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Debt collection in Turkey

Professional debt collection in Turkey, conducted locally

Risk-free. Pay only upon success
9,5 % in commission
19,5 % in commission
Debt collection conducted locally in Turkey
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Effective debt collection in Turkey

Are you struggling to get paid by Turkish business customers? We specialize in debt collection in Turkey, helping you recover unpaid invoices efficiently.

Get started today and see how we can help!

How we approach international debt collection

Collecting overdue payments from foreign clients can be frustrating. Cross-border debt recovery is a complex process, and Turkey is no exception. To increase your chances of success, it’s essential to work with a debt collection agency in Turkey.

Oddcoll simplifies this process through our international debt collection platform. We connect you with high-performing debt collection agencies and law firms that specialize in commercial debt collection worldwide.

Key benefits of our platform:

  • Local specialists handle your debts wherever your customers are.
  • Setting up a case takes only a minute.
  • Easily track the progress of your debt collection cases online.

Our trusted Turkish partner, ARS Alacak ve Risk Yönetimi Danismanlik LTD, manages all cases against Turkish debtors, ensuring expert handling of each situation.

Judicial debt recovery in Turkey

If all attempts at out-of-court recovery have failed, you will have to take your debt recovery case to court.

Turkey’s legal system is based on civil law, incorporating elements from the Swiss Civil Code, German Commercial Code, and other European laws.

While codified laws dominate, case law and higher court decisions influence rulings to maintain consistency.

Which Turkish court can hear your debt collection case?

There are two different civil courts where a legal debt collection case can be heard. The court to turn to in Turkey for an unpaid invoice depends on the specific circumstances of each case and the debtor’s location.

  1. Peace Courts (Sulh Mahkemeleri): These are the lowest civil courts in Turkey. Here, disputes are decided by a single judge. There is at least one peace court in every Turkish district, and its jurisdiction includes all cases assigned to the court under the Civil Procedure Law and other laws.
  2. Courts of First Instance (Asliye Hukuk Mahkemeleri): Their jurisdiction covers all civil cases, except those assigned to the Courts of Peace. There is one in each city and district, and it is sometimes divided into several branches depending on need and necessity. Specialized courts within the Courts of First Instance include:
    • Cadastral courts
    • Commercial courts
    • Consumer courts
    • Enforcement courts
    • Family courts
    • Intellectual and industrial property courts
    • Labor courts

Get help with debt collection in Turkey today

Whether you need debt collection in Ankara, debt collection in Istanbul, or anywhere else in Turkey, having the right legal and professional support is key.

By partnering with experienced local specialists, you can navigate the process confidently and increase your chances of recovering your debts.

Don’t let unpaid invoices hold your business back. Contact us now to start recovering your debts from Turkish clients quickly and efficiently.

Frequently asked questions about debt collection in Turkey

We manage all out-of-court collections on a No Cure No Pay basis, including in Turkey. We charge 19.5% 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.

The first step to recover debt from a Turkish company is through amicable collection. Our local partner sends a formal demand letter (an “ihtarname”) to the debtor, stating the overdue invoice and setting a clear deadline for payment. This notice encourages the debtor to pay before any legal action is needed. At the same time, the Turkish debt collector will call or meet with the debtor to negotiate and find a friendly payment plan. Many debts are settled at this stage without going to court. This combination of formal notice and personal negotiation often results in a quick payment from the debtor. For international B2B creditors, this local expertise means a stress-free process; local specialists handle communication in Turkish and apply pressure. By focusing on this amicable collection step, companies frequently recover money without complex legal procedures.

Formal enforcement of debts is carried out by local government offices called Enforcement Offices (İcra Dairesi). Once amicable collection fails, the case moves to the relevant İcra Dairesi, usually where the debtor is located. The office issues a formal payment order (“icra emri”) demanding payment if the debt is documented. In an “execution without judgment” procedure (ilamsız takip), the debtor typically has seven days to object. If the debtor does not object, the case becomes final and the İcra Dairesi can seize assets (bank accounts, property, etc.) to satisfy the debt. If the debtor objects in time, the creditor must then take court action to remove the objection before enforcement continues. In Turkey, this İcra Dairesi process enables foreign creditors to efficiently enforce debts through state-authorized seizure of the debtor’s assets.

If the debtor objects to a payment order, the creditor must turn to the courts to continue collection. The local debt collection partner will file a lawsuit to lift the objection and prove the debt. If there is strong proof (like a signed contract or promissory note), the creditor can ask the enforcement court (İcra Hukuk Mahkemesi) to quickly remove the objection. Otherwise, the creditor files a full commercial lawsuit (alacak davası) to annul the objection. Once a court decides in the creditor’s favor, enforcement resumes and assets can be seized. Courts may also penalize the debtor for unjustified objections. Experienced Turkish lawyers handle these complex steps so you can eventually recover the debt from the Turkish company.

Obtaining a court judgment is needed whenever the debt is disputed. If the Turkish company denies owing the money or you need formal proof, you must file a lawsuit at a civil or commercial court in Turkey. The court will review your evidence and issue a binding judgment (ilam) confirming the debt. Once you have this final judgment (kesinleşmiş kararı), you take it to the Enforcement Office (İcra Dairesi) to initiate enforcement. Using a court judgment (enforcement with judgment) simplifies the process: the debtor cannot object to the debt anymore, and the office immediately issues a payment order on the judgment. This approach can take longer (often 1–2 years), but it provides a strong legal basis to recover your money from the Turkish company.

Debt collection costs in Turkey include court and enforcement fees, plus any required security deposit. To start enforcement, you pay a fee (around 0.5% of the claim) to the İcra Dairesi. If a lawsuit is needed, Turkish courts charge about 5.4% of the claim (split between initial and final payments). Foreign creditors from countries without a judicial assistance treaty must also provide a security deposit before starting. This deposit (often around 15% of the disputed amount) is fixed by the court and held as collateral, then refunded if your claim succeeds. All these costs are typically reimbursed by the losing party if the creditor wins. A local debt collection partner will clarify these fees up front, ensuring no hidden charges for your international debt recovery.

Foreign court judgments can be enforced only if recognized by Turkish law. A foreign creditor must file for recognition and enforcement in a Turkish court under the International Private Law. The Turkish court will check that the judgment is final and that Turkey has reciprocity (a treaty or de facto) with the country. If these conditions are met, the court grants enforcement, and the foreign judgment becomes equivalent to a Turkish court order. The creditor can then use the local Enforcement Office (İcra Dairesi) to collect it. If there is no treaty or reciprocity, Turkey generally will not enforce the foreign judgment, so the creditor may need to refile in Turkey instead. This process can be lengthy (often taking over a year), so experienced local lawyers should manage enforcement of foreign judgments.

Claims between businesses usually require a mandatory mediation step before suing. By law, commercial disputes over debts must first be submitted to court-approved mediation. The creditor registers for mediation at the court’s mediation center and a certified mediator meets the parties (often with their lawyers) to try to settle the case. This process typically lasts a few weeks. If the parties reach an agreement, they sign an enforceable settlement and avoid court. If not, the mediator issues a certification of failure, and the creditor can then file a lawsuit by submitting that certificate. Missing this mediation step can delay or block the legal case, so local experts will always handle the mandatory mediation step in Turkish debt collection.

How Debt collection in Turkey works

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Oddcoll helps you all the way​

How debt collection in Turkey 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 Turkey 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.

Talk to a collection expert
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