Overseas Debt Collection

[FrankFenton]

Does anyone know how to get a dbet paid from a French company. We have completed a service for a French business and they owe us 3 months worth of money, almost 10K but they are not paying. They have paid previously but we are getting no response. Its is a major global company.

Thanks

 

[fisicx]

Start posting on their social media pages. This often elicits a response.

 

[YasmeenLondon]

Start posting on their social media pages. This often elicits a response.

they will just block you.

Does anyone know how to get a dbet paid from a French company. We have completed a service for a French business and they owe us 3 months worth of money, almost 10K but they are not paying. They have paid previously but we are getting no response. Its is a major global company.

Thanks

Your best bet is using a Debt Collection Agency, some offer no win no fee services, but unfortunately whatever you do, you will most probably lose some of the money owed to you.

 

[Steve Thornbury]

We can help.

Feel free to drop me a line

 

[Lisa Thomas]

I know a solicitor who can help if you haven't already sorted this. Feel free to dm me if you don't find someone on here.

 

[FreddyG]

No need to worry unduly; this sounds as if the person dealing with you has left or exploded and your demand has gone to the bottom of the pile. But for a UK business trying to recover a debt greater than €5,000 from a French company, here are the usual steps:

Formal Demand Letter (Lettre de Mise en Demeure)​

Send a formal written demand for payment, ideally by registered post with acknowledgment of receipt. This letter should:

State the outstanding amount.
Reference previous payments and agreements.
Give a strict deadline (maybe 14 days) for payment.
Mention potential legal action if payment is not made.

Engage a French Lawyer​

A lawyer will send a formal demand letter. This usually wakes them up! Following that comes legal action and your French lawyer will advise.

The options are (1) Injunction to Pay (Injonction de Payer): A quick, court-approved order that requires the debtor to pay. If they are contesting the debt, then comes (2) Commercial Court Action: If the debtor contests the claim, a case may need to be filed in a French commercial court.

An injunction is sometimes free or costs about €50 in most districts. Lawyers seem to cost about €200 per hour.