5,0/5 Google · 167 reviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.Period: October 2016 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
Receivables management for outstanding business claims
The open item becomes a measure
Invoices remain unpaid despite reminders, customers dispute the performance or outstanding amounts are straining liquidity? We check whether the claim is due, provable and economically worth pursuing, and choose the right next step.
Please enter a short description first.
The first contact is free of charge. We will tell you explicitly before any costs arise.
Response within 24 hours on working days
As of: 23 October 2026
Checkpoints3 of 5
- Due date and defaultPresent
- Contract matches the invoicePresent
- Acceptance and proof of performanceCheck
- Debtor data up to datePresent
- Action or summary proceedingsseparate stepMissing
Point of review: Which objections can be expected from the other side?
- 1Send documentsInvoice and history
- 2Check routeClaim and objections
- 3EnforcePayment or court title
Schematic illustration. Simplified example.
We enforce for
- IT service providers
- SaaS providers
- Agencies
- Online retailers
- Telecoms providers
Key points at a glance
- An unpaid invoice becomes a case for a lawyer when payment fails to arrive, objections are raised or a court title is not paid.
- We examine the claim, evidence, objections and economic benefit before we escalate.
- We then choose between a payment demand, summary payment proceedings, an action, a settlement and enforcement.
- ITMR focuses on B2B claims from IT, SaaS, e-commerce, telecommunications and agency services.
- Your contact is Andreas Buchholz and his team. He is a specialist lawyer for IT law. Response within 24 hours on working days.
- SaaS
- Software as a Service. Software used over the internet rather than installed.
- Debt collection
- Collection of outstanding claims for the creditor, out of court or in court.
Starting position
When does an unpaid invoice become a case?
When the next reminder no longer achieves anything and a decision is needed.
An invoice can be justified and still fail if the contract, acceptance, communication or debtor data do not fit together.
The customer does not pay. The invoice and reminder are on file, the deadline has expired and the other side does not respond or postpones payment without a plausible reason.
The performance is challenged. After the project ends, the customer disputes acceptance, quality, scope or usability, although in your view the remuneration is due.
Outstanding amounts are growing. Many open items tie up liquidity and internal time. Accounting sends reminders, but an effective next step is missing.
A court title does not yet bring payment. An order for payment, judgment or settlement exists, but no payment is received.
- For whom
- Businesses with their own claims
- Focus
- B2B, IT, SaaS, e-commerce, telecoms, agencies
- Routes
- Demand, summary proceedings, action, enforcement
- Court steps
- separately and on request
The damage is not caused solely by the missing payment. Outstanding claims tie up resources, create coordination effort and weaken predictability. Receivables management by a lawyer makes a clean break and turns the claim into a concrete measure.
With digital services, the unpaid invoice is only the surface. Beneath it lie questions of access, provision, term, termination, suspension, usage data, service levels, acceptance and technical documentation.
Anyone who wants to enforce payments from IT projects, SaaS contracts, platform models, online retail or telecommunications services must take the contractual and technical situation into account. This is where our receivables management differs from standard debt collection.
Timing matters. Limitation, questions of evidence, service and debtor data should not be sorted out only when the turn of the year or proceedings are approaching.
Describe your claim via the form. We will get back to you within 24 hours on working days.
Process
How does enforcement of a claim work?
In three steps from the open item to payment or a court title.
01
Send documents The invoice, contract, order, proof of performance, reminders and communication are enough for an initial assessment.
02
Check route We clarify whether the claim appears enforceable, which objections are likely and whether a payment demand, summary payment proceedings, an action or enforcement is the better route.
03
Enforce We assert the claim as lawyers, prepare it for proceedings and pursue it at the appropriate level of escalation.
What happens in the proceedings
- 1
Send a demand to the other side The payment demand sets out the claim, deadline and consequence precisely, without opening up unnecessary points of attack.
- 2
Obtain a court title If necessary, summary payment proceedings, an action or a settlement follow. Court steps are agreed separately.
- 3
Realise payment Where a court title exists, we check which enforcement measure appears economically sensible.
How long does it take? We complete most work steps within a few working days. How fast it goes depends on the scope and on your responses. Do you have a fixed date, such as a deadline? Tell us right away in your enquiry and we will plan for it.
