Debt Collection in Poland: Pay only upon success

Professional debt collection in Poland

Looking for a reliable debt collection agency in Poland? We are experts in Polish debt collection, and we’re happy to help. Read more to learn how.

How we help you get paid by companies in Poland

Oddcoll is an international debt collection platform designed for businesses with cross-border claims. We ensure fast and effective results by working with trusted local debt collection agencies in Poland and worldwide.

With just one click, you can engage a Polish debt collection agency to start legal or amicable recovery actions against your debtor.

After testing several agencies, our trusted partner is chosen for their:

High recovery rates
Professionalism
Excellent customer satisfaction

Our debt collection agency in Poland

Unpaid invoices can severely impact your cash flow. To relieve that burden, Oddcoll provides efficient international debt collection in Poland, handled locally by our trusted partner located in Wrocław.

Here’s how it works:

Upload your claim to the Oddcoll platform.
Our debt collection agency in Warsaw takes action directly against the debtor.
Once recovered, funds are transferred straight to your account.

About our Polish partner

Our debt collection agency in Poland is fully licensed and validated by the Ministry of the Interior, which includes their licensed investigation bureau. Admission into the mentioned associations involved a rigorous audit of our service quality and success rates, leading to our selection from a pool of numerous applicants. Here are a couple of questions and answers from our Polish partner:

How many cases and clients do you handle on a monthly basis?

We maintain a large and competent debt collection department, comprising both office and field agents. While legal confidentiality prevents us from disclosing the exact number of active cases, we can confidently state that we have never encountered a volume of collection orders beyond our capacity. As a reasonable benchmark, we can seamlessly manage approximately 2000 orders per month, and are capable of handling higher volume as well.

How much money do you collect each month?

We statistically recover around 20 million PLN monthly.

What is your success rate?

This is a multivariate metric, as it depends heavily on the debt type. For insured receivables (a common practice in Poland), we serve all top five insurers in the country and rank among the top three service providers based on recovery rates. In leasing, we are typically the leading service provider, which is reflected in the volume of cases we receive in this sector. For uninsured B2B receivables, the success rate depends on the Days Past Due (DPD); newer invoices generally yield higher recovery rates. In general terms, approximately 6 out of 10 cases are resolved purely through pre-legal actions. The remaining 4 are recommended for legal proceedings, of which about 2 result in enforced recovery, and the final 20% are classified as ineffective enforcement. Overall, we achieve an approximate 80% success rate.

With this strong local presence and international backing, we ensure your debt collection in Wrocław and across Poland is handled professionally, transparently, and effectively.

The out-of-court debt collection process in Poland

We handle each case individually, tailoring the process to the debtor’s response. In general, the out-of-court debt collection in Poland follows these steps:

Initial payment request by mail and e-mail
Telephone calls to the debtor
Setting a repayment deadline
Follow-up written request if the debt remains unpaid
Additional phone calls
Final written request
Proposal for court proceedings if all else fails

Additional actions may include:

Inclusion of the debtor in the public debtors list (requires a power of attorney)
Visit to the debtor’s office or home (extra fee €50)
Sending e-mails or text messages
Hiring a private investigator (additional fee based on the service)

Using this structured approach, our debt collection agency in Poland maximises the chances of recovery without immediate court involvement.

Judicial debt collection in Poland

When out-of-court efforts fail, legal action may be necessary. Our team of Polish debt collection experts can guide you through the judicial debt collection process in Poland efficiently, ensuring it is transparent and manageable.

Filing a court case

Which court handles business disputes?

District courts (sądy powszechne) act as courts of first instance for business-related claims.
Regional courts or courts of appeal (sądy apelacyjne) serve as second-instance courts.

Legal representation

In most cases, you can represent yourself without a legal counsel.
Certain exceptional cases, such as appeals to the Supreme Court, require professional legal representation; however, this is rarely applicable to standard debt collection in Poland.

How to submit a case

Cases must be submitted in Polish or accompanied by a Polish translation.
Clearly state your demands in a written lawsuit.

