Director's Desk | Case Guidance
Straight answers on collections strategy, timelines and expected outcomes from InterStation's operations director.
THE DIRECTOR'S BRIEFING
Frequently requested intel
Answers to the questions finance leaders ask before engaging an international debt collection partner. If your question is not here, contact us directly — we respond within 24 hours.
Fees and Costs
The Collection Process
Legal and Jurisdictions
Intelligence and Data
Enterprise and Portfolio
How do I submit a case?
Visit our contact page and provide: your company details, the debtor's company name, jurisdiction, estimated amount, and a brief description. That is all we need to begin. Assessment is free. First contact with the debtor typically happens within 48 hours.
What information do I need to provide?
Invoice details, debtor company name, jurisdiction, and amount outstanding. If you have a signed contract, delivery confirmation, or correspondence history — even better. If you have nothing but an unpaid invoice, we have worked with less.
Is there a minimum debt amount?
No formal minimum. We assess every case on its merits. A EUR 5,000 debt in Germany with a solvent debtor is more viable than a EUR 500,000 debt in a jurisdiction with weak enforcement. We will give you an honest probability assessment.
How quickly do you begin working?
Within 24 hours. Your free intelligence report is delivered within one business day. First contact with the debtor typically occurs within 48 hours of case acceptance.
How does your success-based fee model work?
You pay nothing upfront. We charge a percentage of collected funds only — typically 10-25%, depending on jurisdiction, complexity, and amount. If we collect nothing, you owe nothing. No retainers. No hourly rates. No invoices for research time.
What about court filing fees?
Court filing fees (where applicable) are quoted separately and require your explicit approval before we file. Filing costs are typically recoverable from the debtor if we succeed. We never file without your authorisation and a clear cost estimate.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. Our fee structure is: success fee on collected amounts + court costs (if applicable, with your approval). That is the complete list. No admin fees, no communication charges, no monthly retainers, no cancellation penalties.
What if the case is unsuccessful?
You owe nothing. No collection, no fee. If we assess a case as unviable during the initial review, we will tell you before accepting it — and that assessment costs nothing.
What is your average collection rate?
85% across all jurisdictions and case types. Individual results vary by jurisdiction, debt age, and debtor solvency. We provide an honest probability assessment on Day 0.
How long does international debt collection take?
Average 45 days from case acceptance to funds transferred. Amicable phase: 14-30 days. Legal escalation (if needed): additional 30-60 days. Some jurisdictions are faster — German Mahnbescheid can produce an enforceable order in 3-4 weeks.
How do you protect our business relationship with the debtor?
Professional, diplomatic contact in the debtor's language. No threats, no harassment, no behaviour that reflects poorly on your company. We identify as acting on your behalf — this alone signals seriousness. Most business relationships survive our process. Many improve.
What happens if the debtor disputes the debt?
We assess the dispute. If it has merit, we advise you on settlement options. If it does not — and most manufactured disputes do not — we document the debtor's position and continue collection, now with evidence that the objection was examined and found wanting.
Can I track my case in real time?
Yes. Every action, debtor response, legal filing, and payment is visible through your client portal. You never need to send an email asking for an update.
Do you handle cases in my debtor's jurisdiction?
We cover 160+ jurisdictions across five continents. If your debtor is in a jurisdiction we cover — and we cover virtually all significant commercial markets — we can collect. If we cannot cover a specific jurisdiction, we will tell you upfront.
What legal instruments do you use?
Jurisdiction-specific instruments: German Mahnbescheid, French Injonction de payer, European Payment Order (27 EU states), Italian Decreto ingiuntivo, Brazilian Execução, Australian Statutory Demand, UK Letter Before Action + CCJ, and dozens of others. We deploy the instrument that works in the debtor's jurisdiction — not a one-size-fits-all process.
Can you enforce a judgment from one country in another?
In most cases, yes. EU judgments are enforceable across all 27 member states. Non-EU judgments may require recognition proceedings in the enforcement jurisdiction. We handle cross-border enforcement through our attorney network.
What about statute of limitations?
Limitation periods vary by jurisdiction — from 3 years (some countries) to 10+ years (others). We assess the applicable limitation period as part of our initial case review. If your claim is time-barred or approaching limitation, we will tell you immediately.
Where does your debtor intelligence come from?
Government company registries, national court judgment databases, commercial credit intelligence providers (Allianz Trade, Coface), EU corporate filings, and our local legal counsel network. Not scraped websites. Not AI-generated summaries. Verified data read by humans in the local language.
What is a Cross-Border Intelligence Report?
Your free assessment includes: debtor company profile (government-verified), jurisdiction risk assessment (colour-coded), legal instrument recommendation, debtor behaviour analysis, 90-day collection strategy map, and estimated net collection amount. Comparable consulting reports cost $5,000-$15,000. Ours is included free with every case submission.
Do you share my data with third parties?
No. Your case details are classified from submission. We comply with GDPR, maintain end-to-end encryption, and do not share client information with any third party except the legal counsel directly working your case.
Do you handle portfolio cases?
Yes. Portfolio clients receive dedicated account management, priority handling, volume-based pricing, and API integration with their accounting systems. Contact us to discuss enterprise arrangements.
Can you integrate with our accounting system?
Yes. API integration is available for enterprise and portfolio clients, enabling automated case submission, real-time status updates, and payment reconciliation.
Do you offer ongoing receivables management?
Yes. Beyond individual case collection, we offer portfolio monitoring, debtor risk assessment, and proactive collection triggers based on invoice ageing. Contact us for a tailored proposal.
Question not answered?
Contact us directly. We respond within 24 hours. No automated replies. No ticket numbers.