A customer based in another country does not pay, within the EU or outside it.
What matters now
- Jurisdiction and applicable law are decisive; they often follow from the contract or the general terms.
- Within the EU there are simplified routes, such as the European order for payment procedure and, for smaller amounts, the European small claims procedure; judgments can be enforced in other member states.
- Outside the EU, much depends on treaties; an arbitral award is often easier to enforce than a judgment.
- Keep limitation in mind; it may be governed by foreign law.
- Clarify beforehand whether there is anything to recover from the customer and where its assets are. If your customer is in Germany, I can pursue the claim here directly.
Documents I need
- contract, general terms and order confirmation
- invoices, delivery documents, reminders
- correspondence with the customer
- details of the customer’s seat and registration
Next steps
Send me the documents by email to kanzlei@bauer.legal or use the appointment request, and mention any deadline that is running. I usually reply within one working day and let you know how things can proceed. You can write to me in English or German. How we work together and how fees are charged is explained under How we work together.
More: Civil and commercial law, Arbitration.
This page gives a general overview of German law and does not replace advice on the individual case.