the fixed fee of EUR 16.50. The court authorises enforcement and assigns a court enforcement agent (súdny exekútor) at random, who then chooses measures proportionate to the debt.
Ways to enforce a claim in Slovakia
- Attachment of earnings: deductions from the debtor's wages, leaving a protected basic amount.
- Ordering payment (bank garnishment): the debtor's bank account is attached, with funds up to EUR 165 on one account exempt.
- Sale of assets: sale of movable property, securities, real estate, or the debtor's business undertaking.
- Suspension of a driving licence: available as an additional pressure measure in defined cases.
Debtor protection and process in Slovakia
Certain items are exempt from enforcement, including essential household goods, tools of trade up to EUR 331.94, a needed vehicle and cash up to EUR 165. In low-value enforcement (a claim up to EUR 2,000, excluding incidentals), the debtor's primary residence cannot be sold, though a lien may still be placed on it. On notification that enforcement has started, the debtor has 15 days to satisfy the claim at reduced cost; after that, disposing of enforcement assets needs the agent's consent. Proceeds are applied to the debt, interest and costs.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Slovakia?
Insolvency is the collective route when the debtor cannot pay. It runs under the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Act (Act No. 7/2005), and individual enforcement generally gives way to it once the proceedings open. The two main procedures are bankruptcy (konkurz) and restructuring (reštrukturalizácia).
Bankruptcy and restructuring
In a bankruptcy (konkurz), the estate is sold and creditors are satisfied by statutory priority, leading to liquidation; secured creditors realise their security, and unsecured creditors share the remainder. Restructuring (reštrukturalizácia) is the alternative when the debtor is insolvent but a going-concern outcome is possible, and a preventive restructuring framework is available under Act No. 111/2022, which implements the EU directive on restructuring and insolvency.
The creditor process in Slovakia
The insolvency court appoints a trustee (správca) to run the procedure. Creditors must lodge their claims on the prescribed form (prihláška) within the statutory deadline, and the trustee reviews each claim. Openings and key steps are published in the Commercial Bulletin and the insolvency register, so creditors can track the procedure. Unsecured creditors share the estate by statutory ranking after secured and preferential claims, and commonly recover only part of the debt, which is why obtaining a title and enforcing it is usually pursued first. A debt-discharge route is available for individuals.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Slovakia
- Our fee: success-based, No Cure, No Pay (see pricing).
- Court & enforcement fees: the payment-order or ordinary-suit court fee (by value) on filing, plus the fixed EUR 16.50 enforcement-petition fee and the enforcement agent's remuneration, apply only if the case escalates.
- Statutory debtor items: Slovakia sets two different default-interest regimes, one civil and one commercial (see below), and a commercial creditor is additionally entitled to a flat EUR 40 per claim for recovery costs.
- Who keeps what: recovered principal is yours; statutory or contractual interest and awarded costs follow the statute and the court's order.
Civil and consumer debts
Default interest on a civil debt, which is the regime that covers consumer debtors, is the ECB base rate plus 5 percentage points (§ 517 ods. 2 of the Civil Code and § 3 of Government Regulation No. 87/1995 Z.z.). An agreed default-interest rate against a consumer may not exceed that figure.
Commercial debts between entrepreneurs
Where the parties have not agreed a rate, default interest on a commercial obligation is the ECB base rate plus 8 percentage points, recalculated every calendar half-year. The creditor may instead elect a rate fixed for the whole period of default, set at the ECB rate on the first day of default plus 9 percentage points (§§ 369 and 369a of the Commercial Code, § 1 of Government Regulation No. 21/2013 Z.z.). On top of interest, a commercial creditor is entitled to a flat EUR 40 for recovery costs on each claim, automatically on default, without a reminder and regardless of how late or how large the claim is (§ 369c ods. 1 of the Commercial Code, § 2 of Regulation No. 21/2013 Z.z.).
Cross-border debt collection in Slovakia
Because Slovakia is in the European Union, a creditor in another member state can use the European Order for Payment (Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2006) for an uncontested cross-border claim, or the European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation (EC) No. 861/2007) for smaller cross-border claims. A judgment from another EU member state is recognised and enforced in Slovakia under the Brussels I Recast Regulation (EU Regulation No. 1215/2012), and foreign enforceable titles are recognised directly under the Enforcement Code when they are enforceable in Slovakia.
A judgment from a non-EU country is recognised and enforced under the Slovak rules on private international law and any applicable bilateral treaty, on conditions of jurisdiction, due process and reciprocity.
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
SKODA LEGAL s.r.o. is a premier law firm in Bratislava offering effective Debt Collection services in Slovakia, recognized for its expertise since 2012 and a proud member of the Slovenská advokátska komora.
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JUDr. Daniela Ježová, LL.M., Ph.D., is a premier law firm in Bratislava offering effective Debt Collection services in Slovakia, recognized as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2009, with accolades in family and business law and memberships in global legal networks.
Patrik Tulinsky is a premier law firm in Bratislava offering effective Debt Collection services in Slovakia, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery, founded in 2020, with accolades such as Zlatá Firma and memberships in the Czech and Slovak Bar Associations.
B4B Forderungsmanagement und Inkassogesellschaft mbH is a premier debt recovery agency in Austria offering effective debt collection services, founded in 2002, with accolades from Inkassoverband Österreich, and serving Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Poland; as a Debitura partner in Austria, it 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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