Incassobureau / Bureau de recouvrement letter explained in English
Debt collector. A company that collects debts for others. In Belgium it must be registered and may not charge you extra costs that aren’t in your contract.
Letters you may get
- Aanmaning / rappel — they ask you to pay a debt, with at least 15 days to do so
- Voorstel afbetalingsplan / proposition de plan de paiement — they offer a payment plan
- Laatste aanmaning / dernier rappel — they plan to go to a bailiff or court
What to do
- Check that the debt is yours and the amount is right. Ask for proof (the contract and invoices) if not.
- Collection agencies may not call you at night, visit your work or threaten you. Report abuse to the FOD Economie / SPF Economie.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”). See the template.
Words you may see
- aanmaning
- Payment reminder.
- afbetalingsplan
- Payment plan to pay a debt in monthly parts.
- plan de paiement
- Payment plan to pay a debt in monthly parts.
Questions
What is the Incassobureau / Bureau de recouvrement?
Debt collector. A company that collects debts for others. In Belgium it must be registered and may not charge you extra costs that aren’t in your contract.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Incassobureau / Bureau de recouvrement?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le” — they mark the deadline. In Belgium, a letter sent by post is usually treated as received on the third working day after the date it was sent. Many deadlines, for example 6 months to object to a tax bill, start from that day. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”).
Can I read a Incassobureau / Bureau de recouvrement letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch or French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Belgium
FOD Financiën / SPF Finances · Vlaamse Belastingdienst / Brussel Fiscaliteit / SPW Fiscalité · Gemeente / Commune · OCMW / CPAS · RVA / ONEM · VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem · Ziekenfonds / Mutualité · Groeipakket / Allocations familiales