From 1 October 2024, new legislation will come into force on collection costs and the prevention of problematic debts. This legislation applies specifically to companies that have long-term agreements with natural persons within the Netherlands.
Payt will adjust the calculation of collection costs following changes to the legal requirements. For invoices of up to €266.67, collection fees will depend on the number of instalments not paid on time within a six-month period after a reminder.
We therefor ask you in Payt whether or not you should be covered by the WKI. We do so based on two characteristics: whether you have natural persons residing in the Netherlands as customers, and whether you invoice (partially) on the basis of long-term contracts. Since we can find out from your accounting package whether you are dealing with natural persons, we only ask you whether you (partially) invoice on the basis of long-term contracts.
Want to read more about this legislation? Read the announcement of this decree here (Dutch).
Natural persons as customers
A natural person is someone who is jointly and severally liable for paying an invoice. This concerns consumers, of course, but also self-employed persons or partners in a general partnership (VOF). This legislation only applies to persons residing in the Netherlands. If you provide your service exclusively in other countries, this legislation does not apply.
Invoicing on the basis of long-term contracts
Invoices based on a term agreement are periodic invoices, for example monthly, based on the same contract. This could entail rent, lease, energy, storage, (child) care, maintenance or other contracts where you provide and invoice a service or product on an ongoing basis.
This generally refers to a continuous contract that only ends on termination or if it is not renewed. What this does not include is when someone regularly purchases from you, but each time as a separate order.