Costs of legal action and court charges

Understanding the potential costs helps you plan your debt recovery strategy:

Filing a lawsuit requires payment of court fees.
If fees are not paid, the court will request payment within seven days. Unpaid fees may result in the lawsuit being returned.
If you win the case, most legal costs can usually be added to the debt and recovered from the debtor.
The court decides which costs the debtor must cover, but in practice, debtors often pay the majority.

Issuing an ‘order for payment’ in Poland

In Poland, businesses can utilize a special legal procedure for straightforward debt recovery cases, known as an order for payment. This procedure is designed to handle uncomplicated claims quickly and cost-effectively, especially when there is no apparent dispute between the parties.

Key points about an order for payment

Applicable regardless of the amount of the claim.
Applicants can choose whether to pursue a regular court case or an order for payment.
The choice must be indicated in the lawsuit.
The procedure falls under the jurisdiction of regional (okręgowy) and district (rejonowy) courts.
Legal representation is not mandatory, making it accessible for businesses and individuals.
The claim statement should clearly define the claim and outline the facts supporting it.

If the debtor objects

If the debtor disagrees with the claim, they must submit a written statement of opposition or defence to the court that issued the order for payment. In this statement, the debtor should specify whether they oppose the claim fully or only in part. Once an objection has been properly filed, the judge will schedule a court hearing, allowing both parties to be heard in the same way as in ordinary civil proceedings.

If the debtor does not object

If the debtor does not object, the court will issue the payment order. This order serves as legal proof of the debt and can be used as the basis for enforcement. Since an order for payment cannot be appealed further, it provides a fast and definitive way to recover uncontested claims.

Small claims procedure in Poland

Poland also offers a simplified small claims procedure for certain debt recovery cases. This procedure is intended for claims under contracts where the value does not exceed PLN 20,000.

Key details:

Established under Regulation (EC) No 861/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007, the European Small Claims Procedure aims to simplify and streamline civil and business disputes across EU Member States, except Denmark.
Incorporated into Polish law via Articles 50521 to 50527a of the Polish Code of Civil Procedure.
Applicable to claims involving individuals, legal entities, organizations, employees, or business owners.
Ideal for small-value disputes, providing faster and more cost-effective debt collection in Poland.

Enforcing a judgment in Poland

Enforcement enables the state to assist creditors in recovering debts that are legally owed. To initiate enforcement:

There must be an enforceable title.
The creditor must submit an application for enforcement.

Enforceable titles serve as legal proof that the debt exists. In debt collection in Poland, enforceable titles include:

Judgments from ordinary court proceedings
Payment orders
Decisions from the small claims procedure

Enforcement procedures in Poland are regulated under the Polish Code of Civil Procedure (Kodeks postępowania cywilnego). Proper enforcement ensures that creditors can recover debts efficiently through state-supported mechanisms.

Insolvency procedures in Poland

When a company has significant unpaid debts and is unable to meet its obligations, insolvency proceedings in Poland may become necessary. These procedures are designed to protect the interests of all creditors, giving everyone a fair opportunity to recover their claims, while also exploring whether the insolvent business can continue to operate.

During insolvency proceedings, the bankruptcy estate includes all assets held by the company at the time of the bankruptcy declaration, as well as assets acquired during the course of the proceedings (Article 62 of the Bankruptcy Act). The debtor loses the ability to manage these assets, and a syndyk (trustee) is appointed to oversee the administration of the estate. The syndyk takes responsibility for both the company’s assets and its ongoing operations, ensuring all actions comply with Polish law and safeguard creditor interests.

Reclaim your Polish debts now!

When you need professional debt collection in Poland, Oddcoll can help. Our Polish debt collection agency makes the process simple: just upload your invoice, and we take care of the rest.

Frequently asked questions about debt collection in Poland

What are the costs for a debt collection case in Poland?

We manage all out-of-court collections on a No Cure No Pay basis, including in Poland. We charge 9.5% commission. Our goal is to recover the full principal amount, along with any applicable interest and costs. Should you choose to pursue legal action, we switch to an hourly or fixed fee arrangement. There are no hidden charges, and we will always consult you before taking any further steps.

What is the debt collection process in Poland?

