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International debt collection in 150+ countries

Money knows no borders — neither do we. For more than 30 years, TCM Belgium has collected consumer and commercial claims in Belgium and in more than 150 countries, through local partners who know the language, culture and legislation of your debtor.

Our approach Checklist European legislation International legislation Which court has jurisdiction?Countries

Submit your file Call +32 16 74 52 04

✓ No cure, no pay — if the amicable process fails, you pay nothing.

Our approach

How does TCM handle your international debt collection?

Our success comes from working within the international TCM Group network: local collection agencies, credit controllers, legal experts and specialist law firms around the world. Your file is handled on the ground, while you follow everything through your regular contact in Belgium.

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TCM Group network

Local partners in 150+ countries, with knowledge of your debtor’s language, culture and legislation.

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Code of conduct

All partners follow the same code of ethics: professional and respectful, without damaging the customer relationship.

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A single point of contact

Your case manager in Belgium follows every file directly with the local partner — simply in your language.

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Smart tools

Through our online platform you follow all your files 24/7: up-to-date information and smooth cooperation across borders.

Checklist

What should you do first?

A strong file starts with you. This universal checklist — valid for every country — strengthens your position before you hand a file over.

Beforehand

Preventive measures

Gather information about your debtor: contact details, credit report, …
Have the necessary documentation (order form, delivery note, contract, email correspondence), preferably aligned with the debtor’s country.
Draw up a watertight contract and make sure your terms and conditions are solid — and set the competent court and the applicable law.
Invoice as quickly as possible and send invoices digitally as well.

Past the due date

When the payment date has passed

Call the debtor and prepare that conversation carefully.
Formally notify the debtor in writing, promptly and at regular intervals.
Answer disputes quickly, so you defuse them straight away.
Still no payment? Hand the file over in time — limitation periods differ by country.

Within the EU

European legislation

Within the European Union, uniform instruments make cross-border recovery easier. Three regimes come up in almost every file:

EPO

European order for payment

A fast, written procedure for undisputed cross-border claims within the EU. The order is enforceable in all member states (except Denmark).

Rome I

Applicable law

The Rome I Regulation determines which national law applies to your contract — and lets you set this yourself in your terms and conditions.

Brussels I bis

Jurisdiction and enforcement

Sets which court has jurisdiction within the EU and ensures that judgments are recognised and enforceable in all member states, without a further procedure.

Outside the EU

International legislation

Outside the EU you fall back on private international law: the set of rules that determines which law applies and which court has jurisdiction when more than one country is involved.

Treaties and bilateral agreements (such as the Hague Conventions) play a part, but in practice the approach differs sharply from country to country. That is why TCM Belgium works with local partners who know their country’s procedural law inside out — and advise you, file by file, on the most realistic route.

Treaties and agreements

The Hague Conventions and bilateral agreements also determine how judgments are recognised and enforced outside the EU.

Local procedure

Every jurisdiction has its own procedures, time limits and costs. Our partner on the ground knows those rules.

Advice per file

For each file we weigh what is achievable: amicable, legal, or — exceptionally — writing the claim off with documented advice.

Jurisdiction

Which court has jurisdiction?

The answer starts with your contract: a valid jurisdiction clause in your terms and conditions sets which court is competent and which law applies.

If there is no such clause, the rules of Brussels I bis apply within the EU: usually the court of the defendant’s domicile, or of the place where the obligation is to be performed. Outside the EU, private international law and any treaties determine the competent court.

Sounds complex? It does not have to be: TCM Belgium and the local partner determine the right path in every file — you do not need to work this out yourself.

💡 Tip — settle it in advanceSet the competent court and the applicable law in your terms and conditions. You avoid arguments later and immediately strengthen every international claim. See also our checklist above.

Countries

Countries where TCM collects international claims

Thanks to local knowledge, we offer tailored solutions in, among others:

North America

CANADA – COSTA RICA – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – GREENLAND – GUADELOUPE – GUATEMALA – HONDURAS – JAMAICA – MARTINIQUE – MEXICO – PANAMA – PUERTO RICO – UNITED STATES (USA)

South America

ARGENTINA – BOLIVIA – BRAZIL – CHILE – COLOMBIA – ECUADOR – FALKLAND ISLANDS – FRENCH GUIANA – PARAGUAY – PERU – URUGUAY – VENEZUELA

Europe

BELGIUM – BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – BULGARIA – CYPRUS – DENMARK – GERMANY – ESTONIA – FINLAND – FRANCE – GEORGIA – GREECE – HUNGARY – IRELAND – ICELAND – ITALY – CROATIA – LUXEMBOURG – NORTH MACEDONIA – MALTA – MONTENEGRO – NETHERLANDS – NORWAY – UKRAINE – AUSTRIA – POLAND – PORTUGAL – ROMANIA – RUSSIA – SERBIA – SLOVENIA – SLOVAKIA – SPAIN – CZECHIA – TURKEY – UNITED KINGDOM – BELARUS – SWEDEN – SWITZERLAND

Africa

ALGERIA – BENIN – BOTSWANA – BURKINA FASO – EGYPT – GHANA – CÔTE D’IVOIRE – CAMEROON – KENYA – LESOTHO – LIBYA – MADAGASCAR – MOROCCO – NAMIBIA – NIGERIA – RÉUNION – SENEGAL – SUDAN – ESWATINI – TANZANIA – TOGO – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – TUNISIA – ZIMBABWE – SOUTH AFRICA

Asia

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN – BAHRAIN – BANGLADESH – BRUNEI – CHINA – PHILIPPINES – INDIA – INDONESIA – IRAQ – IRAN – ISRAEL – JAPAN – YEMEN – JORDAN – KAZAKHSTAN – KUWAIT – SOUTH KOREA – KYRGYZSTAN – LEBANON – MALAYSIA – MONGOLIA – MYANMAR – NEPAL – UZBEKISTAN – OMAN – PAKISTAN – QATAR – SAUDI ARABIA – SRI LANKA – TAJIKISTAN – SYRIA – TAIWAN – THAILAND – TURKMENISTAN – VIETNAM

Oceania

AUSTRALIA – NEW CALEDONIA – NEW ZEALAND – WALLIS AND FUTUNA

Hand over a file

Hand over your international file

Focus on your business, we take care of your outstanding payments. Within 24 hours you receive a thorough analysis of your open invoices and a tailored proposal — with no financial risk.

Email sales@tcm.be Call +32 16 74 52 04

No cure, no pay — u betaalt enkel bij resultaat.

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