Professional debt collection in Portugal
Are you struggling with unpaid invoices or a Portuguese customer who hasn’t paid? Oddcoll can help with debt collection in Portugal—quickly, efficiently, and with minimal hassle. Continue reading to discover how we make it easy.
A modern approach to international debt collection
Companies selling abroad often know how difficult and time-consuming it can be when foreign customers fail to pay. When your business is outside Portugal, you often have little leverage to recover what you’re owed.
At Oddcoll, we offer a modern solution through our international debt collection platform, which connects you with the best local debt collection agency in Portugal and law firms. Here’s how it works:
- Your case in Portugal is managed by a local Portuguese law firm.
- You only need to create an account and upload your invoice.
- Our platform handles the rest, keeping the process simple and transparent.
This approach ensures you get professional support without having to navigate foreign legal systems yourself.
The Portuguese legal process for unpaid B2B invoices
Portugal uses a fast-track payment order system called the injunção (governed by Decree-Law 269/98), which allows creditors to obtain an enforceable title without full litigation — typically within 3 months when the claim is uncontested and fully documented. The process is conducted entirely digitally.
For B2B debts, Portuguese commercial law (Decree-Law 62/2013, implementing EU Directive 2011/7/EU) provides automatic late payment interest at ECB rate + 8 percentage points, plus a fixed EUR 40 minimum compensation per invoice — no prior demand required. Standard B2B payment terms in Portugal are 30 days.
If the injunção is contested or the debt exceeds €15,000, the case moves to a regular lawsuit (Ação Declarativa). Oddcoll’s local partner handles all court filings in Portuguese on your behalf.
Our debt collection agency in Portugal
When it comes to debt collection in Lisbon, Porto, or anywhere else in Portugal, local expertise is crucial. Portuguese debt collectors are familiar with national laws and possess the necessary tools to recover outstanding payments efficiently.
Oddcoll partners with Indebt, a trusted local law firm specializing in:
- Commercial debt collection
- Private claims recovery
By working with local experts, you maximize your chances of successful debt recovery while staying compliant with Portuguese regulations.
Judicial debt collection in Portugal
If you need to pursue judicial debt collection in Portugal, our local partner can guide you through the legal process and help recover what you’re owed.
Where to sue a Portuguese debtor depends on the type of debtor:
- For natural persons, file in the court of the debtor’s domicile. If the debtor’s domicile is unknown, you can file in the court of your own domicile.
- For companies, file in the court where the company’s registered office is located.
All court proceedings in Portugal are conducted in the Portuguese language. This means:
- Documents in other languages must be translated.
- An interpreter may be required if a non-Portuguese speaker is involved.
Order for payment in Portugal
An order for payment is a streamlined legal process designed for debt collection in Portugal. It simplifies and speeds up less complicated disputes while reducing costs. This procedure is particularly effective for claims that the debtor does not contest.
If the debtor does not challenge the claim, the court can issue an enforcement order (título executivo), which:
- Serves as legal proof of your claim
- Can be used in enforcement proceedings against the debtor
Criteria for using the order for payment
The order for payment procedure in Portugal applies in the following situations:
- Maximum contract claims: €15,000
- No upper limit for claims arising from commercial transactions
How the procedure works
- The National Office for Payment Orders (Balcão Nacional de Injunções) in Porto handles all payment orders.
- Creditors submit a statement of facts supporting their claim; no evidence is required at this stage.
- The debtor has 15 days to respond.
- If the debtor contests, the case moves to ordinary court procedures.
- If there is no challenge, the court issues a judgment.
This procedure streamlines debt collection in Portugal, providing creditors with a clear path to enforce their claims.
That said, using this procedure is optional. Creditors may also pursue standard court procedures, but the order for payment is often faster and more efficient for judicial debt collection cases in Portugal.
Recovery of a Portuguese debt through enforcement
An enforcement procedure is a legal process where an administrative body helps ensure a debtor fulfills an obligation established by a judgment. For debt collection in Portugal, this means Portuguese authorities assist you in recovering your claim.
The key requirement is a judgment confirming the debt, known as a título executivo, which must be obtained through legal proceedings against the debtor.
How enforcement proceedings work
Enforcement proceedings in Portugal can be initiated for several reasons:
- Delivery of a specific object by the debtor
- Performance or non-performance of a specific act
- Payment of a specific sum of money (the most common reason for debt collection cases)
In most debt collection cases in Portugal, the goal is to compel the debtor to pay the amount owed. Enforcement is handled by the courts in coordination with enforcement agents, ensuring legal compliance and proper execution.
Get back what you’re owed now!
Oddcoll makes debt collection in Porto, Lisbon, and across Portugal simple and efficient.
If you have questions about debt collection in Portugal or how to start your case, our team is ready to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us today!