Dunning & debt collection chain (Mahnung / Inkasso / Mahnbescheid)

Level 1 · BasicsDE · 2026 figures

German termMahnung / Inkasso / Mahnbescheid

The debt collection chain is the escalating sequence a creditor in Germany follows to recover an unpaid debt — from a private Mahnung (dunning notice), through a licensed Inkassobüro (debt collection agency), to a court-issued Mahnbescheid (payment order) and, if unresolved, enforcement. Each stage adds cost, a fixed legal deadline, and risk to the debtor's credit record.

Why it matters

Missing a payment deadline in Germany is not an instant crisis — the chain runs through several fixed, calendar-driven checkpoints before a claim becomes enforceable. Knowing which stage a letter represents (Mahnung versus Inkasso versus Mahnbescheid) determines what response actually matters: paying, negotiating a Ratenzahlung (installment plan), or filing a formal objection within a strict deadline. Ignoring a letter at the wrong stage — especially a court-issued Mahnbescheid — can turn a disputed or even mistaken claim into an enforceable court title. The stage that most affects daily life afterward is the negative entry the case typically leaves in a credit file once it reaches a collection agency or court, which can complicate renting an apartment or opening accounts later.

Worked example

A €500 unpaid invoice, escalating over several months. Anna misses an invoice due in April. The creditor may first send a Zahlungserinnerung (payment reminder) — a courtesy notice with no legal weight — followed by a formal Mahnung. Once Anna is in Verzug (default) under §286 BGB, statutory default interest on the debt accrues automatically: for consumer debts, §288 BGB sets this at the Basiszinssatz (base rate) plus 5 percentage points, which is 6.52% per year as of July 2026 [1][2] — on €500, that is roughly 500 x 0.0652 = €32.60 per full year outstanding.

If Anna still doesn't pay or dispute the claim, the creditor can assign it to an Inkassobüro, which adds its own collection fees on top of the invoice and accrued interest, or apply directly to the Mahngericht (dunning court, a specialized court that only checks the claim is formally in order) for a Mahnbescheid. From the date it is served, Anna has exactly two weeks to file a Widerspruch (objection) under §692–694 ZPO. Filing it moves the dispute into ordinary civil proceedings, where a court examines whether the claim is actually valid. Missing that window lets the creditor request a Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order) under §699 ZPO — an enforceable title that opens the door to Zwangsvollstreckung (enforcement, e.g., wage garnishment or a bailiff visit).

Stage	German term	Issued by	Debtor's key action
Reminder	Zahlungserinnerung	Creditor	None required (no legal weight)
Dunning notice	Mahnung	Creditor	Pay, or negotiate a Ratenzahlung
Collection referral	Inkassobüro	Private agency (creditor's agent)	Verify the claim; negotiate directly
Court payment order	Mahnbescheid	Mahngericht	File Widerspruch within 2 weeks if disputed
Enforcement order	Vollstreckungsbescheid	Mahngericht	Case now an enforceable title if unopposed

Check yourself

Which stage in the German debt-collection chain first creates a court-enforceable title against the debtor (one that allows wage garnishment or a bailiff visit)?

The Mahnung (dunning notice) from the creditorThe referral to an Inkassobüro (collection agency)The Mahnbescheid (court payment order) itselfThe Vollstreckungsbescheid (enforcement order)

A debtor receives a Mahnbescheid and disagrees with the underlying claim (e.g. thinks it was already paid). What must the debtor do within two weeks of service to have a court examine the claim itself?

Pay the amount immediately to stop further costIgnore the letter, since the creditor still has to prove the claim laterFile a Widerspruch (objection) with the MahngerichtCall the Inkassobüro that originally sent the letters

In 2026, the statutory default interest rate for a consumer debt under §288 BGB is the Basiszinssatz (base rate, 1.52% as of July 2026) plus 5 percentage points, i.e. 6.52% per year. Approximately how many euros of default interest accrue over one full year on an unpaid €500 debt at this rate?

Which of the following statements about the German debt-collection chain are correct? (Select all that apply.)

A Mahnbescheid is issued by the Mahngericht (dunning court) without the court checking whether the underlying claim is actually validAn Inkassobüro is a private collection agency, not a court or a public authorityA Mahnung must be issued by a court before a creditor can go to a collection agencyFiling a Widerspruch against a Mahnbescheid ends the matter completely, with no further proceedings

Why it matters​

Worked example​

Check yourself​

Sources​

Why it matters

Worked example

Check yourself

Sources