Letter from a German debt collector? Check whether the costs are too high
A small debt often arrives in a collection letter (Inkasso) with fees higher than the debt itself. German law limits what you have to reimburse. Calculate the limit here – free, no sign-up, nothing is sent.
The limit in one sentence
You only have to reimburse collection costs up to what a lawyer would get for the same work under the German lawyers' fee act, the RVG (§ 13e Abs. 1 RDG).
How it is calculated
- Fee by the size of the claim: for an undisputed claim up to 50 € the full fee is 31.50 € (§ 13 Abs. 2 RVG); up to 500 € it is 51.50 € (§ 13 Abs. 1 RVG). Interest and costs do not count (§ 43 Abs. 1 GKG).
- A fraction of it: normally at most 0.9 times; only 0.5 times if you pay within two weeks of the first demand; 1.3 times only for especially extensive or difficult work (Nr. 2300 VV RVG).
- Expenses: 20 % of the fee, at most 20.00 € (Nr. 7002 VV RVG).
- VAT (19 %) only if the creditor cannot deduct it – the letter must say so (§ 13a Abs. 1 Nr. 6 RDG).
Example: for a main claim of 40 €, at most 40.48 € collection costs have to be reimbursed in a normal case (with VAT), 22.49 € if you pay straight away. For 500 € it is 66.19 €.
What may not be charged
- A flat fee of 40 € only exists if the debtor is not a consumer (§ 288 Abs. 5 BGB).
- Double costs: if a collection agency and a lawyer both worked, costs only count as if a lawyer had worked alone (§ 13f RDG).
What the first collection letter must state
Already in the first letter to a private person, the agency must clearly state (§ 13a Abs. 1 RDG):
- who it collects for (name and address of its client),
- what it is about: the contract, its subject and the date it was concluded,
- for interest, a calculation (amount, rate, period),
- for interest above the statutory default rate, a separate note with the reason,
- type, amount and reason of the collection costs,
- for VAT, a statement that the client cannot deduct it,
- whether your address was found elsewhere – and how to report errors,
- the supervisory authority with its address and electronic contact.
If something is missing, you may ask before paying. Whether the agency is registered is shown in the official register of legal service providers.
Is the claim already time-barred?
Many claims become time-barred after three years, counted from the end of the year. Calculate it with the limitation period calculator. Already got a yellow letter from a court? Then a two-week deadline applies: Court payment order.
General information, not legal advice. The calculator does not say whether the claim exists. If in doubt: Verbraucherzentrale or a debt advice service.