Dunning System (Mahnwesen)

dVersum offers a complete German dunning system with 4 escalation levels. From a friendly payment reminder to the final demand before debt collection.

The 4 Dunning Levels

Level 1: Payment Reminder (Zahlungserinnerung)

• Timing: 7-14 days after due date
• Fee: 0 EUR
• Late interest: 0%
• Tone: Friendly, could be an oversight

The payment reminder is a polite reminder without fees. It gives the client the opportunity to catch up on a forgotten payment.

Level 2: First Reminder (Erste Mahnung)

• Timing: 14-21 days after due date
• Fee: 5 EUR
• Late interest: Optional (0-5%)
• Tone: Firm, but factual

The first formal reminder. From this point, you can charge dunning fees.

Level 3: Second Reminder (Zweite Mahnung)

• Timing: 21-30 days after due date
• Fee: 10 EUR
• Late interest: 5% p.a.
• Tone: Clear, with reference to consequences

The second reminder points to possible further steps.

Level 4: Final Reminder (Letzte Mahnung)

• Timing: 30+ days after due date
• Fee: 15 EUR
• Late interest: 9% p.a. (statutory base rate + 8%)
• Tone: Formal, announcement of further measures

The final reminder before debt collection or legal action.

Creating a Reminder

Step 1: Open Overdue Invoice

1. Go to Invoices
2. Filter by Overdue or open an overdue invoice
3. Click on Create Reminder

Step 2: Select Dunning Level

dVersum automatically suggests the appropriate dunning level, based on:

• Time elapsed since due date
• Previously sent reminders

Step 3: Review Details

• Dunning fee: Automatically filled in, can be adjusted
• Late interest: Calculated (days x interest rate x amount / 365)
• New payment deadline: Set a new deadline (typically 7-14 days)
• Notes: Optional remarks

Step 4: Send Reminder

Click on Create Reminder, then:

• Send by email: Directly from dVersum
• Download PDF: For postal delivery

Calculating Late Interest (Verzugszinsen)

Late interest is calculated using the following formula:

Interest = (Outstanding Amount x Interest Rate x Days Overdue) / 365

Example:

• Outstanding amount: 1,000 EUR
• Interest rate: 9% p.a.
• Days overdue: 30

Interest = (1,000 EUR x 9% x 30) / 365 = 7.40 EUR

Legal Basis

Late Interest (§288 BGB)

• B2B: Base rate + 9% = approx. 12.12% (as of 2026)
• B2C: Base rate + 5% = approx. 8.12%

The base rate is published semi-annually by the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Dunning Fees (Mahngebuhren)

Dunning fees are legally permissible when:

• They have actually been incurred (flat rate possible)
• They are reasonable
• The client is in default

Dunning History

dVersum logs all reminders for an invoice:

• Date of the reminder
• Dunning level
• Amounts demanded
• Sending status

This history is also important for any potential legal proceedings.

Best Practices

Act Quickly

The sooner you send reminders, the higher the likelihood of payment.

Stay Friendly

Especially with the first payment reminder - it could be an oversight.

Document Everything

Keep all reminders in dVersum - important for potential legal disputes.

Announce Escalation

In each reminder, announce the next steps if payment is not made.

dVersum Tip

Enable automatic detection of overdue invoices. dVersum shows you all overdue invoices on the dashboard and reminds you to send reminders.