B2B Debt Collection Laws: A Creditor's Comparative Guide

ECB+8ppEU Dir.2011/7 floor — all 27 states

FDCPADoes NOT apply to B2B commercial debt

CISG95+ states — default for cross-border goods

The Core Distinction: B2B Commercial Debt Sits Outside Consumer Statutes

FDCPAUS federal — B2C only15 USC §1692 — consumer debt only, not B2B

CISGCross-border goods95+ contracting states — Art.78 interest

Brussels IRecast 1215/2012No exequatur — EU judgment direct enforcement

Directive2011/7/EUECB+8pp + EUR 40 — 27 states minimum

RDGGermany B2B licence§10 RDG registration required even for B2B

B2B legal framework — 3 pillars

1

Identify the correct rulebook: commercial not consumer

FDCPA (US) — B2C only. FCA CONC (UK) — consumer only. EU consumer directives — B2C. B2B commercial debt governed by: commercial codes, Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU, CISG, Brussels I Recast, state licensing statutes (RDG, WKI NL, Decree 96-1112 FR, CA DFPI).

2

EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7: automatic B2B rights

Payment terms ≤60 days mandatory. Default from 30 days after invoice/delivery. ECB+8pp automatically — Germany: base+9pp (§288(2) BGB), France: ECB+10pp (L441-10 Code de commerce), UK: BoE+8pp (Late Payment Act 1998 tiered: GBP 40/70/100). EUR 40 per invoice — no proof needed.

3

Cross-border framework: CISG + Rome I + Brussels I Recast

CISG governs cross-border goods sales by default (95+ states, opt-out in writing). Rome I (593/2008): law of seller's habitual residence if no clause. Brussels I Recast: Art.7(1) — place of performance jurisdiction + abolished exequatur. EOP (1896/2006): EU-wide enforceable title from single filing.

Your UK subsidiary has a EUR 180,000 invoice overdue 94 days against a German buyer. Your Texas branch is chasing USD 220,000. Before either file moves, confirm: which rulebook governs which claim? FDCPA doesn't apply. EU Directive 2011/7 does. CISG may. Brussels I Recast applies. Know this before the first demand letter.

Statutory Interest Rates B2B by Jurisdiction

CountryB2B default interestSource

Germany

Base+9pp

BGB §288(2) — highest EU mandated rate — automatic from due date

BGB §288

France

ECB+10pp

Code de commerce L441-10 — highest practical rate in EU

L441-10

EU floor

ECB+8pp

Directive 2011/7/EU — minimum for all 27 member states

Dir.2011/7

UK

BoE+8pp

Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998 — tiered compensation GBP 40/70/100

Late Payment Act

Spain/Italy/NL

ECB+8pp

National transpositions — Ley 3/2004 (ES), D.Lgs.231/2002 (IT), BW 6:119a (NL)

National laws

California DFPI

Licensed required

SB 908 eff.Jan 2022 — first US state to license commercial B2B collectors

CA Fin.Code §100000

What laws govern B2B debt collection?

B2B governed by: EU Directive 2011/7/EU (ECB+8pp + EUR 40 — automatic, 27 states). CISG for cross-border goods sales (95+ states). Brussels I Recast for EU jurisdiction and enforcement. National commercial codes. Licensing regimes: RDG (Germany), WKI (Netherlands Apr 2024), Decree 96-1112 (France), DFPI (California). FDCPA does NOT apply to B2B.