What is a collection period?
A collection period is a time-bound engagement where your collection partner has the exclusive right to work on your case under the terms of the Standard Debt Collection Agreement (SDCA). During this period, the partner contacts the debtor, negotiates payment terms, and pursues recovery on your behalf.
For a detailed explanation of how collection periods work across all users, see Collection period & exclusivity in Core Concepts.
Why it matters
Exclusivity protects the collection partner's investment in working your case. They commit resources to contact the debtor, negotiate, and follow up. Without exclusivity, partners could lose their commission even after doing most of the work. This arrangement ensures partners are motivated to pursue recovery actively.
Initial period
When you submit a case with standard terms, a 6-month collection period begins. Your collection partner has exclusive rights to work the case during this time.
Extensions
The period automatically extends by 12 months when any of the following occur:
Written promise to pay: The debtor provides a written promise to pay to either the collector or to you.
Signed payment agreement: The debtor signs an installment plan or other payment agreement.
Actual payment: The debtor makes any payment toward the debt (to the collector or directly to you).
Multiple extensions can occur, each resetting the 12-month window from the date of the triggering event.
Your restrictions during an active collection period
While the collection period is active, you cannot:
Contact the debtor directly about the claim. If the debtor reaches out to you, you may reply but should add the collector in CC and direct the debtor to contact the collector for further communication.
Engage other collection agencies or legal representatives for the same claim.
Withdraw the case without paying the full success fee. If you pull back the case during an active period, you must pay the success fee as if the debt had been fully recovered.
Receiving a direct payment from the debtor is not a breach of exclusivity. However, you must notify the collector within 3 days of receiving any direct payment.
After the collection period ends
Once the period expires without a triggering event, you may withdraw the case freely without incurring any fees. The exclusivity clause no longer applies.
Withdrawing a case
For step-by-step instructions on how to close or request withdrawal, see How to close or withdraw a case.
Where to find this in the platform
You can view your signed SDCA and Power of Attorney documents on the Contracts page in your Debitura account. The SDCA contains the full legal terms governing collection periods and exclusivity (Section 06).