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Commercial debt recovery in Spain follows a defined three-phase process for B2B overseas creditors: the amicable phase (burofax + field visits, resolving 60–70% of cases), the legal phase anchored by the procedimiento monitorio (LEC Art. 812) which delivers enforceable title in 20–45 days for undisputed documented debts, and the enforcement phase via embargo de cuentas or embargo de bienes. The Ley de Morosidad (Ley 3/2004 / Ley 15/2010) underpins the process: ECB + 8 pp interest accruing from Day 1 of the burofax, plus the €40 fixed recovery cost per invoice. Commercial limitation: 5 years.

The Commercial Recovery Process: What Happens at Each Stage

Commercial recovery timelineTypical B2B case: 1–8 weeks
Day 1
Burofax + Case Assessment
Certified postal demand dispatched. Debtor solvency checked (Registro Mercantil, ASNEF, RAI). Interest clock starts. Field visit scheduled.
Days 2-3
Field Visit
Agent at debtor’s registered and operational premises. Identifies decision-maker. Changes the debtor’s risk calculation immediately.
60%
Days 5-30
Negotiation Phase
Most commercial debtors respond within 30 days when facing credible local agency with court access. Settlement includes statutory interest.
70%
Day 10+
Monitorio Filing
Court application submitted. Debtor served by court. 20 days to pay or contest. Uncontested cases produce enforceable title in 20–45 days from filing.
85%+
Post-title
Enforcement
Embargo de cuentas executed by court order. Bank freezes and transfers funds. Property charges registered. Receivables seized. Assets sold by court order if needed.
95%+

What Commercial Recovery Costs at Each Stage

Amicable phase
5-18%
Contingency on recovery. Zero if case fails.
Monitorio filing
€800-2.5k
Agreed upfront. Separate from contingency.
Ley de Morosidad
ECB+8%
Claimable from debtor. Auto-accrues from Day 1.

A Singapore electronics distributor owed €120,000 by a Valencia-based consumer electronics company, 104 days overdue. Two prior invoices had been paid promptly — this one went silent. Assessment: solvent debtor, no ASNEF listing, recent job ads on LinkedIn. Day 1: burofax. Day 4: field agent at Valencia registered offices. Director present. Day 5: debtor’s CFO contacts agency — cash flow issue, proposes a payment plan (€40,000 immediate + €80,000 over 60 days). Agency counters: €120,000 + interest (€3,720) within 10 days or monitorio filed. Day 8: full payment €123,720. Commercial recovery process: 8 days.

Commercial debt from a Spanish company?

Spain-based commercial recovery team. No upfront fees.

24hassessment
€0upfront
20-45dmonitorio
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