What’s the Debt Collection Legal Procedure in Turkey?

Debt collection in Türkiye can be challenging, especially for foreign individuals and companies unfamiliar with the Turkish legal system. At Bayraktar Attorneys, we provide comprehensive legal services for international clients to help recover unpaid debts through effective enforcement strategies.

Our Legal Approach: Structured and Transparent

We begin by understanding your specific case and provide a detailed PDF legal service proposal tailored to your situation. However, in many urgent matters, clients seek a quick estimation. For those cases, we offer initial assessments to help you make informed decisions without delay.

Step 1: Payment Order to the Debtor

The first legal step in collecting a debt in Türkiye is sending an official payment order (ödeme emri) to the debtor. This is done through the enforcement office, which gives the debtor 5 business days to either pay the outstanding amount or file a formal objection.

For this service, we typically charge a 1,000 USD fixed legal fee. Additionally, there are government filing fees of approximately 700 USD, which cover the official costs of initiating enforcement proceedings.

Our Hourly and Success Fee Structure

Our standard hourly rate is 200 USD, but for most debt recovery cases, we aim to offer fixed fees for predictability.

Success fees are determined after evaluating the debtor’s financial capacity. In Türkiye, it is common for debtors to delay payments or attempt to avoid liabilities.

To combat this, our team conducts background checks and business partner analysis to trace any receivables the debtor may have from third parties. If such receivables exist, we send legal notices to those third parties to redirect payments to our client. This strategy is often effective in accelerating collection.

We welcome discussions on the success fee structure and strive for a fair arrangement aligned with the actual recovery process.

If the Debtor Files an Objection

Debtors sometimes file objections within the 5-day response period to delay enforcement. Common claims include denial of debt, denial of signature, or procedural arguments.

In this scenario, we recommend filing a lawsuit to remove the objection (itirazın iptali davası). Our legal service fee for handling this stage is typically 2,000 USD, including court representation and follow-up. Government filing fees and expenses are approximately 500 USD.

If the objection is successfully removed, Turkish law grants an additional compensation of 20% of the principal debt. For instance, on a 96,000 USD claim, you may recover up to 19,200 USD more as compensation.

What Happens After Objection Removal (or If No Objection Is Filed)

If the debtor does not object or if the court removes the objection, enforcement continues through asset seizures. We can request the attachment of:

• Bank account balances

• Real estate owned by the debtor

• Registered vehicles

• Other movable or immovable properties

With a legally grounded and swift enforcement process, our goal is to secure payment in the shortest time possible.

Why Foreign Creditors Choose Bayraktar Attorneys

Foreign clients trust our firm because of our:

• Transparent fee structure

• Deep understanding of Türkiye’s enforcement procedures

• Strategic actions like third-party liability targeting

• Language accessibility and full representation without the client needing to be in Türkiye

Let Us Handle Your Debt Recovery Case

If you are considering taking legal action against a Turkish individual or company who has failed to pay, we can guide you from the first legal step to full execution. Contact us today to request a formal proposal tailored to your claim.