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Debt collection in Italy

debt collection italy oddcoll

Professional debt collection in Italy, conducted locally

Risk-free. Pay only upon success
9,5 % in commission
19,5 % in commission
Debt collection conducted locally in Italy
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Very good service

This factory have good quality and good service.

ALESSIO SASSONE |
Terranova da Sibari, Italy
Rated 9,3 out of 10 based on 111 reviews on Kiyoh!

Expert debt collection in Italy

Do you need support with debt collection in Italy because an Italian client has failed to pay your invoice? Our local experts are ready to assist you in recovering your funds efficiently and professionally.

Discover how our debt collection agency in Italy can streamline the process and enhance your chances of success.

How can Oddcoll help you with debt collection?

Oddcoll is an international debt collection platform that connects businesses with leading debt collection agencies and legal professionals worldwide. We make cross-border debt recovery easier through:

  • Local expertise: Our Italian partners possess in-depth knowledge of national laws, the local language, and business culture.
  • Success-based pricing: You only pay when we successfully collect your debt.
  • Fast onboarding: Upload your unpaid invoices and start recovery immediately.

Our debt collection agency in Italy

Italian companies often operate with some of the longest B2B payment terms in Europe. When invoices remain unpaid, working with a professional debt collection agency in Italy is the most effective solution.

For debt collection in Italy, Oddball collaborates with PN Italia, one of the country’s most trusted collection specialists. Their consistent results and high customer satisfaction make them the perfect partner for handling debt collection in Rome, Milan, and throughout Italy.

About PN Italia

PN Italia is a respected debt collection agency in Italy, operating nationwide, including Milan and other key business hubs. With over 20 years of experience, their specialists manage both B2B and B2C claims for companies of all sizes and sectors.

They are known for:

  • High professionalism and attention to detail
  • Tailored strategies for every case
  • Clear communication throughout the process

Whether you need a debt collection agency in Rome or nationwide support, PN Italia combines local insight with international standards to deliver results, achieving a success rate of around 90%, thanks to the expertise and persistence of its local team.

Once you upload your case to our platform, PN Italia immediately begins the recovery process using a combination of negotiation, local legal knowledge, and efficient communication with your debtor.

Out-of-court debt collection in Italy

Before resorting to legal action, our Italian debt collection agency follows a structured and efficient recovery process to encourage voluntary payment:

  1. Verification – Identifying the debtor and assessing their financial position
  2. Written reminders – Sending formal payment requests
  3. Direct contact – Calling the debtor to negotiate repayment
  4. Home visits (if necessary) – For additional persuasion
  5. Final legal notice – A letter from our legal team increasing pressure to pay

This step-by-step approach helps recover most debts without court involvement, reducing time and cost for your business.

Judicial debt collection in Italy

Our debt collection agency in Italy always strives to recover payments in a mutually amicable manner. However, when negotiations fail, legal action may be necessary. Don’t worry, our Italian specialists are experienced in both amicable and judicial debt collection in Italy, ensuring full support from the first reminder to court enforcement.

How legal debt collection in Italy works

When your debtor continues to ignore payment requests, our local lawyers can initiate judicial proceedings. In most cases, the competent court is located where the debtor resides or where their company is registered (foro generale delle persone fisiche). For example, debt collection in Rome is handled by the courts of Rome, while debt collection in Milan is governed by the Milan jurisdiction.

To start a case:

  • A written application must be prepared in Italian. It is addressed to the opposing party and submitted to the court clerk’s office.
  • Depending on the case value or type, it may go to a specific court.

In nearly all civil cases, you’ll need a lawyer to represent you — only very small claims can be filed without one. Our debt collection agency in Italy collaborates with trusted legal partners who specialize in these procedures, ensuring that your claim complies with all local requirements.

Costs and recovery of legal fees

Legal proceedings in Italy involve certain costs:

  • Court charges, paid directly to the court, depend on the value of the claim.
  • Lawyers’ fees, agreed upon with your legal representative.
  • Additional expenses for translations or administrative tasks, if required.

If you win the case, the judge usually orders the losing party (the debtor) to reimburse your legal expenses. However, the final decision always rests with the court.