Service
What do you know after the review?
Receivables management service package
Whether the claim can be pursued Assessment of due date, contract, invoice, performance status, reminders, debtor data and previous objections.
Which documents are missing Review of whether the order, acceptance, proof of performance, receipt, communication or usage data should be supplemented.
Which escalation fits We choose a payment demand, summary payment proceedings (Mahnverfahren), action, settlement or enforcement case by case, not by rote.
How the other side is addressed Communication focuses on payment, deadline, basis of the claim and consequence.
Whether the effort is worthwhile We look at the amount of the claim, evidence, debtor structure, procedural costs and chances of recovery together.
How future cases run better For recurring outstanding amounts, we improve invoicing, dunning, data handover and contract documentation.
- For whom
- Businesses with their own outstanding claims
- First response
- within 24 hours on working days
- Costs
- We tell you the costs transparently before you instruct us.
- Not included
- Debt advice for private individuals. Summary payment proceedings, action and enforcement as separate stages, on request and as needed.
Who delivers what and who decides
- Invoice, reminder and outstanding amount
- Contract, order or quotation
- Proof of performance and acceptance
- Communication with the debtor
- Review of claim and objections
- Payment demand from a lawyer
- Recommendation on the procedural route
- Preparation of court title and enforcement
- You, on escalation and settlement
- In a dispute, the court
How does the engagement work?
- 1
First assessment You describe the claim via the form. We assess which route fits. The first contact is free of charge.
- 2
Offer Before we start, we tell you the scope and costs transparently.
- 3
Court steps separately We agree court proceedings, representation in court and enforcement separately.
Checkpoints
What should be clear before summary proceedings or an action?
Six points that determine enforceability.
| Criterion | Why it matters | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Due date and reminder | Without a clear due date and deadline, there is no starting point for the consequences of default. | Invoice, payment term, reminder with deadline. |
| Contract and description of services | The order, quotation, terms and conditions or amendment must match the invoice and the course of the project. | Quotation, order, description of services. |
| Acceptance, access and use | For digital services, handovers, logs and usage data determine the strength of the evidence. | Acceptance report, logins, tickets, email threads. |
| Objections from the other side | Notice of defects, refusal of acceptance, set-off, termination or retention change the route. | Letters from the other side, list of defects. |
| Debtor and company data | A wrong company name, outdated address or unclear contracting party make service and enforcement more difficult. | Commercial register extract, current address. |
| Economic benefit | Amount, prospects, costs and time window must fit together. | Amount of the claim, solvency, deadlines. |
Types of claims
Which claims is the package suitable for?
For businesses' own claims that can no longer be dealt with on the side.
Outstanding remuneration from IT projects, software development, hosting, cloud, SaaS or technical services.
Unpaid invoices for agency services, consulting, web design, content, marketing or retainers.
Arrears from online retail, platform business, digital products or memberships.
Claims from provider, connection, service, usage or billing disputes.
Many similar claims and enforcement of existing court titles or settlements.
Debt advice for private individuals and pure standard letters without review.
Weak points
What weakens an outstanding claim?
Four mistakes we avoid in practice.
Further follow-up emails cost time and dilute your position if the deadline, amount and consequence remain vague.
If the description of services, acceptance, amendments and invoice diverge, the payment question turns into a dispute about the whole project.
Summary payment proceedings are strong for quantified claims that are likely to be undisputed. If a defence is expected, different preparation is needed.
A judgment or enforcement order alone does not bring money. Without a recovery check, the title remains a document.
Several claims
What applies to many outstanding claims?
With a portfolio, preparation determines speed and costs.
Prepare the portfolio
- Check the data set Which claims are fully documented, which are uncertain, which should not be pursued further?
- Group cases Undisputed claims, disputed services, chargebacks, termination cases and old claims need different routes.
Facilitate handover We prepare invoice data, dunning history and contact details so that processing and proceedings do not stall.
Legal framework
Which rules apply to default and enforcement?
Under Section 286(3) BGB (German Civil Code), the debtor is in default at the latest 30 days after the due date and receipt of the invoice. A reminder with a deadline creates clarity earlier.
