A debt collector is at my door—what can I do?

Quick Overview: 

When a debt collector comes to your door, first verify their identity and ask to see their authorization to carry out the collection. Do not refuse to communicate, but do not sign anything without reading it first, and ask what debt is being collected. A bailiff cannot seize items protected by law, such as common household items, medical aids, wedding rings, or items necessary for work and study. If you feel that the bailiff is acting unreasonably, document everything and respond in writing.

If you’re unsure whether the enforcement officer is acting properly or if your property is at risk of seizure, you can describe your situation to us. An attorney will review the enforcement order, explain your options, and suggest the next steps. We’ll help you defend against the enforcement and communicate with the enforcement officer.

The most important steps:

When a Debt Collector Knocks on Your Door

You generally don’t need to worry about a debt collector suddenly ringing your doorbell. If you check your mailbox and communicate with government agencies and creditors, you would certainly know that “something” is about to happen. Enforcement proceedings are usually preceded by demands from the creditor (i.e., the party to whom you owe money or a service). If these go unanswered, the creditor turns to the court to help them enforce their rights. At this stage, it is still possible to avert debt collection. It is simply necessary to communicate and take action. If the creditor obtains a payment order or a court judgment, they can contact a debt collector, who will ask the court for authorization and an order to proceed with enforcement. You must be informed of all these steps.

If you have already come into contact with the enforcement officer, active communication—ideally in a polite manner—is highly recommended. It’s true that the bailiff may currently be the most hated person in your life, but keep in mind that at some point, they will also gain a certain amount of power over your life. If you shower them with insults and send threatening letters, and then later realize that a payment plan would be helpful, your chances of success are slim.

In any case, contact the debt collector as soon as possible and begin negotiating options for repaying the debt. It is recommended that all communication be in writing, via a data box or by email with an electronic signature.

In practice, we see that the greatest damage often isn’t caused by the bailiff’s arrival itself, but by the debtor failing to pick up mail, refusing to communicate, or attempting to quickly transfer assets to a family member. Such actions can worsen the situation and make it more expensive. It is usually much more effective to quickly determine the cause of the enforcement, whether the amount being collected is correct, and whether there is still a possibility of installment payments, a stay of enforcement, or other defenses.

What kinds of assets can be subject to enforcement?

Many people imagine enforcement proceedings as the proverbial knock on the door, after which you’ll be left with nothing but a mattress, two sets of clothes, and a pair of shoes in your apartment. However, enforcement through the sale of property is almost always a last resort, and it certainly doesn’t go to such extremes. In reality , there are multiple methods of enforcement, and it will always be easier for the enforcement officer to “withdraw” funds from the debtor’s account or wages than to attempt to sell their property. Ultimately, however, the law has the final say, as it establishes the order in which these methods are applied. So what options does a bailiff theoretically have? They can carry out enforcement

• through wage and other income garnishments,
• by attaching a claim (this is known as an “account freeze”),
• seizure of a business,
• seizure of real property,
• suspension of a driver’s license,
• sale of personal property,
• sale of real property.

Of all the possible methods, the sale of personal property ranks second to last. The law reserves the last option for the sale of the real estate in which the debtor resides.

Wage and Other Income Garnishments

Enforcement proceedings may affect a portion of your wages, as well as other income such as sick pay, maternity benefits, retirement benefits, disability benefits, scholarships, unemployment benefits, parental benefits, or child allowances. Keep in mind that enforcement proceedings may also affect your spouse’s finances.

However, in the case of deductions from wages or other income, there is a non-seizable minimum. This depends on your family situation (number of children and spouse) as well as your wage amount. For a specific debtor, it can be easily calculated using online calculators.

If a bank account is also frozen, an amount equal to three times the subsistence minimum cannot be deducted from it. The debtor may withdraw this amount in a single lump sum. However, if both an account garnishment and wage garnishments occur, the law offers the option of opening a protected account. The remaining portion of the wages—that is, the aforementioned non-garnishable minimum—is deposited into this account, and the debtor can then use these funds as usual.

Please note the current calculation for 2026: The exempt amount is based not only on the amount of wages but also on the number of dependents and the current parameters set for that year. Starting in 2026, the calculation method will change because new parameters linked to state social assistance benefits will be used. Therefore, do not rely on the old tables from 2025. If your wages are subject to garnishment, always verify the calculation using the current calculator or have the deductions reviewed.

Enforcement Proceedings to Suspend a Driver’s License

This is ordered only in cases involving the enforcement of child support.

Enforcement through Real Estate Administration

This applies, for example, when the debtor owns another apartment that they rent out. As part of the administration of the property, the court may order the tenant to pay rent into an account designated by the court and prohibit the tenant from providing the rent to the debtor, or take other measures (theoretically, the court may also terminate the lease under conditions set forth by law and negotiate a new, more favorable lease, etc.).

Enforcement by Sale of Personal Property

If it is not possible to enforce a judgment against the debtor’s wages or other income, enforcement may proceed through the sale of property (so-called “enforcement against movable property”). The element of surprise plays an important role here. For this reason, the order for enforcement is not served on the debtor until the enforcement is actually carried out, so that the debtor cannot remove all items of higher value from the apartment in advance.

