14-day notice letter: what you need to know
The 14-day notice letter — also known as the fourteen-day letter or WIK letter — is the legally required demand letter you must send before you may charge collection costs to a consumer. The name refers to the minimum period of 14 days you must give the debtor to still pay.
What is a 14-day notice letter?
The 14-day notice letter is a demand letter that meets the requirements of the Dutch Collection Costs Act (Wet Incassokosten, or WIK), set out in article 6:96 paragraph 6 of the Dutch Civil Code. The law came into effect on 1 July 2012 to protect consumers against unreasonably high collection costs.
The name "14-day notice letter" refers to the core obligation: you must give the debtor a period of at least fourteen days to still pay. Only after this period has expired without payment may you charge collection costs.
Read more about the legal background on What is a WIK letter?
Why exactly 14 days?
The legislator deliberately chose a period of fourteen days. This is a balance between the interests of the creditor and the consumer:
- For the consumer: sufficient time to arrange the payment, even if the invoice is unexpected or the amount is high.
- For the creditor: a clear and relatively short moment at which you know you may take further action.
Important: the deadline is a minimum. You may give the debtor more time (for example 21 or 30 days), but never less than 14 days. A letter with a shorter deadline is invalid.
The 14-day period step by step
The Dutch Supreme Court confirmed in 2016 (ECLI:NL:HR:2016:2704) exactly how the period should be calculated. Below is the timeline:
Day 0 — Send the letter
You send the 14-day notice letter by email or by post. This is the starting point.
Day 1 — Period begins
The 14-day period starts on the day after receipt. For email: the day after dispatch. For post: the day after delivery (allow 1-3 business days).
Days 1-14 — Waiting period
The debtor has 14 full days to pay. If the debtor pays within this period, you may not charge collection costs.
Day 15 — Collection costs allowed
Has the debtor not paid after 14 days? Then you may charge the previously stated collection costs and take further collection steps.
De termijn van veertien dagen is niet willekeurig gekozen door de wetgever. Het biedt de consument een redelijke periode om de betaling te regelen, terwijl de schuldeiser duidelijkheid krijgt over wanneer verdere stappen genomen mogen worden. Tel altijd vanaf de dag na ontvangst — niet vanaf de verzenddatum.
14-day letter by email or by post?
Both sending methods are legally permitted. However, the choice affects the starting date of the period:
By email
- Period starts: day after dispatch
- Read receipt as proof
- Delivered instantly, no delay
- Professional PDF attachment
By post
- Period starts: day after receipt
- Registered mail for proof
- Delivery time: 1-3 business days
- Higher costs per letter
Read our detailed article on sending a WIK letter by email for legal substantiation.
Collection costs after the 14-day period
If the debtor does not pay within the 14-day period, you may claim collection costs based on the BIK scale. The exact amount depends on the size of the claim:
- On the first €2,500: 15% (minimum €40)
- On the next €2,500: 10%
- On the next €5,000: 5%
- Maximum €6,775
Calculate the correct amount instantly with our free collection costs calculator. Is your company not VAT-registered? Also read about collection costs and VAT.
In addition to collection costs, you can also claim statutory interest for the period the payment is overdue.
Example 14-day notice letter
Below are the key passages from a correct 14-day notice letter:
Example — key passages of a 14-day notice letter
Dear Mr/Ms [name],
On [date] we sent you invoice number [number] for the amount of € [amount]. Despite previous reminders, this invoice remains unpaid.
By means of this letter, we give you the opportunity to pay the outstanding amount within 14 days after the day of receipt of this letter, i.e. before [date].
If you do not pay within this term, you will owe the statutory collection costs in addition to the outstanding amount. These amount to € [collection costs], calculated in accordance with the Decree on Extrajudicial Collection Costs.
The total amount will then be € [total amount].
View complete example letters on our examples page — available for both VAT-registered and non-VAT-registered businesses.
Common mistakes with the 14-day notice letter
Courts regularly reject collection cost claims due to errors in the 14-day notice letter. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Incorrect deadline wording — "Within 14 days of the date of this letter" is invalid. The correct wording is "within fourteen days after the day on which this letter is received".
- No specific amount — "The legally permitted collection costs" without a specific amount is insufficient. You must state the amount in euros.
- Incorrect calculation — If you state an incorrect amount of collection costs (too high or too low), the court may reject the entire claim.
- Claiming costs too early — You must wait the full 14 days. If you claim on day 12, you lose that right.
View our examples of correct WIK letters to avoid mistakes. Or read more about the difference between a reminder and a WIK letter.
Frequently asked questions about the 14-day notice letter
Is a 14-day notice letter the same as a WIK letter?
Yes, the 14-day notice letter, fourteen-day letter, and WIK letter are different names for the same letter. The official legal term refers to the Dutch Collection Costs Act (Wet Incassokosten, or WIK), article 6:96 paragraph 6 of the Dutch Civil Code.
Does the 14-day period start on the day of dispatch?
No. The period starts on the day after the debtor receives the letter. For email, it is assumed that the email is received immediately, so the period starts the day after dispatch. For postal mail, you must account for 1-3 days delivery time.
What if the debtor pays on day 13?
If the debtor pays within the 14-day period, you may not charge collection costs. The letter has then achieved its purpose: the debtor has paid after all.
Do I need to send a 14-day notice letter to business customers?
No, the 14-day notice letter is only legally required for claims against consumers (B2C). In business relationships (B2B), you may charge collection costs directly, although sending a 14-day letter is still recommended.
Can I send multiple 14-day notice letters?
You only need to send the 14-day notice letter once. A second letter is unnecessary and does not extend the deadline. After the 14-day period expires, you may immediately charge collection costs.
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Create free accountBronnen & Referenties
- Artikel 6:96 lid 6 Burgerlijk Wetboek - Veertiendagentermijn— wetten.overheid.nl
- Hoge Raad 25 november 2016 - Ingangsdatum 14-dagentermijn (ECLI:NL:HR:2016:2704)— rechtspraak.nl
- Besluit vergoeding voor buitengerechtelijke incassokosten (BIK)— wetten.overheid.nl
- Betalingstermijn, incassokosten en wettelijke rente— ondernemersplein.kvk.nl
- Hoeveel betaal ik voor incassokosten?— rijksoverheid.nl