An unpaid invoice in the Czech Republic: what to gather before sending a demand
You finished the work, the invoice is overdue and the customer has stopped replying. Before sending a demand, pull together the order and the delivery records. If the customer disputes the price or says the work was never accepted, the invoice alone is unlikely to tell the full story.
Reconstruct the transaction from the documents
Collect the contract or accepted order, agreed changes and proof of delivery or acceptance. Add the invoice, evidence that you sent it and any complaints or promises to pay. Check when the amount fell due under the contract and deduct any part payments. If you invoiced for extra work, identify who approved it and how the price was agreed.
Make the demand specific
Identify the debtor and explain where the debt comes from. State the amount, how to pay and the deadline. If claiming late-payment interest, distinguish it from the principal and state when it started accruing. Keep a copy of the demand and evidence of dispatch.
Under section 142a of the Czech Code of Civil Procedure, a successful claimant in an action seeking performance is generally entitled to recover legal costs only if a demand was sent at least seven days before filing to the defendant's address for service or last known address. The court can make an exception where there are special reasons.
Check whether a judgment would be collectible
Check the Czech Insolvency Register and the applicable limitation period. If the customer identifies a specific defect, separate the disputed amount from any amount they acknowledge. For instalments, agree dates and what happens if a payment is missed. Recovering the undisputed balance promptly may be worth more than pursuing the full invoice through a lengthy dispute.
Czech Code of Civil Procedure, section 142a · Czech Insolvency Register