Of course, not everything the enforcement officer comes across can be sold. Certain items are excluded from sale by law. This applies to everyday clothing as well as standard household furnishings (table, chairs, kitchen cabinets and dishes, stove, washing machine, etc.), provided these do not exceed their usual value.

Furthermore, the bailiff may not take the debtor’s medications or essential medical supplies or aids—such as canes, wheelchairs, etc.—nor may they take items that the debtor or family members need for their studies or to perform their professions. This also includes various personal items such as photographs, documents, wedding dresses, medals, and wedding rings. Children will not lose their toys or pets, nor will they lose their textbooks or study materials.

From our experience: A client faced a situation where, during the inventory, the enforcement officer included items that belonged to her partner and not to her. The key was to quickly prove ownership with receipts, contracts, and photographs. If items belonging to third parties appear during the inventory, it’s not enough to simply say, “That’s not mine.” You need to be able to prove it and do so in writing.

Enforcement Through the Sale of Real Estate

The sale of real estate is the second-to-last category that a bailiff resorts to in enforcement proceedings, or the last category if the property in question is where the debtor has permanent residence. Real estate where the debtor has permanent residence is considered exempt from seizure for debts of less than 100,000 CZK.

However, this exception—or limit—does not apply to debts arising from child support, claims for substitute child support, or claims for compensation for harm caused to a victim by bodily injury or a criminal offense, as this would be contrary to public policy.

What guidelines must a bailiff follow?

A bailiff is bound by the principles of independence and is subject to the Constitution, laws, and other legal regulations or court decisions. The bailiff must commission an expert appraisal of the property’s value if it is to be sold at auction and must follow the enforcement procedure prescribed by law.

A significant part of a bailiff’s work involves identifying the debtor’s potential income and assets. Various institutions are required to cooperate with the bailiff. Among others, for example, the Czech Post must provide the enforcement officer with the identities of individuals who rent post office boxes or other delivery locations from it, information on the number of incoming mail items, and, where applicable, a summary of funds received by the debtor via mail. This obligation to cooperate also applies to the Czech Social Security Administration, construction and health insurance companies, pension funds, the police, and many other institutions.

What guidelines should a debtor follow, and where can they file a complaint?

In their own best interest (even though it may not seem that way to them), debtors should cooperate with the enforcement officer, provide assistance, and should not conceal any income; in the event of any changes (employment, residence), they should report this fact.

If they disagree with the bailiff’s actions, they may file a complaint with the Chamber of Bailiffs of the Czech Republic. However, it is advisable to have evidence on hand to support their claims. If the complaint concerns an inventory of assets, it is recommended to also record the entire process. Another authority to which it is theoretically possible to submit a written complaint is the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic, which exercises state oversight over enforcement activities. It should be noted, however, that filing a complaint will not halt the enforcement proceedings.

If you suspect that the enforcement officer has exceeded his or her authority, it is important to first gather evidence and choose the correct course of action. We will help you assess whether it makes sense to file a complaint, a motion to halt the enforcement proceedings, or take another legal step.

What About Enforcement and Inheritance?

Frequently asked questions we receive regarding debt enforcement often concern inheritance. Even assets acquired through inheritance may be subject to debt enforcement, and the debt enforcement officer will most likely target them. If one of the heirs is subject to debt enforcement, the family usually resents the fact that part of the family’s assets will be lost forever and pressures the heir to renounce their share of the inheritance. While this is possible within the probate process, the enforcement officer will likely not agree with this step and will view it as an attempt to defraud creditors. The enforcement officer will likely challenge such a move and may do so within three years at the latest.

A common misconception is that if a debtor renounces an inheritance, the debt collector will not be able to access the assets. For someone subject to debt enforcement, such a move may be interpreted as an attempt to defraud creditors. Before signing anything in the probate proceedings, it is advisable to consult with an attorney to assess the implications.

Settling the Debt

If the debtor has secured the funds to pay the amount being collected, payment is, of course, the simplest way to terminate the enforcement proceedings. The total amount being collected is specified in the enforcement order. The enforcement officer will send a notice of termination of enforcement to the debtor after the final order to pay the costs of enforcement becomes legally binding, but only at the debtor’s request. Once the debt is paid in full, the enforcement officer’s authority ceases and the entire enforcement proceeding is terminated.

Summary

If a debt collector comes to your door, stay calm, verify their identity, and ask what debt they are collecting and on the basis of which decision. Debt collection may take the form of wage garnishment, bank account seizure, seizure of other income, sale of personal property, or, in extreme cases, sale of real estate; however, it must always comply with the rules of the Enforcement Code and the Civil Procedure Code. The debtor must be left with an exempt amount, and certain items cannot be sold at all, such as standard household furnishings, medical aids, or items necessary for work and study. If you disagree with the enforcement officer’s actions, document everything and submit your defense in writing. Filing a complaint will not stop the enforcement proceedings on its own, but it may be important in cases of disproportionate or unlawful conduct.