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Payment Reminder, Mahnung or Inkasso Letter

Handle a Zahlungserinnerung, Mahnung, Inkasso letter or court Mahnbescheid in Germany: find out what kind of letter it is, check the claim and the sender, then pay or object in writing in time. Includes a Formulierungshilfe, not legal advice.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Find out what kind of letter it is

    1 day

    Letters about unpaid money differ a lot in how urgent they are:
    - Zahlungserinnerung or Mahnung: a reminder from the company you dealt with.
    - Inkasso letter: a debt collection agency or lawyer collecting for a creditor.
    - Gerichtlicher Mahnbescheid: an official form from a court (Mahngericht), delivered in a yellow envelope with the delivery date noted, and always with an objection form. You have two weeks from delivery to object.
    - Vollstreckungsbescheid: follows an unanswered Mahnbescheid; again two weeks to object (Einspruch).

    A real court letter never asks you to transfer money to the court on the spot. Never ignore a real Mahnbescheid, even if you think the claim is wrong.

    The Reminder or Demand (Mahnung / Inkassoschreiben / Mahnbescheid)
    Attach my documents

  2. Check the claim

    2 days

    Compare the demand with your own records before you pay anything. Check whether you had a contract with this creditor at all, whether you already paid, whether the amount matches the invoice, and whether the extra costs are listed one by one.

    Most everyday claims become time-barred (verjährt) three years after the end of the year in which they arose, but only if you raise this; time-barred claims can still be demanded. This is general information, not legal advice.

    • Do I know the creditor and the contract or order?
    • Have I already paid? (check bank statements)
    • Does the amount match the original invoice?
    • Are fees and interest itemised and reasonable?
    • Is the claim older than about three years?
    • Is the creditor’s full name and address given (not just a P.O. box)?
    The Reminder or Demand (Mahnung / Inkassoschreiben / Mahnbescheid)Original Invoice and Contract (Rechnung / Vertrag)Proof of Payment (Kontoauszug / Überweisungsbeleg)
    Attach my documents

  3. Check that the sender is real

    1 day

    Fake debt collection letters are common. Warning signs are a round amount without a breakdown, no named creditor, missing company details, a foreign bank account and threats of immediate court action or account seizure. Every debt collection company in Germany must be registered; you can look it up for free in the Rechtsdienstleistungsregister (lawyers are registered with their bar association). The Verbraucherzentrale keeps a list of fake senders and accounts and offers a free Inkasso-Check.

    Never pay to an account from a suspicious letter. Use the bank details from your original invoice instead.

    The Reminder or Demand (Mahnung / Inkassoschreiben / Mahnbescheid)
    Attach my documents

  4. If you owe the money: settle it sensibly

    1 day

    If the claim is correct, paying the main amount quickly stops further costs. You do not have to accept inflated extras: for consumers, late-payment interest is limited to five percentage points above the base rate, and collection fees must be reasonable. You can pay the undisputed part and dispute the rest in writing.

    Cannot pay in full? Ask the creditor for an instalment plan in writing. Be aware that agreeing to instalments or signing a debt acknowledgement (Schuldanerkenntnis) counts as accepting the claim, so only do it for money you really owe.

    Original Invoice and Contract (Rechnung / Vertrag)
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  5. Pay what you owe and keep proof

    1 day

    Transfer the amount you have confirmed you owe, using the reference number from the letter so the payment is matched. Use the bank details from the original invoice or the creditor’s official contact, not from a letter you doubt. Keep the transfer confirmation with the letter.

    Tip: If you pay a debt collector, ask for written confirmation that the matter is closed.

    Proof of Payment (Kontoauszug / Überweisungsbeleg)
    Attach my documents

  6. If you do not owe it: object in writing

    1 day

    Object straight away in writing and send it by Einwurf-Einschreiben so you have proof. Address the sender and, for an Inkasso letter, send a copy to the original creditor. Do not pay any part of a claim you dispute and do not sign anything you do not understand.

    Formulierungshilfe (example wording, adapt it to your case):
    "Ihre Forderung vom [Datum], Zeichen [Nummer]: Ich widerspreche der Forderung. [Kurzer Grund, z. B. Ich habe keinen Vertrag mit Ihnen geschlossen / Ich habe am [Datum] bezahlt, Beleg anbei.] Bitte weisen Sie mir die Forderung im Einzelnen nach. [Ort, Datum, Unterschrift]"

    This is a wording aid, not legal advice.

    Proof of Payment (Kontoauszug / Überweisungsbeleg)
    Attach my documents

  7. Court Mahnbescheid: object within two weeks

    1 day

    If you received a court Mahnbescheid and dispute the claim, fill in the enclosed objection form (Widerspruch) and make sure it reaches the court within two weeks of delivery; send it by Einwurf-Einschreiben. The court does not check whether the claim is justified, so silence lets the creditor get an enforceable Vollstreckungsbescheid. Against that, you have two weeks to file an Einspruch.

    If you only dispute part of the claim, you can object to that part. When in doubt, get advice before the deadline.

  8. Get help if you are unsure or cannot pay

    7 days

    Your local Verbraucherzentrale advises on reminders and debt collection letters for a small fee. If you cannot pay several debts, free debt counselling (Schuldnerberatung) is offered by welfare organisations and many cities; it helps you sort out what is owed and talk to creditors. People on a low income can apply for Beratungshilfe at the local court (Amtsgericht) to get legal advice for a small fee.

Documents you'll need

The Reminder or Demand (Mahnung / Inkassoschreiben / Mahnbescheid)Keep the letter and the envelope. For a court Mahnbescheid, the delivery date on the envelope starts the two-week deadline.
Original Invoice and Contract (Rechnung / Vertrag)Shows what was agreed and what is owed. Compare amounts, dates and the creditor name with the demand.
Proof of Payment (Kontoauszug / Überweisungsbeleg)If you already paid, this is the key evidence. Also keep proof of any payment you make now.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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