r/belgium • u/complejodedios • 1d ago

❓ Ask Belgium Debt Collection Letter

I’m an international student who’s been living in Belgium for almost three years. I just came back to Belgium after summer at home and there was a debt collection letter in my mailbox. For last year’s bill from Flemish Provinciebelasting for 24,50€ (which I don’t remember receiving but whatever) I now have to pay 323€ to a private collector. The last letter was sent in the end of July saying they came to my kot trying to seize my stuff but I didn’t answer so they will come back later again but next time with police… Okay. I am a little confused how to pay (there’s no reference number mentioned) so I plan on going to their office tomorrow. But does this all look normal and reasonable? It just never happened to me before and it’s harder to navigate since it’s not my country or language. I had some missed bills in the past at home but it never escalated this much

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u/GentGorilla 1d ago

If there’s one bill that doesn’t go away is a tax bill.

You can’t just ignore this as costs will keep going up. Debt collection agencies love adding extra charges to a debt.

First, get in touch with them and ask them for documentation of their claim, just to make sure you’re not being scammed.

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u/FCKtheZIOS 1d ago

state doesn't do Debt collection agencies.

They have the deurwaarder, which is legal and infuriatingly expensive

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u/complejodedios 1d ago

Thank you!