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Skillsverzug-mahnung

verzug-mahnung

General & other

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Updated 10-15 20:08

About this skill

/vertragsrecht:verzug-mahnung

Purpose

Debtor default is the key to default interest, default lump sum and damages for delay. In practice, the commencement of default is regularly calculated incorrectly — either too early (reminder overlooked) or too late (dispensability of the reminder or the 30-day rule misjudged). This skill examines in a structured manner whether and from when a debtor is in default and which legal consequences attach to this, with reference to §§ 286, 288, 280 BGB and standard commentaries. whether and from when a debtor is in default and which legal consequences attach to this, with reference to §§ 286, 288, 280 BGB and standard commentaries.

Inputs

  • Claim (amount, legal basis — payment claim yes/no)
  • Due date (performance time agreed? determined by calendar?)
  • Invoice date and receipt of the invoice (for the 30-day rule)
  • Consumer involved? (B2C / B2B — determines the interest rate, lump sum, duty to inform)
  • Reminder given? (date, receipt, wording) — or grounds for a dispensable reminder
  • Employment law context? (special rule on the default lump sum)

Sub-agent architecture

The examination runs as a two-stage maker/checker chain in prose, without its own agentsblock. An claim agent clarifies due date and commencement of default (reminder, dispensability, 30-day rule) and determines the start of default to the exact day. A legal consequences agent then calculates default interest, examines the default lump sum and further damages for delay and drafts the reminder letter. A final checker verifies every statutory reference and date against the inputs, flags every fact not substantiated by the inputs and never invents a case number.

Procedure

1. Due date and claim

  • Is there a due, enforceable claim? Without a due date, no default.
  • Performance time agreed or determinable from the circumstances? (§ 271 BGB as fallback: due immediately.)
  • Defences of the debtor (e.g. § 320 BGB) prevent default.

2. Commencement of default (§ 286 BGB)

a) Basic case — reminder (§ 286(1) BGB)

Default occurs if the debtor, following a reminder by the creditor after the due date has arrived, does not perform. The reminder is the specific, unambiguous request for performance; a mere reference is not sufficient. Filing an action or service of a payment order is equivalent to a reminder.

b) Dispensable reminder (§ 286(2) BGB)

A dispensable reminder exists if

  • the performance time is determined by the calendar (No. 1),
  • the performance must be preceded by an event and the performance time can be calculated by the calendar from the event (No. 2),
  • the debtor seriously and definitively refuses (No. 3) or
  • special grounds justify immediate default (No. 4).

In these cases the debtor without a reminder is in default.

c) 30-day rule for payment claims (Section 286(3) BGB)

The debtor of a payment claim is in default at the latest if he does not pay within 30 days after maturity and receipt of an invoice (30-day rule). This 30-day rule applies regardless of a reminder.

Consumer notice: Towards a consumer , default under the 30-day rule occurs only if this consequence has been specifically pointed out in the invoice (Section 286(3) sentence 1 half-sentence 2 BGB). If the notice is missing, it remains with a reminder or dispensability.

3. Default interest (Section 288(1) and (2) BGB)

  • General principle (Section 288(1) BGB): Default interest 5 percentage points above the base rate per year.
  • Transactions without consumer involvement (Section 288(2) BGB): for payment claims 9 percentage points above the base rate.
  • The base rate is set every six months by the Deutsche Bundesbank (Section 247 BGB) and must be used for the calculation on a daily basis. Both rates (5 vs. 9 percentage points above the base rate) depend on whether a consumer is involved.

4. Default lump sum (Section 288(5) BGB)

For a payment claim against a non-consumer , the creditor may additionally demand a default lump sum of 40 euros . The default lump sum is credited against damages owed for legal prosecution costs (Section 288(5) sentence 3 BGB).

Exception in employment law: The 40-euro default lump sum does not apply to claims arising from the employment relationship, because Section 12a(1) ArbGG excludes the cost reimbursement claim at first instance — BAG, judgment of 25.09.2018 – 8 AZR 26/18, BAGE 163, 309 = NZA 2019, 121, dejure.org.

5. Further damage caused by delay (Section 280(2) BGB)

Compensation for further damage caused by delay (e.g. legal prosecution/collection costs, loan interest beyond the default interest) may be demanded by the creditor only under the additional requirements of Section 286 BGB (Section 280(2) BGB). Without default under Section 286 BGB, no damage caused by delay.

6. Draft reminder letter

If no effective reminder exists yet and no dispensability applies, a reminder letter is drafted: specific demand for performance, itemized principal claim, reasonable payment deadline with date, reference to default interest and, if applicable, default lump sum. No inventing of data — placeholders where entries are missing.

7. Result

Exact determination of the start of default, interest rate (5 or 9 percentage points above the base rate), default flat fee (yes/no), further damage caused by delay (as to the merits), open facts marked.

Risks / typical mistakes

  • Reminder confused with a mere invoice — the invoice is not a reminder; without a reminder, only dispensability or the 30-day rule applies.
  • 30-day rule applied against consumers without notice applied — vis-à-vis a consumer without an invoice notice, default under § 286(3) BGB does not occur.
  • Wrong interest rate — 9 percentage points above the base rate only without consumer involvement; otherwise 5 percentage points above the base rate.
  • Default flat fee in employment law applied — inadmissible (§ 12a(1) ArbGG, BAG 8 AZR 26/18, dejure.org).
  • Base rate not applied to the default period, but as a flat rate — it changes every six months.
  • Fabricated case number — never cite a judgment that has not been verified.

Sources

Statutes

  • § 286 BGB (default of the debtor)
  • § 288 BGB (default interest and other damage caused by default)
  • § 280 BGB (damages for breach of duty)
  • § 247 BGB (base rate), § 271 BGB (time of performance), § 12a(1) ArbGG

Commentaries

  • Grüneberg, BGB, 83rd ed. 2024, §§ 286, 288 paras. 1 ff.
  • Ernst, in: MüKoBGB, 9th ed. 2022, § 286 paras. 1 ff., § 288 paras. 1 ff.

Case law

  • BAG, judgment of 25.09.2018 – 8 AZR 26/18, BAGE 163, 309 = NZA 2019, 121 (default flat fee under § 288(5) BGB excluded in employment law, § 12a(1) ArbGG), dejure.org

Output format

VERZUG / MAHNUNG — <Forderung> — <Datum>

I.   Fälligkeit / Anspruch            [✅ / 🟡 / ❌]
II.  Verzugseintritt                  [Mahnung § 286 I / entbehrlich § 286 II / 30-Tage-Regel § 286 III]
       Verzugsbeginn:                 <TT.MM.JJJJ>
III. Verbraucher beteiligt?           [ja / nein]
IV.  Verzugszinsen                    [5 / 9 Prozentpunkte über dem Basiszinssatz § 288 I/II]
V.   Verzugspauschale 40 EUR          [✅ / ❌ — Begründung; Arbeitsrecht-Ausnahme?]
VI.  Weiterer Verzögerungsschaden     [§ 280 II i.V.m. § 286 — dem Grunde nach]

Mahnschreiben-Entwurf:                [beigefügt / nicht erforderlich]

Gesamtbefund: [🟢 / 🟡 / 🔴]
Offene Tatsachen: <Liste — markiert>