Debt Collection Agency in Thailand: No Win, No Fee
Need a debt collection agency in Thailand? For unpaid invoices from business customers in Thailand, your claims are handled by Orion Investigations Co., Ltd., our debt collection partner in Bangkok. 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 Thailand
Getting started is easy
- Upload your claim: Enter debtor details and upload invoices via our secure dashboard.
- We take over: Orion Investigations contacts your debtor in Thai or English.
- Track and collect: Monitor real-time updates and receive funds directly when 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 Thailand?
Debt collection in Thailand starts with an amicable phase handled locally by Orion Investigations Co., Ltd.: reminders and a formal payment demand, aimed at full payment or a written instalment agreement. Most straightforward 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 quote before any court step.
The four steps from unpaid invoice to recovered cash
- Amicable collection: reminders, a formal payment demand and negotiation, handled locally by Orion Investigations Co., Ltd.. Most undisputed claims are resolved in this phase, 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 legal title, the competent enforcement authority can attach wages, bank funds and other assets 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 Thailand - timelines, costs, courts and enforcement - follows in the guide below.
Debt collection in Thailand - the complete 2026 guide
This guide explains how debt collection works in Thailand: the courts, the governing law, the four-step recovery process and what it costs. It is written for creditors, in-house counsel and finance teams deciding how to recover a debt in Thailand.
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 Thailand - quick answers
How much does debt collection cost in Thailand?
Pre-legal collection is commonly success-based (No Cure, No Pay), so there is no upfront fee for the amicable phase (see the fees section below for the full fee frame). If a claim escalates, Thai court fees for a petty case (claims up to 300,000 baht) are capped at 1,000 baht in total (Civil Procedure Code s.189); ordinary civil claims above that threshold carry higher, claim-value-linked court fees.
How long does debt collection take in Thailand?
There is no fixed statutory timeline for the amicable phase; most straightforward, undisputed claims resolve within weeks to a few months of the first demand. This guide could not verify official first-instance or appeal timelines for a contested claim from a Thai government source this pass, so no duration is stated as fact here; the petty case procedure, being simplified and eligible for oral filing, is expected to move faster than an ordinary civil suit.
What is the limitation period for a debt claim in Thailand, and what interest applies?
The general limitation period for civil claims in Thailand is 10 years from when the claim became enforceable (Civil and Commercial Code (CCC) s.193/30), and judgment debts and compromise-contract debts carry the same 10-year period (CCC s.193/32). Interest arrears, instalments, rent and periodic payments such as salaries and pensions are time-barred after 5 years (CCC s.193/33), and merchant or trade claims plus professional-service claims (doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers) after 2 years (CCC s.193/34); a written acknowledgment of debt resets the 2-year period from the date of acknowledgment (CCC s.193/35). Statutory default interest runs at 3% per year as the base rate (CCC s.7) and at 5% per year on overdue money debts (CCC s.224), both effective since 11 April 2021 under the Emergency Decree Amending the Civil and Commercial Code B.E. 2564 (2021); default interest on an instalment debt applies only to the overdue instalment, not the whole outstanding principal (CCC s.224/1). Prescription must be raised by the debtor as a defence and is never applied automatically by a Thai court (CCC s.193/29); it resets on a written acknowledgment, a partial payment, an interest payment, security given, or the filing of a suit or arbitration (CCC ss.193/14-193/15).
| Claim type | Limitation period |
|---|---|
| General / residual claims; judgment and compromise-contract debts | 10 years (CCC ss.193/30, 193/32) |
| Interest arrears, instalments, rent, salaries, pensions | 5 years (CCC s.193/33) |
| Merchant/trade and professional-service claims | 2 years (CCC s.193/34, s.193/35) |
What documents do I need to collect a debt in Thailand?
Assemble the contract or purchase order, invoices and a statement of account, proof of delivery or performance, any written payment demand already sent, and correspondence with the debtor. A written acknowledgment of the debt from the debtor strengthens the claim and can reset the applicable limitation period (CCC ss.193/14-193/15, 193/35).
Which route should my claim take in Thailand?
A claim of up to 300,000 baht qualifies for the simplified petty case procedure (Civil Procedure Code s.189), with fees capped at 1,000 baht and an option to file the claim orally. Claims above that threshold, or disputed claims of any size, proceed through ordinary civil procedure before the competent Court of First Instance. If the debtor is a registered business that cannot meet its obligations, the claim may instead need to be filed in the insolvency process before the Central Bankruptcy Court.
Who does what in Thailand debt collection?
