If anything in this page conflicts with the signed Standard Debt Collection Agreement, the signed SDCA is the legally binding source of truth.
Definition and scope
The SDCA covers undisputed monetary claims handled in the pre-legal (amicable) phase. Each claim must have a minimum principal of $100 USD. The agreement takes effect upon digital signature and applies to all cases submitted through Debitura.
Key boundaries:
Pre-legal collection only — legal action requires a separate agreement between the Client and Collection Partner.
Debitura provides software infrastructure; it is not itself a collection agency or law firm.
Financial transactions occur directly between the Client and Collection Partner; Debitura is not liable for either party's actions.
For a deeper explanation of pre-legal vs. legal stages, see Case stages: pre-legal vs. legal.
Pricing: No Cure No Pay
The Collection Partner operates on a No Cure No Pay basis: the Client pays no upfront fees and only pays a success fee if the debt is recovered. This model applies to all standard pre-legal cases. For a full explanation of how fees are calculated, see Success fees: how pricing is calculated.
Success fee grid
Success fees are calculated as a percentage of the recovered principal amount. Rates depend on claim size and whether the case is classified as European or International.
European cases
Europe includes all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the UK, and Switzerland.
Principal (USD) | Success Fee |
$100 – $999 | 20% |
$1,000 – $149,999 | 9.5% |
$150,000+ | 6% |
International cases
Any jurisdiction outside Europe as defined above.
Principal (USD) | Success Fee |
$100 – $999 | 30% |
$1,000 – $7,999 | 20% |
$8,000 – $74,999 | 15% |
$75,000 – $149,999 | 10% |
$150,000+ | 7.5% |
Age-based surcharges
Additional fees apply to older claims:
Claims older than 12 months: +10% added to the standard success fee.
Claims older than 24 months: +20% added to the standard success fee.
These surcharges are cumulative with the base success fee. For details, see Age-based fee surcharges.
Additional fees and costs
Beyond the success fee, other costs may apply:
Late-payment fees and interest: Collected from the debtor and retained by the Collection Partner.
VAT: Applied based on the Collection Partner's jurisdiction.
Exchange-rate and banking fees: Borne by the Client and deducted from the recovered amount.
Discounts: Require written Client approval; the success fee is calculated on the amount actually paid.
See Additional fees & charges for a complete breakdown.
Collection period and exclusivity
Upon case submission, a six-month collection period begins. During this period:
The Collection Partner has exclusive rights to collect the claim.
The Client may not engage other agencies or contact the debtor directly about the claim (except to redirect the debtor to the Collection Partner).
The Client may not withdraw the case without paying the full success fee as if the claim had been collected.
Automatic extensions
The collection period extends by 12 months if:
The debtor provides a written promise to pay.
A written payment agreement is signed.
The debtor makes any payment after case submission.
After the collection period ends, the Client may withdraw without fees and exclusivity no longer applies. For a deeper look, see Collection period & exclusivity.
Payments and disbursement
The debtor may pay into the Collection Partner's trust account or directly to the Client, depending on local compliance requirements.
After recovery, the Collection Partner deducts:
The success fee.
Any interest, late-payment fees, and debtor-paid costs (retained by the Collection Partner).
Applicable VAT.
The remaining principal is disbursed to the Client within 30 business days of recovery.
Direct payments
If the debtor pays the Client directly, the Client must notify the Collection Partner within three days. The Client remains obligated to pay the success fee; the Collection Partner will invoice accordingly.
Installments
The Collection Partner may arrange installment plans of up to six months without prior Client approval. Longer plans require written Client consent. Payments are distributed pro-rata between the success fee and the Client's share. See Installment plans for details.
For a full overview of fund flows, see Payments, payouts & invoicing.
Escalation to legal action
Legal action is outside the scope of the SDCA. If a case requires legal intervention:
The Collection Partner (or Debitura's legal network) provides a custom quote.
The Client and Collection Partner agree on terms before proceeding.
A separate agreement governs legal action; Debitura is not a party to it.
For more on legal escalation, see Case stages: pre-legal vs. legal.
Power of Attorney (PoA)
Before a case is assigned, the Client signs a Power of Attorney authorizing the specific Collection Partner to act on the Client's behalf for that case. The PoA remains valid for all subsequent cases handled by the same Collection Partner.
Where to find this in the platform
Clients: View and download the signed SDCA and PoA documents from the Contracts page in the Client portal.
Collection Partners: View the signed SDCA and partnership agreement from the Contracts page in the Partner portal.
Impact by actor
Client
Pays no upfront fees; only pays a success fee when debt is recovered.
Must provide requested case information and notify the Collection Partner of direct payments or disputes.
Cannot engage other agencies or withdraw during the collection period without paying the full success fee.
Collection Partner
Collects debt in compliance with local laws and updates case status on the platform.
Retains interest, late fees, and debtor-paid costs as additional compensation.
Must disburse the Client's share within 30 business days of recovery.
Debtor
Contacted by the Collection Partner during the pre-legal phase.
May pay into the Collection Partner's trust account or directly to the Client (depending on case setup).
Responsible for any legally applicable interest and late fees.
Debitura
Provides the platform infrastructure connecting Clients and Collection Partners.
May share case data with Collection Partners and legal network partners to facilitate recovery.
Is not a party to financial transactions or legal action agreements.