The verdict in three sentences
Case management vendors cover legal procedure well, but rarely high-volume amicable debt collection or the relationship with creditors. A custom module connected to your existing software, with a creditor portal, multichannel reminders and online payment, costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, 25,000 to 50,000 EUR excl. VAT. Across 9,000 files a year, every point of amicable recovery rate gained pays for a meaningful share of the investment.
Why case management software is no longer enough
Since French bailiffs and judicial auctioneers merged into a single profession (commissaires de justice) in 2022, firms have grown and diversified. Amicable collection, which is not regulated by a fixed tariff and is therefore negotiated with the creditor, has become a revenue driver as the volume of formal service of documents declines. It depends on reminder speed and on how easy it is for the debtor to pay.
In many firms, reminders still go out by plain letter and phone, creditors call the front desk to check a file, and debtors have to mail a cheque. Every point of friction costs recovery points.
| Friction point | Current process | With a dedicated module |
|---|---|---|
| Creditor follow-up | Calls and emails, 15 to 25 per day | Real-time portal, calls divided by 3 |
| Debtor reminders | Letter at D+0, D+15, D+30 | SMS, email and letter by scenario, D+0 to D+45 |
| Payment | Cheque or manual transfer | Card payment link, online instalment plan |
| Instalment plans | Manual entry, missed follow-ups | Plan offered online, automatic due-date reminders |
| Creditor reporting | Monthly Excel export | Portfolio dashboard, on-demand export |
| Escalation to court | Case-by-case decision | Configured switch rules, pre-filled file |
2026 price by component
The module connects to the firm's case software through an API or a scheduled file exchange. It does not replace the procedure tool, it feeds it.
| Component | Scope | Estimated budget (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Creditor portal | Multi-user accounts, file submission, tracking, documents | 6,000 to 12,000 |
| Reminder engine | Scenarios by debt type, SMS, email, letter | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Debtor area and payment | Secure link, card payment, instalment plan | 4,000 to 8,000 |
| Case software connector | Sync of files, statuses, collections | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Reporting and fee billing | Dashboards per creditor, success fee calculation | 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Security and compliance | French hosting (HDS or SecNumCloud if required), logging, GDPR | 2,000 to 4,000 |
| Total | Delivered in 10 weeks | 25,000 to 50,000 |
Recurring costs to plan for: hosting in France (150 to 400 EUR excl. VAT per month), maintenance (400 to 900 EUR excl. VAT per month), SMS (around 0.05 to 0.07 EUR per message) and the payment provider fee (on average 1.4% + 0.25 EUR per European card transaction).
Compliance: what must be locked down
Amicable collection in France is governed by the Code of Civil Enforcement Procedures (articles R. 124-1 onwards): the letter to the debtor must state the creditor's identity, the basis and amount of the debt, separating principal, interest and costs. The module generates these mentions automatically. Under GDPR, the retention period for debtor data, the legal basis and access traceability must be documented. Finally, SMS reminders must be sent at reasonable hours and never disclose the debt to a third party.
Mini case study
Maître Bernard is a partner in a four-partner enforcement firm in Lyon. The firm handles 9,000 amicable files a year, with an average amount of 1,400 EUR. With a 31% recovery rate, it collects 3.9 million EUR for its creditors and bills average success fees of 8%, or 312,000 EUR.
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After rolling out a module costing 38,000 EUR excl. VAT, the rate rises to 42% within twelve months: 5.3 million EUR recovered and 423,000 EUR in fees, i.e. 111,000 EUR more. The front desk also saves about 2 hours a day of creditor calls. Even after deducting 12,000 EUR excl. VAT of annual costs (SMS, maintenance, hosting), the project pays back in just over four months.
FAQ
Do we need to replace our case management software?
No, the module plugs into the existing tool through an API or scheduled files. The connector accounts for 5,000 to 10,000 EUR excl. VAT depending on how open the vendor is.
Do debtors really pay online?
In 2026, 55 to 65% of amicable payments go through a payment link when it is offered from the first reminder. Online instalment plans also cut missed instalments by about 20%.
How long until the creditor portal goes live?
Allow 10 weeks for the full scope, including 4 weeks for a first portal version that can be opened to 2 or 3 pilot creditors.
Where is the data hosted?
In France, with an ISO 27001 certified host, encryption at rest and access logs retained for at least 12 months.
Can success fees be billed automatically?
Yes, the module calculates fees according to each creditor's agreement (percentage, flat fee or scale) and generates monthly statements.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your file volume, your case software and your main creditors: we will price the scope, give an indicative budget and a 10-week schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