In business-to-business transactions, default interest under Section 288(2) BGB is nine percentage points above the base rate. Section 288(5) BGB additionally grants a statutory flat-rate default charge.
The regular limitation period under Section 195 BGB is three years. Under Section 199 BGB, it begins at the end of the year in which the claim arose.
Court summary payment proceedings are governed by Sections 688 et seq. ZPO (German Code of Civil Procedure). Enforcement of a court title follows Sections 704 et seq. ZPO.
- Section 286 BGB Default of the debtor.
- Section 288 BGB Default interest and flat-rate default charge.
- Section 195 BGB Regular limitation period.
- Section 199 BGB Start of the limitation period.
- Section 688 ZPO Admissibility of summary payment proceedings.
- Section 704 ZPO Enforceable final judgments.
Alternatives
When does another package fit better?
Not every situation is a payment issue.
- 1
Initial consultation If it is still open whether the claim should be pursued legally, economically or tactically.
- 2
Send a warning letter If the focus is on cessation or removal, not payment.
- 3
Review IT contract If remuneration, acceptance, rights or scope of services are already set up for dispute in the contract.
- 4
IT Law & Digitalisation If the claim is part of a larger contract, platform or compliance problem.
What we do not promise
- We do not promise that payment will be received. It depends on the evidence and the debtor's ability to pay.
- For disputed claims, every procedure carries a litigation risk, which we disclose in advance.
- The other side's costs and court costs follow the statutory rules.
Your contact
Lawyer · Partner · Specialist lawyer for IT law · External data protection officer · Data protection officer [TÜV]
View profile Düsseldorf, Schirmerstraße 80 · Hamburg, Palmaille 124
ReviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.
What clients say
5,0 von 5 · 71 Bewertungen auf anwalt.dePeriod: October 2018 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
“The other side's original claim was reduced considerably and the case was concluded with a fair settlement.” (translated from German)
“He and the ITMR team handle various matters for us relating to cold acquisition, contract law (B2C and B2B), receivables management, trademark law and trademark protection. … A market participant infringed our trademark rights. … Two hours later the cease-and-desist declaration was with the other party.” (translated from German)
“Most recently we won a lawsuit in which we were represented by Mr Buchholz. A super straightforward process, everything turned out as discussed and hoped for.” (translated from German)
FAQ
What do businesses ask about receivables management?
When should I bring in a lawyer for receivables management?
As soon as internal reminders lead nowhere, objections are raised, several outstanding amounts arise, proceedings are to be prepared or a court title remains unpaid.
Does debt collection also make sense for disputed claims?
Yes, but the route is different. For disputed claims, we examine objections, evidence and litigation risk more closely. A standard letter is then not enough.
When are court summary payment proceedings (Mahnverfahren) appropriate?
When the claim is clearly quantified and no extensive defence is to be expected. If there is a clear dispute about performance, acceptance or the contract, an action is the more obvious route.
What happens if the customer alleges defects?
We check whether the defects affect the payment claim, what evidence is available and whether payment, a settlement or a court decision makes more sense.
Can you handle many claims at the same time?
Yes. Then data quality, groups of claims, dunning history, documents and sensible prioritisation are what matter.
Do you also help if a court title already exists?
Yes. If there is a judgment, enforcement order or settlement, we review and prepare enforcement as the next stage.
Is this about classic debt collection?
The focus is on outstanding business receivables from contracts, projects, digital services, e-commerce, telecommunications and ongoing business relationships.
Next step
Should your outstanding claim be reviewed?
If an invoice remains unpaid, objections are raised or a court title is not paid, the claim should be turned into a concrete measure. For the initial assessment, the case does not have to be perfectly prepared.
Helpful for your enquiry
- Invoice, reminder and outstanding amount
- Contract, order or description of services
- Proof of performance, access or acceptance
- Objections and communication from the other side
- Details of the debtor, company and address
You can also submit documents after our first response.
Have your claim reviewed
For businesses with outstanding claims from contracts, projects and digital services.
Describe your claim, clarify the route to enforcement.
Related services
Initial consultation For unsorted situations.IT contract / software contract Remuneration and acceptance.Send a warning letter Cease-and-desist claims.Service packages All packages.