What are custom case terms?
Custom case terms (technically the CustomTermsForCases field) is a plain-text note stored on a client’s record in Debitura. Debitura staff use this field to communicate any special conditions to collection partners - for example, a negotiated fee arrangement, unique payment handling, or other client-specific instructions.
The field appears as a “See custom terms” link in the partner portal. When a partner opens it, a modal displays the full text. Most clients on the platform do not have custom terms - the field is empty unless a specific arrangement has been agreed.
It is important to understand that this text field is purely informational. It has no effect on pricing calculations, case routing, or any automated business logic. The actual pricing overrides for custom deals are stored in signed contract appendix documents, not in this text field.
Why do custom case terms exist?
The Standard Debt Collection Agreement (SDCA) defines default success fee rates based on claim size, jurisdiction, and debt age. These standard rates cover the majority of cases on the platform: undisputed claims of common types (unpaid invoices and loan repayments).
However, some client relationships involve non-standard arrangements. Common reasons include:
A high-volume client has negotiated lower fees as part of a special agreement.
A specific case involves a non-standard claim type (such as breach of contract or property damage) that requires a custom quote rather than standard pricing.
A disputed claim has been removed from standard “no cure, no pay” pricing and requires a separate fee arrangement.
When such an arrangement is agreed, the actual fee numbers are recorded in a signed collection appendix (a contract document). The custom terms text field then provides a human-readable summary of that arrangement so collection partners can see what was agreed.
How custom case terms work
The custom terms text is stored on the client (creditor) record. Because it lives at the client level, the same terms apply to all cases created by that client without any additional configuration.
Where custom terms appear
Client (creditor portal):
Settings page (Custom Terms settings page): displays any custom terms configured for the client’s account.
Individual case invoices: a “See custom terms” link appears on each case invoice and opens a modal with the full text.
Collection partner (partner portal):
Invoice details page: displays custom terms for cases belonging to clients that have custom terms configured.
Start-invoice flow: when a partner opens a newly assigned case to accept or reject it, the custom terms are displayed before the partner confirms. This is the primary moment where a partner is exposed to the client’s special conditions.
Both locations show a “See custom terms” link that opens a modal with the full text.
Debitura (Backend Admin):
Debitura staff read and manage the custom terms on the creditor management view in the Backend Admin portal.
Custom terms vs pricing overrides
Custom case terms and pricing overrides are two distinct mechanisms that are often set up together when negotiating a custom deal for a client, but they operate independently:
Custom case terms (the text field) - a plain-text note on the client record. Displayed to partners in a modal. Never read by the pricing service. Serves as a human-readable summary of what was agreed.
Pricing overrides (appendix fields) - actual fee percentages stored on signed contract entities (creditor term or collection partner term records). These fields are read by the pricing service during fee calculation and determine the success fee charged.
When a custom deal is agreed, the usual practice is to update both: the signed appendix contract receives the actual fee percentages, and the custom terms text field receives a human-readable summary for partner visibility. However, the two are maintained independently - updating one does not automatically update the other.
Custom terms complement the signed contracts described in Contracts and signatures. They are not a contract themselves. Clients still sign the Standard Debt Collection Agreement and any required Power of Attorney.
If anything on this page conflicts with the Standard Debt Collection Agreement (SDCA), the SDCA is the legally binding source of truth.
Impact by actor
Client:
A client may have custom terms configured on their account, reflecting a negotiated arrangement with Debitura.
Clients can view their custom terms on the Settings page in the client portal.
The terms apply automatically to all new cases created by the client.
Collection Partner:
Partners see custom terms on the invoice details page and when reviewing newly assigned cases (start-invoice flow).
The terms help the partner understand any special conditions that apply to the client’s cases before accepting or declining.
Custom terms are informational - they do not change how the partner’s fee is calculated (that is determined by the signed contract appendix).
Debitura:
Debitura staff manage custom terms through the Backend Admin portal.
When a custom deal is set up, staff typically update both the signed contract appendix (for pricing) and the custom terms text field (for partner visibility).
Changes made through Backend Admin may take up to 24 hours to appear in the client portal due to caching.
What to expect
Custom terms are not common. Most clients use the standard SDCA pricing with no special conditions. When custom terms are present, partners see a “See custom terms” link on relevant case pages. The terms text is informational only - it does not change fee calculations, which are determined by the signed contract appendix.