Recovery in Thailand involves collection businesses for amicable work, courts for adjudication, and the Legal Execution Department for enforcement. Debitura supports you across all stages through Orion Investigations Co., Ltd.
Debt collection businesses in Thailand
Collection businesses run the amicable phase: tracing the debtor, sending demand letters, and negotiating repayment. Under the Debt Collection Act B.E. 2558 (2015), a collection business must register with the relevant provincial authority (lawyers instead register through the Lawyers' Council of Thailand), and its conduct is bound by the Act's s.11 prohibitions on threats, violence, profane language, and disclosure of the debt to unrelated third parties.
The Debt Collection Supervisory Committee
A national Debt Collection Supervisory Committee, chaired by the Interior Minister, oversees the regime alongside provincial and Bangkok-level committees, administered through the Department of Provincial Administration and the Fiscal Policy Office. Serious breaches of the Act carry up to 5 years' imprisonment and/or fines up to 500,000 baht (ss.39-42); lesser breaches carry administrative fines up to 100,000 baht (s.34).
Courts in Thailand
Thai courts hear and decide contested claims, from the petty case procedure for smaller sums up to the ordinary civil process for larger or disputed claims, with appeal rights up through the Supreme Court (Dika Court).
The Legal Execution Department
Once a judgment is final, the Legal Execution Department (Ministry of Justice) supervises enforcement, asset seizure and sale, garnishment, and auction through its 51 provincial offices.
Debitura's advantage: one contract and one dashboard connect you to Orion Investigations for the amicable phase and, if needed, to litigation and enforcement counsel for the court and enforcement stages, without you having to manage separate local relationships.
Which laws and courts apply to debt collection in Thailand?
Civil court system
Thailand runs a three-tier court system. The Courts of First Instance hear the initial civil and criminal cases; the Court of Appeal reviews their judgments; and the Supreme Court (Dika Court) is the final court of appeal in all civil and criminal cases nationwide (Supreme Court of Thailand). Several specialised first-instance courts sit alongside the general courts, including the Central Bankruptcy Court (insolvency and business reorganisation), the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, the Labour Courts, and the Central Tax Court, so the venue for a debt claim can depend on the nature of the underlying transaction. Separate Administrative Courts and a Constitutional Court sit outside this civil hierarchy and do not hear ordinary debt claims.
Key legislation
The Civil and Commercial Code (CCC) sets the prescription (limitation) periods for civil claims (ss.193/30-193/35) and the statutory interest rules (ss.7, 224). The Debt Collection Act B.E. 2558 (2015) regulates who may carry on a collection business, requires registration with provincial authorities, and bans threats, harassment and disclosure of a debt to third parties (s.11). The Civil Procedure Code sets out the petty case (small-claims) and ordinary civil procedures (s.189). The Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483 (1940) governs insolvency and business reorganisation, including the monetary thresholds for a creditor's petition (see Step 4 below).
Consumer and data protection
The Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) ("PDPA"), royally proclaimed 24 May 2019 and in full force since 1 June 2022, governs the handling of a debtor's personal data during collection, including in demand letters, phone contact and any data shared with a collection partner. It is regulated by the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC), under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society; this guide could not verify the PDPC's own procedural detail (fine schedule, complaint process, cross-border transfer rules) from an official source this pass, so only the statute and regulator are stated as fact here.
Step 1 - How does amicable (pre-legal) debt collection work in Thailand?
Amicable collection in Thailand recovers an unpaid invoice without going to court, through reminders, a formal payment demand and negotiation, handled locally by Orion Investigations Co., Ltd. Most straightforward, undisputed claims are resolved at this stage.
| Day | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 0-7 | Case reviewed, debtor traced, first reminder sent |
| Day 7-30 | Formal payment demand issued; negotiation opened |
| Day 30-90 | Follow-up contact and, where appropriate, a written instalment agreement; if there is still no payment, the legal route is assessed with you |
Strengthening the claim during the amicable phase
A written acknowledgment of the debt, a partial payment, or an interest payment from the debtor during the amicable phase resets the applicable limitation period under the Civil and Commercial Code (CCC ss.193/14-193/15), so documenting every contact and response strengthens the claim regardless of whether the case settles amicably or later needs a court filing.
When to escalate in Thailand
Escalation is considered when the debtor does not respond, breaches an agreed instalment plan, or disputes the claim without substance. It is never automatic: your partner assesses the legal route and you approve a quote before any court step.