Debt collection in Poland begins with an amicable (extrajudicial) phase where Oddcoll’s local partner contacts the debtor in Polish through formal demand letters, calls, and reminders. These actions aim to recover the payment without going to court. If the debtor does not respond, the case moves to the judicial phase. The creditor can request a court payment order or file a lawsuit. Once a judgment is obtained, a Polish bailiff (komornik) enforces it by seizing the debtor’s assets or bank accounts. Working with one top local Polish debt collection agency ensures that all steps, from communication to enforcement, are handled efficiently and according to Polish law.

What steps are included in the amicable phase of debt collection in Poland?

The amicable phase in Poland focuses on recovering payment without legal action. It starts with sending a formal payment demand letter in Polish, which includes the debt amount, due date, and notice of possible legal proceedings. Our local partner then follows up with reminder calls or emails and may negotiate a payment plan or settlement. Another effective tactic in Poland is registering the debt in national credit databases, which pressures the debtor to pay to protect their credit reputation. Oddcoll’s Polish partner performs all these steps systematically, using deep local knowledge and communication in the debtor’s language to achieve faster, more successful recoveries.

How long does debt collection in Poland take?

The timeline for collecting a business debt in Poland depends on the case complexity and debtor cooperation. In general, the amicable phase can take several weeks to a few months, while legal proceedings can extend the process to 6–24 months in total. If the debt is undisputed, a payment order may be issued within a few months. Disouted claims take longer due to hearings and appeals. Oddcoll’s Polish agency works efficiently to shorten these timelines by using well-structured communication, experienced legal support, and fast enforcement once a judgment is obtained. The goal is always to recover payment as quickly as possible without unnecessary costs or delays.

What happens if the debtor in Poland refuses to pay after legal action?

If the debtor in Poland refuses to pay even after a court judgment, enforcement begins through a public bailiff, known as a komornik. The bailiff has the authority to seize the debtor’s assets, such as funds in bank accounts, vehicles, equipment, or real estate. The bailiff can also garnish wages or place liens on property. Enforcement costs are initially paid by the creditor but later reimbursed by the debtor. Oddcoll’s local Polish debt collection agency manages all enforcement steps, ensuring the process follows Polish law and maximizes the chance of collection. Our partner maintains close contact with the bailiff and provides regular updates so you always know the status of your case. This structured local approach ensures efficient recovery once a judgment has been obtained.

Can I charge interest on overdue invoices in Poland?

Yes. In Poland, creditors can charge statutory interest for late commercial payments. The rate is based on the National Bank of Poland’s reference rate plus an additional percentage, resulting in roughly 7–9% annually. If the parties agreed on contractual interest, it can be higher, though capped at twice the statutory rate. Oddcoll’s Polish partner calculates the correct interest amount and adds it to your claim to ensure full compensation. Including statutory interest not only covers your losses but also pressures the debtor to settle faster. It is standard practice for professional debt collectors in Poland to demand interest and recovery costs together with the principal amount owed.

What are the legal options for international companies collecting debt in Poland?

Foreign creditors can use local Polish courts to pursue debtors located in Poland. If the debt is uncontested, the court can issue a payment order quickly. For disputed cases, a civil lawsuit is filed, and hearings are scheduled. EU companies also benefit from simplified European procedures such as the European Payment Order or European Enforcement Order, making cross-border recovery smoother. Non-EU creditors can still sue in Polish courts but may require certified translations of documents. Oddcoll’s Polish partner handles all these formalities and represents your case locally, ensuring all filings, translations, and enforcement steps are completed correctly and efficiently.

What are the typical costs for debt collection in Poland?

When it comes to legal action, costs in Poland vary depending on the case. Court fees are usually around 5% of the claim amount, and enforcement costs depend on the bailiff’s work. Amicable collection is often success-based, meaning you pay only if recovery occurs. Oddcoll’s Polish partner offers transparent pricing and works to recover legal costs, interest, and fees from the debtor whenever possible. This “no recovery, no fee” approach minimizes financial risk and ensures that every action is cost-effective. The overall cost is typically a small percentage of the debt, which makes pursuing payment in Poland a worthwhile investment.

Debt collection in Poland

Debt collection in Poland, conducted locally

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