What do debt collection agencies exactly do?
Debt collection agencies recover past-due, indisputable claims - generally on a contingency basis. More... Why engage a debt collection agency?
Because of its cost-effectiveness for clients. Clients save the expense of an entire collection administration in their own company. Owing to our contingency-based terms only a small risk affects our clientele. Vital legal sources relevant for Austrian debt collection practices:
The Austrian trading regulations (GewO), the collection practices
decree - Federal Law Gazette (BGBl) 141/96, the civil code (ABGB),
the consumer protection act (KSchG), the data protection act, the
jurisdiction norm (JN), the code of civil procedure (ZPO), the
"Zinsenrechts-Änderungsgesetz" (ZinsRÄG) - Federal Law Gazette
(BGBl) I 118/2002. How high are expenses for the debtor?
The debtor is charged with the reimbursement of all expenditure necessary and effective to carry through recovery measures which
are legally regarded as being claims for damages caused by the
debtor's delay (see article 1333 of the Austrian Civil Code). Legal proceedings:
Other than in Germany or Switzerland, Austrian collection agencies have not been allowed to legally enforce indisputable bills for decades. On account of this they co-operate with lawyers of their choice when taking legal action to enforce claims. Distraint:
Other than in Germany or Switzerland, Austrian collection agencies are not allowed to initiate legal enforcements. On account of this they co-operate with lawyers of their choice when legally enforcing claims. Full Service:
It belongs to our practice to reach an agreement with our clientele on the particular collection procedure before, during and after legal enforcement in order to minimise expenditure for our clientele. Documentation and scheduling:
It belongs to our practice to investigate and register vital details necessary for collection in compliance with the data protection act. Special computer programmes continually monitor payment dates as well as other deadlines. Complaints:
Complaints are matters of the boss. We kindly request you to address
them directly to the management. Intervention:
We take any interventions coming from legal representatives of interests, voluntary interest groups, ombudsman offices as well as other authorised offices seriously and deal with them in an objective way. Settlement offers:
Settlement offers can only be dealt with when a complete and correct
description and documentation of the relevant circumstances is given.
We are principally prepared to examine justified settlement offers
objectively and to take care of settlement hearings. Economic misfortune through no fault of one's own:
In cases of documented financial crisis through no fault of one's own,
clients and creditors are expected to accomodate debtors to a great
extent on recommendation of collection agencies. The Austrian "Privatkonkurs" (personal bankruptcy):
The Austrian "personal bankruptcy" came into force on 01.01.1995. | 
