"Best" is doing a lot of work in that search query. Best for what? A €15,000 disputed invoice from a Barcelona tech company requires different capabilities than a €500,000 undisputed debt from a Madrid construction firm. The agency that's optimal for one may be entirely wrong for the other.
Rather than ranking agencies — which would be meaningless without knowing your specific situation — here's how to evaluate them against the criteria that actually determine recovery outcomes.
The Five Criteria That Matter
1. Physical presence in the debtor's country. For Spanish debts, this means offices and staff in Spain. Not "coverage" of Spain through a referral network. Not a London office that forwards files to an unnamed local partner. An agent who can visit your debtor's premises in Seville, call them in Spanish, and file in a Spanish court. This is the single highest-impact factor in international debt recovery, and it's the easiest to verify. Ask where their office is. If the answer is vague, keep looking.
2. B2B commercial specialisation. Consumer debt collection and commercial debt recovery are different disciplines. The legal tools differ, the debtor dynamics differ, and the negotiation approaches differ. An agency built for volume consumer collections — credit cards, personal loans, utility bills — isn't equipped for a complex international commercial dispute. Ask what percentage of their caseload is B2B. Below 70%, their expertise is elsewhere.
3. Integrated legal capability. Amicable collection resolves most commercial debts. When it doesn't, the agency needs seamless access to legal proceedings — Spanish attorneys who can file a monitorio, represent you in juicio ordinario, and execute enforcement. Ask whether legal escalation is handled in-house or referred to an external firm. In-house is faster, cheaper, and maintains case continuity.
4. Transparent fee structure. No-win, no-fee for the amicable phase is standard. Commission rates (5–15% for commercial debts), legal cost allocation, exclusivity terms, and reporting frequency should all be clear before you sign. If the fee structure requires explanation, that's a signal.
5. Verifiable recovery data. Not marketing claims — actual recovery statistics segmented by debt amount, age, and type. An agency that can provide "our recovery rate for commercial debts of €50,000–€200,000, aged 60–90 days, in the manufacturing sector" has the case volume and tracking systems to support their claims. An agency that can only offer an aggregate "we recover 85% of cases" is either too small to segment or doesn't want you to see the detail.
What to Ignore
Global network size. "We operate in 190 countries" describes a referral network, not operational presence. What matters is their capability in Spain, where your debtor and your money are.
Website design. A polished website is marketing spend, not collection competence. Some of the most effective agencies in Spain have websites that look like they were built in 2015. Some of the least effective have beautiful sites with stock photography and vague promises.
BBB ratings and review sites. These primarily reflect consumer debt collection complaints, not B2B commercial performance. A consumer-focused agency with an A+ BBB rating may be excellent at collecting credit card debts and entirely wrong for your €200,000 Spanish manufacturing dispute.
How to Start the Evaluation
Contact 2–3 agencies with a brief description of your debt: amount, debtor location, industry, age, and documentation quality. A competent Spain-based agency will provide a preliminary assessment within 48 hours — including an honest opinion about recoverability. If an agency promises guaranteed results before reviewing your documentation, they're selling, not assessing.
Compare the assessments. The best agency for your case is the one that asks the most detailed questions about your documentation and the debtor, provides the most specific recovery estimate, and gives the clearest explanation of what happens at each stage of the process.
FAQ
Is the cheapest agency the best value?
No. A 5% commission with a 50% recovery rate produces less money than an 8% commission with an 80% recovery rate. The agency's effectiveness matters more than the rate. Evaluate total expected recovery (net of fees), not the commission percentage in isolation.
Should I try multiple agencies simultaneously?
No. Multiple agencies contacting the same debtor creates confusion, undermines each agency's authority, and often gives the debtor an excuse to delay ("I'll wait until you sort out who's handling this"). Engage one agency, give them a reasonable period (3–6 months), and evaluate results before considering alternatives.
Alan Perez
💥 World citizen / 🛵 Tourist, Senior Debt Collection Manager, Business Debt Claims Expert
