Client not paying? — Belgium 🇧🇪
Friendly reminder
Send a polite email reminder with the invoice attached. Most late payments end here.
Formal written notice (ingebrekestelling / mise en demeure)
A formal demand letter, typically by registered mail, stating the amount, deadline, and consequences. Often a required step before further action in Belgium.
Late payment interest & fixed compensation
Belgian law provides for late-payment interest and recovery costs on B2B invoices (Law of 2 August 2002). Exact rates must be verified by a licensed professional.
Offer a payment plan
If the client has cash-flow trouble, a written installment agreement can recover the money while keeping the relationship.
Debt collection or lawyer
Engage a collection agency, bailiff (gerechtsdeurwaarder/huissier), or lawyer. For undisputed B2B debts, simplified procedures may exist — verify with a professional.
Court proceedings
As a last resort, claims go before the competent court (e.g., ondernemingsrechtbank / tribunal de l'entreprise). Get legal advice first.