If youâve got a business of your own and one of your customers doesnât pay, there are many options to get the debtor to pay. Sure, you can politely remind them, but that wonât always be enough. So after a while, you need to take other measures if the debtor still hasnât paid the money they owe you. But what are your options? What will happen if you hire a Debt Collection Agency?
Hire a Debt Collection Agency

If a debtor refuses to pay the money they owe you, itâs probably time to hire a Debt Collection Agency (Dutch: incassobureau inschakelen). DCAs have the expertise and resources to recover the debt and can take measures you simply canât take as an entrepreneur. Besides, they can recover your money a lot faster than you can because they have more resources.
Sure, hiring a Debt Collection Agency costs you money, but most of them have a âno collection, no feeâ service, which means you donât pay for their service if they donât succeed in collecting the debt.
Debt collectors
Another option you have, is hire a debt collector (Dutch: deurwaarders). A debt collector is a public official who is charged with performing so-called official duties. Debt collectors can issue summonses, officially hand over judgments and injunctions, seize and evacuate properties. Unlike debt collection agencies, debt collectors do have a legal status and legal powers.
Seizure
Patience is important, but when a debtor refuses to pay your invoices, itâs time to take action. So, donât make a mistake by waiting. Another solution to collect your money, is to secure your claim through seizure (Dutch: beslaglegging). If you want to prevent your debtor from obscuring or diverting money away, let the properties of your debtor get seized.
Seizure forces your debtor to pay the money they owe you by seizing their bank accounts or with seizure among customers, by which customers are no longer allowed to make payments to your debtor.
Apply for bankruptcy
Another option to let your debt get paid, is to apply for bankruptcy. Often, applying for bankruptcy offers the best results. Defaulters quickly pay if they run the risk of being declared (personally) bankrupt. Sure, itâs a complicated process with an attorney, debt collector and going to court, but itâs often worth the time (and money).
We wish you a lot of luck with dealing with your debtors and of course, we hope you will soon recover the money they owe you.
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