How to recover an unpaid invoice from a Polish company

Check who you are dealing with

Before you take any step, verify the debtor. Polish companies are listed in public registers: the National Court Register (KRS) for companies and the CEIDG register for sole traders. The VAT taxpayer list shows the company's bank accounts, and the National Debtors Register (KRZ) shows insolvency and restructuring proceedings.

This tells you whether the company still operates, who represents it and whether it has entered bankruptcy. It also shows whether recovery has a realistic chance before you spend money on it.

Send a formal demand for payment

Send a written demand for payment with a clear deadline, the invoice numbers and the amount due. It is best to send it in Polish, by e-mail and by registered post. A demand from a Polish debt collection company is often taken more seriously than a reminder from a foreign supplier.

Negotiate and agree on a repayment plan

Many Polish debtors pay once someone contacts them by phone in their own language. If the company has temporary problems, a written settlement with an instalment plan is often the fastest way to get the money back.

Use sanctions if the debtor ignores you

When the debtor does not react, we apply pressure that works in the Polish market: an entry in a Polish business information bureau (BIG), publication of the debt on a debt exchange and a field visit to the company's office.

Court and enforcement in Poland

If none of this helps, the claim can be pursued before a Polish court, which for invoice claims usually ends with a payment order. With a final decision and an enforceability clause, a Polish court bailiff can enforce the debt from bank accounts and other assets. We take this step only with your consent, after presenting costs and chances.

Do not wait too long

Claims between businesses in Poland generally become time-barred after three years, claims for the price of goods sold after two years and claims under a contract of carriage after one year. The sooner you act, the better your chances.