Collection conduct in Thailand is bound by the Debt Collection Act B.E. 2558 (2015): s.11 bans threats or violence, damage to a debtor's reputation or property, profane language, and disclosure of the debt to unrelated third parties, including through postcards or open documents that reveal it. A collection business must be registered with the relevant provincial authority to operate lawfully.
Step 2 - How do you obtain an enforceable title in Thailand?
To enforce a debt in Thailand you first need an enforceable title, a final judgment or order from a competent court. Thai law offers a simplified petty case route for smaller claims and an ordinary civil procedure for larger or disputed ones.
The petty case (small-claims) procedure
Claims of up to 300,000 baht qualify for the petty case procedure under the Civil Procedure Code s.189. Total court fees are capped at 1,000 baht, and the claim can be filed orally rather than through a formal written pleading, making this route faster and lower-cost than an ordinary suit.
Ordinary civil procedure
Claims above 300,000 baht, or disputed claims of any size, proceed as an ordinary civil suit before the competent Court of First Instance. This guide could not verify official answer, trial or appeal timelines for ordinary proceedings from a Thai government source this pass, so no duration is stated as fact here; the process allows fuller pleadings and evidence and, where needed, appeal to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court (Dika Court).
Determining the appropriate court in Thailand
The correct Court of First Instance is generally determined by the value of the claim and the debtor's domicile or place of business. Specialised first-instance courts, including the Central Bankruptcy Court, the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court and the Labour Courts, hear matters within their specific subject-matter jurisdiction regardless of the general venue rules, so a debt arising from an employment relationship or an IP licence, for example, may need to be filed in the relevant specialised court rather than the general Civil Court.
More on court proceedings in Thailand
Appeals
A judgment of the Court of First Instance can be appealed to the Court of Appeal, and, on a further point of law, to the Supreme Court (Dika Court), the final court of appeal in all civil and criminal cases nationwide. This guide could not verify official appeal-stage timelines from a Thai government source this pass, so none is stated as fact here.
Petty case vs ordinary procedure at a glance
| Feature | Petty case | Ordinary procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Claim value | Up to 300,000 baht | Above 300,000 baht, or disputed |
| Court fees | Capped at 1,000 baht | Claim-value-linked |
| Filing | Oral filing available | Formal written pleading |
Step 3 - How does debt enforcement work in Thailand?
Once a judgment is final, the Legal Execution Department (Ministry of Justice) supervises enforcement in Thailand through 51 provincial offices, covering asset seizure and sale, garnishment, and property auction.
Ways to enforce a claim in Thailand
- Asset seizure and sale: the Legal Execution Department can seize a debtor's movable and immovable property and arrange its sale to satisfy the judgment.
- Garnishment: funds owed to the debtor by a third party, such as wages or bank balances, can be attached and applied to the debt.
- Public auction: seized assets are typically sold through a public auction process supervised by the Department.
This guide could not verify granular mechanics (specific seizure procedures, garnishment thresholds, or enforcement time limits) from a Thai government source this pass, so the general process is described here without invented detail; a licensed local partner or Thai enforcement counsel can confirm the specific steps that apply to a given debtor's assets.
The enforcement process in Thailand
The judgment creditor applies to the Legal Execution Department with the enforceable title, the Department identifies and attaches the debtor's assets or income, and proceeds are applied to the outstanding debt and enforcement costs.
The Legal Execution Department's wider role
Beyond civil-judgment enforcement, the Legal Execution Department also administers bankruptcy-case matters (see Step 4), giving it a central role across both the enforcement and insolvency stages of debt recovery in Thailand.
When enforcement leads to insolvency
Where the Legal Execution Department cannot locate sufficient assets to satisfy the judgment, or the debtor is a registered business that appears unable to pay its debts generally, the case may move from direct enforcement into the insolvency process described in Step 4.
Enforcement fees and costs
Enforcement through the Legal Execution Department carries its own fees and costs, separate from the court fees paid to obtain the judgment; these are generally recoverable from the proceeds of the enforcement action before the remaining balance is paid to the creditor.
Step 4 - How do insolvency procedures affect debt recovery in Thailand?
Where a debtor cannot pay and holds insufficient assets for direct enforcement, insolvency under the Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483 (1940) becomes the relevant route, and individual enforcement generally gives way to the collective bankruptcy process once it opens.
Bankruptcy petition thresholds
A creditor may petition for bankruptcy where an individual debtor owes at least 1,000,000 baht, or a corporate (juristic-person) debtor owes at least 2,000,000 baht (Bankruptcy Act s.9(2)). A business reorganisation petition, an alternative to liquidation for a viable but distressed business, requires a debt of at least 10,000,000 baht (s.90/3).
