What can be done
We choose each step to suit the amount, the evidence and the debtor, from a demand for payment to enforcement.
A customer has not paid an invoice
We send a letter before action and try to agree payment or instalments with the debtor before anything goes to court.
The debtor promises to pay
We have the debt acknowledged in writing and agree instalments, which extends the limitation period and makes any later dispute easier.
A supplier delivered late or with defects
We assess your claim to a price reduction, damages or a contractual penalty and assert it in time and in the right form.
The debtor is insolvent
We file your claim in the insolvency proceedings on time and in the right form, because the court rejects late claims.
You have received a payment order or a lawsuit
You have 15 days from delivery to object to a payment order, so get in touch straight away and we will consider your defence together.
A dispute with a business partner
We look for a solution that lets you keep doing business together, and if that is not possible, we handle the dispute in court or in arbitration.
How debt recovery works
Free first consultation
At least half an hour in person in Zlín or online. Send or bring the contract, the invoices and your correspondence with the debtor.
Chances and costs
We tell you plainly how strong your evidence is, what recovery will cost and whether the debtor has the means to pay.
Letter before action and negotiation
We ask the debtor to pay and try to reach an agreement. If they pay or we agree, the matter ends without going to court.
Court and enforcement
We file a lawsuit or an application for a payment order and handle the proceedings. If the debtor still does not pay after the court decision, we apply for enforcement.
When debt recovery is worth it and when it is not
We go through these questions with you before recommending a dispute. If it turns out not to be worth it, we tell you.
Worth it
When you have documents
A contract or order, a delivery note, an invoice and emails in which the debtor does not dispute the debt all help.
When the debtor can pay
The company is still trading and has assets or receivables of its own. Winning against a debtor with no assets will not bring you any money.
When you act early
The general limitation period is three years and reminders do not stop it. The sooner you start, the better the chance that the debtor still has the means to pay.
Not worth it
When the debtor has no assets
Court and enforcement will not bring in any money and the costs stay with you. We tell you before you put anything into a dispute.
When the amount is small
The costs and time can exceed what you recover. In that case we recommend a reminder or an agreement.
When the relationship matters most
If you want to keep trading with the customer, negotiation and an instalment plan usually work better than a lawsuit.
The firm in numbers
- 20 yearsof legal practice
- 180+long-term clients
- 95%of new clients come through referrals
Client logos
Frequently asked questions about debt recovery and disputes
Short answers to what companies ask us most often. We look at your specific situation at the first consultation.
What is a letter before action and when should it be sent?
A letter before action (předžalobní výzva) is a written demand that the debtor pay before you sue. It must be sent at least seven days before the claim is filed, otherwise the court will usually not award you your legal costs even if you win (Section 142a of the Civil Procedure Code). In the letter we state the amount owed (the principal), the default interest and a deadline for payment.
When does a debt become time-barred?
The general limitation period is three years (Section 629 of the Civil Code). For an invoice it usually starts running after the due date. As a rule, only bringing the claim before a court or an arbitrator stops it, and reminders or a letter before action have no effect on it. If the debtor acknowledges the debt in writing, a new ten-year period starts. The court will not award a time-barred debt if the debtor pleads limitation.
How much does debt recovery cost?
The costs consist of the court fee, the lawyer's fee and, where applicable, the costs of enforcement. The winning party is usually awarded its costs against the other side, including the lawyer's fee under the statutory fee scale (advokátní tarif). If you lose, you pay the other side's costs. If the debtor has no assets, you will not recover your costs either. That is why we give you an estimate of the costs and risks before filing a lawsuit and agree our fee with you in advance.
What is an electronic payment order?
It is a faster route to a court decision on payment. The application is filed on an electronic form signed by the claimant (Section 174a of the Civil Procedure Code), and the court issues a payment order without a hearing and serves it on the debtor. If the debtor does not object within 15 days of delivery, the order becomes final and can be enforced. If they object, ordinary court proceedings follow.
What should I do if the debtor is insolvent?
You need to file your claim in the insolvency proceedings within the two-month period set by the decision on insolvency. The court rejects late claims and you then receive nothing from the insolvency. Once insolvency proceedings have started, you generally cannot recover the debt by a lawsuit or enforcement, so filing the claim is the main route. Whether a debtor is insolvent can be checked in the public Insolvency Register.
What is an arbitration clause and when is it worth it?
An arbitration clause is an agreement in the contract that any dispute will be decided not by a court but by an arbitrator or a permanent arbitration court. Arbitration tends to be faster and is private, and an arbitral award is enforced in the same way as a judgment. However, there is usually no appeal, and a court can set an award aside only on narrowly defined grounds. Between businesses it can make sense. In consumer contracts it has been prohibited since 2016. Whether it suits your contract depends on the type of business and on who you are trading with.
