Debt collection letter from Germany!

Fay_elizabeth

So today I received what looks like a debt collection letter from a company called "tesch media finanz" from the purchase of a book in November 2015 for 10 euros. I remember buying this book online but I thought I paid for it at the time. The company say they sent me an invoice and a reminder (which I didn't receive) and now they have sent this debt collection letter stating I have to pay 70 euros all together by 2nd December (tomorrow) or else risk further costs.

The debt collection letter actually came to my work, as thats where I ordered the book in the first place so I'm glad I intercepted this letter as well and my boss didn't see.

Is there any getting out of this? Its a lot of money for me to lose in December.

Thanks in advance for any help.

EssexHebridean

First things first - check your bank/card statements to see if you DID pay for it. If you did, your reaction needs to be very different to if you didn't!

sourcrates

How have they come up with a figure of €70 ?

I assume the €60 hike is the debt collectors cut.

Well I'll tell you a little story, I've had all kinds of companies try to charge me "fees" for one thing and another over the years, I have never paid a single one of these charges, as I refuse to point blank, because I believed them to be disproportionate to their actual costs.

Never heard another thing about any of them, so if it turns out the book wasn't paid for, pop them €10 in an envelope, send it off with an apology, and leave it at that.

Fay_elizabeth

Yes its the debt collectors fee's.

I checked and nothing came out of my bank or paypal around then so I can only assumed it was an order and then invoice deal, which apparently is common in Germany.

They threaten to add more fee's and possible bailiff action if I don't pay. Do you think I should say I think the fee's are disproportionate to them?

Guest101

Fay_elizabeth wrote: »

Yes its the debt collectors fee's.

I checked and nothing came out of my bank or paypal around then so I can only assumed it was an order and then invoice deal, which apparently is common in Germany.

They threaten to add more fee's and possible bailiff action if I don't pay. Do you think I should say I think the fee's are disproportionate to them?

No idea on German law, but it may be best to pay - given that you haven't...

Fay_elizabeth

Guest101 wrote: »

No idea on German law, but it may be best to pay - given that you haven't...

I'd happily pay the original 10 euros, its the 70 euros that would leave me high and dry.

National_Debtline

Hi Fay_elizabeth,


If they are now chasing you in the UK for this debt then you will have a UK debt collector and in order to enforce this here (and use bailiffs) they will need to get a County Court Judgement (CCJ), if there is no CCJ you can't have bailiffs. If the matter is still in Germany then they may use the German court system to collect it, and transfer it to the UK (worse case scenario) but realistically, this is quite a small debt to chase internationally.


You can write back and ask for a breakdown of the fees, dispute them if you can, request proof of where the invoice was sent, etc. You can make them an offer to pay monthly what you can afford by showing them a SOA and make it clear you do not want any further post to your work (just be aware they may want an alternative address). Take this one letter at a time.


Laura
@natdebtline

Guest101

Fay_elizabeth wrote: »

I'd happily pay the original 10 euros, its the 70 euros that would leave me high and dry.

I suspect that option is not available. Offer to pay 10 euros a month maybe