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Debt Collection Check: assess a claim in 3 minutes

Have you received a debt collection letter (Inkassoschreiben) or a demand for payment? This check asks you a few short questions and then uses a traffic-light rating to show you how serious the claim is and what you can do about it. Your answers stay entirely in your browser and are not transmitted to us.

Question 1 of 15

What kind of letter did you receive?

A court order for payment (Mahnbescheid) comes from the Amtsgericht (local court, acting as the Mahngericht), often in a yellow envelope, and carries the court's case number (Aktenzeichen). An ordinary debt collection letter, by contrast, comes from a private collection agency (Inkassounternehmen). The difference is decisive, because with a Mahnbescheid deadlines are already running.

For detailed background, see our guides Spotting unjustified collection letters and Checking the limitation period.