Checklist for Debt Collection in Poland

10 years (ordinary term for commercial and civil debts, special regimes apply: professiona sales 2 years, service agreements 2 years or 3 years)

Acknowledgement of debt, court action aimed at recovery

Not mandatory (but strongly recommended as preliminary proof)

Depending on the value of the claim: District Court/Sąd Rejonowy (up to €25,000) or Regional Court/Sąd Okręgowy (for higher amounts)

A formal proxy in simple written form, no notarization is required

Contract, invoices, statements of account, reminders, any acknowledgement of debt, useful correspondence

12-18 months

Postępowanie nakazowe, Postępowanie upominawcze (Payment injunction). Average duration 1 month, if there is no opposition you can proceed to enforcement)

Out-of-court costs to be paid by the creditor; in court, legal fees may be recovered from the debtor but only to the level of fees prescribed by the legal provisions (usually lower than market prices)

Under Italian law, in commercial transactions the creditor is automatically entitled to interest on arrears, calculated at the National Polish Bankrate plus 10 percentage points.