Order for payment procedure in Italy

In Italy, creditors can use a simplified court process known as the order for payment procedure (decreto ingiuntivo) to recover uncontested debts efficiently. This is one of the most commonly used tools in legal debt collection in Italy by our partner debt collection agency in Italy.

When can the order for payment be used?

This procedure applies if:

  • The claim has not been contested by the debtor before.
  • The claim concerns a specific monetary amount.
  • There is written proof of the debt (such as invoices or contracts).

If the court accepts the application, it issues an order requiring the debtor to pay the full amount within about 40 days. The same order also informs the debtor of their right to object within that period. If no objection is filed, the order becomes final and enforceable, allowing the creditor to recover the funds through judicial enforcement.

There is no financial limit on the amount that can be claimed using this procedure. It can be applied in all cases of debt collection in Italy, whether the debtor is based in Rome, Milan, or any other city.

How to apply for an order for payment in Italy

The application must:

  • Summarise the claim and its supporting facts (detailed explanations are not required).
  • Be filed in Italian and addressed to the relevant court.

Once approved, the order for payment must be served on the debtor:

  • Within 60 days if served inside Italy.
  • Within 90 days if served abroad.

After receiving the order, the debtor has 40 days to contest it. If they object, the case moves to ordinary court proceedings where the judge reviews the evidence. If no objection is made within the deadline, the creditor can request that the order be declared final and enforceable.

Competent courts for the order for payment

Applications can be filed with the Justice of the Peace (Giudice di Pace) for minor claims or the General Court (Tribunale) for larger or more complex cases.

Our debt collection agency in Italy ensures that the correct court handles your claim, whether you’re pursuing debt collection in Rome, Milan, or any other region.

Judicial enforcement of Italian debts

If a debtor still refuses to pay after a judgment or an order for payment, enforcement is the next step. This process enables the creditor to recover the debt through court-supervised actions, including asset seizure, bank account garnishment, and property auctions.

To begin enforcement, the creditor must have a valid enforcement order, usually the court’s final judgment or payment decree. The ordinary courts are responsible for managing enforcement cases across Italy.

Insolvency proceedings in Italy

When a company in Italy can no longer meet its financial obligations, bankruptcy (insolvency) proceedings may be initiated. These proceedings ensure that all creditors are treated fairly and that the company’s remaining assets are distributed properly.

A company may be declared insolvent if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

  • Assets or resources of €300,000 or more in the three years before the insolvency application.
  • Annual net income of €200,000 or more in each of the previous three years.
  • Total debts of €500,000 or more at the time of the application.

Once insolvency is declared, the company’s assets form a bankruptcy estate, which is managed by a court-appointed trustee.

Need help with debt collection in Italy?

Whether you need debt collection in Rome, debt collection in Milan, or nationwide support, our Italian specialists can help you recover unpaid claims quickly and efficiently.

Contact us today to learn more about our proven strategies for both amicable and judicial debt recovery.

Frequently asked questions about debt collection in Italy

Debt collection in Italy normally begins with an out-of-court, or amicable, recovery process. The creditor sends a formal demand for payment, preferably by certified email (PEC) or registered post, giving the debtor a deadline to pay.

If the debtor doesn’t pay, a well-documented claim can proceed to a decreto ingiuntivo, Italy’s payment order procedure. If claims are disputed, it may instead require ordinary civil proceedings.

Oddcoll simplifies debt collection in Italy by connecting you with a handpicked local collection partner. Our Italian specialist handles the amicable recovery process in Italian, including formal payment demands, telephone contact and negotiations over payment plans, where necessary.

Local knowledge of Italian law, language and business culture helps resolve claims efficiently and can often avoid costly litigation.

An amicable debt collection case in Italy typically runs for up to 90 days. During this period, the local collection specialist sends payment demands and follows up with the debtor at regular intervals. If the debtor cooperates, payment can sometimes be recovered within a few weeks.

If court action is required, an unopposed decreto ingiuntivo can generally result in an enforceable title within around two to four months, including the 40-day period available to the debtor to oppose the order.

If the debtor contests the payment order, the case can proceed to ordinary civil litigation, which may take considerably longer. This is why an effective amicable debt collection process is important when recovering debts in Italy.

Oddcoll offers no win, no fee debt collection in Italy for the amicable recovery phase. You pay a commission only on money that is successfully recovered.

