Invoice is not paid from a business customer: B2B rights at a glance

The starting point is default. Under section 286 of the German Civil Code it arises through a reminder, but at the latest 30 days after the due date and receipt of the invoice; against consumers only if the invoice pointed out that consequence.

This overview does not replace legal advice in the individual case. It does show which points should be settled before any escalation. The more precisely an invoice describes the service delivered, the harder it is to delay payment with follow-up questions. The earlier this point is clarified, the less time enforcement costs later.

Three requirements have to come together: a validly arisen claim, its maturity and the debtor's default. If one of these stages is missing, interest and costs are not enforceable even where the principal amount is undisputed.

The debtor also has to be identified unambiguously: correct company name, legal form and address. Mix-ups cause delays in the dunning procedure. A brief confirmation of receipt from the customer saves a great deal of later discussion. The link to the subject of this article is direct: B2B rights at a glance.

Traceability matters more than decimal places. The breakdown should show the principal, the start of default, the interest period, the rate, the interest amount and any flat fees separately, so that the total remains verifiable.

Partial payments are recorded with their date and reduce the interest amount from the day of receipt. Without that allocation, differences arise that have to be explained later. For recurring services, a consistent invoice structure prevents queries from arising in the first place. What counts is less the perfect solution than one that is actually applied day to day.

The common sources of error are quickly named: reacting too late, undocumented agreements, instalment plans without written confirmation, and assuming a phone call replaces a formal reminder. None of these is legally complex; all of them cost time. Settling this point once removes the need to renegotiate it in every individual case later.

Verbal commitments are an underestimated risk. Without written confirmation, neither the content nor the timing can be proved later. When an invoice stays unpaid, proof of delivery and of the invoice content is the first point to be checked. For the constellation set out here the rule is: B2B rights at a glance.

The practical consequence is changed payment behaviour. Customers who know that deadlines are monitored and default consequences are calculated pay earlier on average, without any dispute arising.

In ongoing customer relationships, clear but factual communication of the consequences works best. Transparency before the due date is more effective than pressure afterwards. Unpaid invoices often have a formal cause: a missing purchase order number, the wrong recipient or an unclear description of services. In practice, reliability pays off faster than pressure.