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Bailiff Costs Calculator (indicative) — how much does enforcement cost in Poland?

Bailiff costs in Poland consist of fees and reimbursable expenses incurred during enforcement proceedings. The Polish Act on Bailiff Costs of 28 February 2018 sets precise rates depending on the type and outcome of enforcement. For successful enforcement from the debtor's assets, the bailiff charges 10% of the recovered amount, minimum PLN 100. For unsuccessful enforcement (no assets found), the creditor pays 3% of the claimed amount, minimum PLN 150. Discontinuation of proceedings at the debtor's request costs 5% of the claimed amount, minimum PLN 100. In addition to the proportional fee, the bailiff recovers actual expenses: postage, asset searches, valuations, and travel. This calculator estimates those expenses at approximately PLN 350 for successful enforcement and PLN 200 for unsuccessful. Enter the debt value (or recovered amount) and the type of enforcement to get an indicative cost estimate.

Reviewed byRedakcja Liczbnik
Calculator
PLN
Indicative bailiff costsTotal costs1,350.00PLN
Proportional fee
1,000.00 PLN
Estimated expenses
350.00 PLN
Fee (%)
10

How the bailiff costs calculator works

The calculator applies the rules of the Polish Act on Bailiff Costs of 28 February 2018: 1. Successful enforcement: fee = max(100, value x 10%) + ~PLN 350 expenses 2. Unsuccessful enforcement: fee = max(150, value x 3%) + ~PLN 200 expenses 3. Discontinuation at debtor's request: fee = max(100, value x 5%), no estimated expenses All amounts are rounded to the nearest grosz. The fee percentage is calculated as fee / value x 100%. The expense estimate is an average — actual expenses may be higher or lower. The calculator does not include: fees for asset searches, fees for specific enforcement acts, eviction costs, or restructuring adviser costs.

Example: debt PLN 10,000, successful enforcement

Debt: PLN 10,000. Successful enforcement. Proportional fee: 10% x 10,000 = PLN 1,000. Estimated expenses: ~PLN 350. Total: ~PLN 1,350. For a debt of PLN 500 the fee is PLN 100 (minimum). For unsuccessful enforcement on a PLN 10,000 claim: 3% x 10,000 = PLN 300 fee + PLN 200 expenses = ~PLN 500 for the creditor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the proportional fee in Polish enforcement proceedings?

The proportional fee (oplata stosunkowa) is the main bailiff charge set at 10% of the amount actually recovered, with a minimum of PLN 100. There is no statutory cap for asset enforcement. For example: PLN 5,000 recovered — fee PLN 500; PLN 50,000 recovered — fee PLN 5,000.

What happens if the bailiff finds no assets?

If enforcement is unsuccessful (no recoverable assets found), the creditor pays a fee of 3% of the claimed amount, minimum PLN 150. This fee is charged to the creditor, not the debtor. The creditor may then pursue other recovery options or wait for the debtor's financial situation to change.

How much does discontinuation of enforcement cost the debtor?

If the debtor requests discontinuation of proceedings during enforcement (e.g. after paying outside the proceedings), the bailiff charges 5% of the claimed amount, minimum PLN 100. This fee is borne by the debtor.

Who pays bailiff costs — the creditor or the debtor?

In successful enforcement, costs are borne by the debtor and collected together with the principal debt. In unsuccessful enforcement and creditor-initiated discontinuation, the creditor pays. In debtor-initiated discontinuation, the debtor pays the fee.

Can the proportional fee be reduced?

Yes — if the debtor pays the entire debt within one month of receiving notice of enforcement proceedings, the bailiff may charge a reduced rate of 3% (instead of 10%), minimum PLN 100. It is worth contacting the bailiff promptly after receiving a payment notice.

What expenses can the bailiff charge separately?

Apart from the proportional fee, the bailiff may charge for actual expenses: registered mail, asset search fees, property valuations, travel costs, publication fees. This calculator estimates these at PLN 350 for successful and PLN 200 for unsuccessful enforcement. Actual amounts vary.

Indicative result

This result is purely indicative and does not constitute a bailiff's offer or legal advice. The final bailiff costs depend on the specific circumstances of the case, the number of enforcement actions taken, and actual expenses incurred. The calculator is based on the Polish Act on Bailiff Costs of 28 February 2018. Before making any legal decisions, consult a solicitor, legal adviser, or court bailiff.
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