If legal action is necessary, Oddcoll recommends the appropriate next step and provides a cost estimate before proceeding. You can then decide whether court action is worthwhile based on the size and strength of your claim.

The court costs for a decreto ingiuntivo depend on the value of the claim and include the applicable contributo unificato.

The ordinary limitation period for civil claims in Italy is 10 years under Article 2946 of the Italian Civil Code. However, shorter limitation periods apply to certain types of claims. For example, transport claims are generally subject to a one-year limitation period, extended to 18 months where the transport begins or ends outside Europe. Periodic payments can also be subject to a five-year limitation period.

A formal written demand for payment can interrupt the limitation period and cause a new limitation period to begin. Therefore, a properly served payment demand can play an important role in managing the limitation period for an Italian debt.

Because limitation rules vary according to the type of claim, creditors should establish the applicable deadline before beginning debt recovery proceedings.

A decreto ingiuntivo is an Italian court payment order used to recover debts supported by written evidence. To submit an application, the creditor must provide the supporting documents to the competent court. If the legal requirements are met, the judge can issue the payment order without first hearing the debtor.

The debtor normally has 40 days to pay or oppose the order. If no opposition is filed, the order can become enforceable.

The procedure is particularly useful for undisputed, well-documented B2B debts. Where the evidence is sufficiently strong, the creditor may also be able to request provisional enforceability.

If the debtor files an opposition, the decreto ingiuntivo procedure can move into ordinary civil proceedings. The creditor and debtor then have the opportunity to present their evidence and arguments before the competent court.

This process is generally slower and more expensive than amicable debt recovery. The strength of the documentation is therefore an important factor when deciding whether to pursue litigation.

Before recommending legal action, Oddcoll’s local Italian partner can assess the claim, the available evidence and the debtor’s position.

Italian debt collection normally starts with a formal demand for payment, known as a costituzione in mora. The demand is typically sent by PEC or registered post to provide evidence that it was received.

The letter sets out the outstanding amount, the basis of the claim, applicable interest and a deadline for payment. Professional debt collectors then follow up with telephone contact and further communication where appropriate.

For international creditors, having a local Italian specialist communicate with the debtor in Italian can make the recovery process more effective. Local knowledge also helps the collector understand Italian business practices and negotiate with the debtor appropriately.

International creditors have several options for recovering debts from Italian companies and individuals. For eligible cross-border claims within the EU, procedures such as the European Order for Payment and the European Small Claims Procedure can provide routes to obtaining an enforceable decision.

For many creditors, however, starting with local amicable debt collection is the most practical approach. An Italian specialist can communicate directly with the debtor, send formal demands in Italian and negotiate payment without immediately resorting to court proceedings.

Oddcoll gives international creditors access to a handpicked local debt collection partner in Italy through a single platform, making cross-border debt recovery easier to manage.

An unpaid invoice is generally enough to start the amicable debt collection process in Italy. Providing additional documentation can help the collection specialist understand and assess the claim.

For a decreto ingiuntivo, written evidence is particularly important. Depending on the claim, this may include the contract or order confirmation, unpaid invoices, delivery or transport documents, correspondence and evidence that the goods or services were provided.

Because Italian payment order proceedings rely heavily on documentary evidence, providing a complete file can help determine the most appropriate recovery strategy and reduce delays.

Professional debt recovery can significantly improve the chances of recovering an unpaid B2B debt in Italy, particularly when the claim is pursued promptly and supported by clear documentation.

Italian payment practices can involve relatively long payment periods, making early action important. A local debt collection specialist can contact the debtor in Italian, understand the circumstances behind the non-payment and negotiate a solution where appropriate.

Oddcoll works with handpicked local partners who understand Italian debt collection procedures, business culture and negotiation practices. This local approach can help creditors recover outstanding invoices efficiently while avoiding unnecessary legal costs.

How Debt collection in Italy works

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How debt collection in Italy works

1. Upload your invoice

Create an account and upload your invoice via the platform, API or CSV – easily and in seconds.

2. Local experts take over

Our hand-picked partners in the Italy handle the collection with effective measures, including demand letters, calls and legal steps.

3. Get paid

Once the payment is completed, the money is sent directly to you – quickly, securely and without hassle.

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