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Reminder, debt collection, payment order: which stage are you at?

Last updated: October 2026

An invoice stays unpaid, then come a reminder, debt collection and, at some point, mail from the court. If you know the stages, you know how much time is left.

What does the letter mean?

1. Invoice: The invoice shows a payment date. Check whether it is correct.

2. Reminder: The creditor reminds you, often with a new deadline. You can pay, ask to pay in instalments or object.

3. Debt collection: An agency demands the money on behalf of the creditor. The letter should say who it works for, what the money is for, how interest is calculated and which costs are added. If something is missing, you can ask before you pay.

4. Payment order from the court (yellow envelope): With a payment order (Mahnbescheid), the court does not check whether the claim is justified. You can pay or object.

5. Enforcement order (Vollstreckungs­bescheid): If you did not object, it can follow. You can appeal against it.

6. Bailiff or garnishment: Now every day counts. Ask your bank for a protected account (P‑Konto) and get help at once.

Guide values for Germany, without guarantee, not legal advice. What counts is what your letter says.

Deadlines

  • Payment order: You have 2 weeks from service to pay or to object.
  • Enforcement order: The appeal usually also has to be made within 2 weeks of service.
  • The deadline starts on the day of service, not only when you open the letter. The date is on the yellow envelope.
  • Whether a claim is time‑barred depends on the individual case. Have an advice centre check this before you pay or admit anything. This is a hint, not legal advice.

What you can do

  1. Keep the yellow envelope: the date of service is on it and starts the deadline.
  2. Do not ignore the letter, even if you think the claim is wrong.
  3. Get free help: debt advice near you and legal advice assistance (Beratungshilfe) at the local court.
  4. If you want to pay in instalments, agree this in writing and write down the instalments and dates.

How Letter Explained helps you

The app shows which stage you are probably at after the letter, gives the usual deadline as a guide value, reminds you, counts the holidays of your German state, shows for debt‑collection letters which details it cannot find in the letter, and helps with a payment plan with a reminder before every instalment.

More about the app

This guide does not replace legal advice. Every letter is different: deadlines and amounts apply as they are written in your letter. If you have questions, an advice centre can help. The rules and offices mentioned apply to Germany.

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