Someone's not paying you back? This simple handwriting is crucial before going to court

Unhandful silence, avoiding contact, endless excuses – a situation where individual owes us money is 1 of the most frustrating in life. Whether it's a debt to a friend, an unpaid invoice for the service rendered, or a late rent, inactivity works against us. Many people in Poland quit their rights, fearing complicated procedures and costs. This is simply a mistake. There is simply a simple, highly effective and almost free tool that is the first and most crucial step in recovery. It's a court order to pay. In 2025, in the era of digitisation and simplified court proceedings, a decently constructed and delivered call is simply a stronger argument than always before. This is not only a formal request, but evidence in a case that opens the way to further, more determined legal steps if the debtor ignores our request. We have prepared a comprehensive guidebook and a ready-made pattern that will let you to take control of the situation.

What is and why is it worth sending a call to pay?

The call for payment is an authoritative letter in which creditor (person or company to whom money belongs) calls debtor (person or company required to pay) to settle the outstanding work within a specified period. Although it may seem a simple request, his function is much more serious. From the point of view of the law, this is the last effort to amicably resolve the dispute before referring the case to court.

Why is that so important? Firstly, for many debtors, receiving an official, professional-looking letter is simply a signal that “the jokers are over”. He realizes that we are determined and know our rights, which frequently motivates them to repay immediately. Secondly, and crucially, having proof of sending specified a call (preferably a letter recommended for returning receipt) is frequently formal requirement erstwhile filing a lawsuit, including a simplified and inexpensive electronic procedure (EPU), known as an e-court. The judge, seeing that we have made an effort to settle the substance peacefully, will look at our motion much more favourably.

Key elements to be included in each call for payment

In order for the call for payment to be effective and to have evidence, it must contain respective essential elements. The omission of any of them may weaken its formal character. Remember that precision is crucial here. Your handwriting must be unambiguous and leave no area for interpretation.

• Date and place of production: Standard part of any authoritative writing.
• Data of the creditor: Your name, address and optionally PESEL. If you act as a company – full name, office address, NIP.
• Data of the debtor: Name, full address of the individual who owes you the money. Accuracy is critical for effective service.
• Grounds for the claim: A clear indication of what the debt is. This could be, for example, the ‘loans agreement of ...’, ‘VAT Act No...’, ‘Work Agreement of ...’.
• The exact amount of the debt: Specify the chief amount and any interest on the hold if you are entitled to it. The amount should be given numerically and verbally.
• Date of payment: Set a real but short deadline for payment, e.g. 7 or 14 days from the date of receipt of the request.
• Bank account number: Show the account to which the debtor is to deposit the money.
• Information on the consequences: It's a very crucial intellectual element. delight inform that in the absence of payment within the prescribed time limit, the case will immediately be referred to the course of the proceedings, which will exposure the debtor to additional advanced costs (court costs, replacement costs).
• Self-signature: essential to give the magazine legal power.

Ready model of call for payment for 2025 [CONCEPT AND INCLUE]

Below is simply a universal pattern that you can adjust to your situation. All you gotta do is complete the data in square brackets. This simple tool can save you quite a few time and nerves.

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[Place], day [Data]

Creditor:
[Your name/name of company]
[Your address]
[Your NIP/PESEL – optional]

Debtor:
[Name of debtor company]
[The debtor’s address]

PRESIDENT CALL FOR PAYMENT

Acting on my own behalf, I urge you to immediately settle the outstanding payment of the full amount [Quot] PLN (in words: [in words] PLN), resulting from [exactly describe what the debt derives from, e.g. debt agreements dated XXXX/XXXX / unpaid invoice No XXX/XXXX of XXXXXX].

This amount must be paid within the deadline 7 (seven) days from the date of receipt of this letter to the bank account numbered:

[Your bank account number]

In the transfer title, delight enter: ‘Debt repayment — call for payment’.

I would like to inform you that the deficiency of payment within the prescribed time limit will consequence in the immediate referral of the case to court without further requests. This will impose additional costs on you, including judicial fees and the costs of attorney/advisor representation.

This letter is the last effort to resolve the dispute amicably.

Sincerely,

[Your name – handwritten signature]

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How to deliver the call effectively and then what?

Just writing a call is half the success. The another half is an effective delivery. Resign emails or messages on communicators that the debtor can easy ignore or claim not to receive. The only right way is to send a letter by registered letter for return receipt. The yellow ‘contribution’ that will return to you with the debtor's signature is indisputable evidence in court that the letter has been served.

After sending the letter, patiently wait for the deadline. If the debtor pays – problem solved. If not, you have an open way to action. With a set of papers (contract/invoice, call for payment, order card and verse) you can go to a lawyer or file a suit yourself in electronic registrar proceedings (e-court). It's much simpler and cheaper than you think, and having evidence from a pretrial billing dramatically increases your chances of getting your money back quickly.