Bankruptcy vs business reorganisation
The Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483 provides two distinct routes. Bankruptcy leads to liquidation: the debtor's assets are collected and sold, and proceeds are distributed among creditors. Business reorganisation instead aims to keep a viable but distressed business operating under a court-supervised plan, an alternative available once the higher 10,000,000-baht threshold is met (s.90/3). Both routes are heard by the same specialised Central Bankruptcy Court.
The Central Bankruptcy Court and the creditor process
Bankruptcy and reorganisation petitions are heard by the specialised Central Bankruptcy Court. Once a bankruptcy order is made, creditors file a proof of claim within the process, and the Legal Execution Department's role in bankruptcy-case administration continues alongside the court.
Outcomes for creditors
Bankruptcy proceedings lead either to liquidation of the debtor's assets, distributed among creditors under the Act's ranking rules, or, where reorganisation is approved, to a court-supervised repayment plan. This guide could not verify detailed creditor-priority ranking or discharge timelines from a Thai government source this pass, so a licensed local partner or Thai insolvency counsel should confirm those specifics for an individual case.
Choosing between direct enforcement and insolvency
Direct enforcement through the Legal Execution Department (Step 3) is generally faster where the debtor holds clear, identifiable assets. The insolvency route becomes relevant once a debtor's overall inability to pay, rather than a single unpaid claim, is the issue, and it brings other creditors into a single collective process.
Costs of insolvency proceedings
Insolvency proceedings carry court, administrative and, typically, legal-adviser costs, which are met from the estate before unsecured creditors receive a distribution. This guide could not verify a specific cost schedule from a Thai government source this pass, so no figure is stated as fact here.
Fees, interest and who pays what in Thailand
- Our fee: success-based, No Cure, No Pay (see pricing).
- Court & enforcement fees: state fees apply only if the case escalates to legal action; petty case (small-claims) court fees are capped at 1,000 baht (Civil Procedure Code s.189).
- Statutory debtor items: default interest runs at 3% per year as the base rate (Civil and Commercial Code s.7) and at 5% per year on overdue money debts (CCC s.224), both effective since 11 April 2021 (Emergency Decree Amending the Civil and Commercial Code B.E. 2564).
- Who keeps what: recovered principal is yours; statutory interest and any court or enforcement costs follow the CCC and the court's order.
| Item | Rate / cap |
|---|---|
| Base statutory interest (CCC s.7) | 3% per year |
| Default interest on overdue money debts (CCC s.224) | 5% per year |
| Petty case court fees (Civil Procedure Code s.189) | Capped at 1,000 baht |
Recoverable collection costs
Where a claim escalates, statutory interest and any court-awarded costs are added to the amount the debtor owes; Debitura's own success fee is calculated separately, only on funds actually recovered, and never taken from a recovery that has not happened.
Cross-border debt collection in Thailand
Thailand does not directly recognise or enforce a foreign court judgment. A creditor holding a foreign judgment against a Thai debtor must file a fresh lawsuit in a Thai court, where the foreign judgment is admissible only as evidence of the underlying claim, not as a title a Thai court must enforce as-is (the doctrine traces to Supreme Court Decision No. 585/2461 (1918), which requires that the foreign court had competent jurisdiction and that the judgment is final). Thailand has no Hague Judgments Convention 2019 framework and no confirmed bilateral judgment-recognition treaty for this purpose.
Thailand is a party to the 1958 New York Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards, having acceded on 21 December 1959. Where the underlying contract provides for arbitration, an arbitral award against a Thai debtor is materially faster to enforce in Thailand than pursuing a fresh court judgment.
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
Ratchada Law Firm is a premier law firm in Bangkok offering effective Debt Collection services in Thailand, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery with a strong presence since 2012, affordable rates, and operations extending to Cambodia and Vietnam.
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Orion Investigations Co Ltd is a premier law firm in Thailand offering effective debt collection services, positioning the firm as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2003, with membership in AMCHAM and operations extending to Cambodia and Myanmar; as a Debitura partner in Thailand, Orion provides No Cure No Pay debt collection based on Debitura's No Cure, No Pay standard terms and pricing.
Advocates Moser & Partner Co., Ltd. is a premier law firm in Bangkok offering effective Debt Collection services in Thailand, positioning itself as the go-to partner for debt recovery since 2019, with memberships in the Lawyers Council of Thailand and Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin.
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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