You got a Mahnung (payment reminder) — what now? Deadlines, costs, and how to respond

Finding a Mahnung in your mailbox – never fun. It usually shows up out of nowhere, you're not even sure the claim is right, and a deadline is already running. Here's what actually matters: what a Mahnung is, which deadlines count, and how to respond.

What actually is a Mahnung?

Basically a payment reminder. A landlord, online shop, energy provider or insurer tells you an invoice is unpaid and wants you to pay it. It's not a court case and not an enforcement order – more like a last chance to sort things out quietly.

Worth knowing: you don't legally need a Mahnung to be in default. If the original invoice had a due date and it's passed, you might already be in default automatically – Mahnung or not. So even a formally flawed Mahnung doesn't make the underlying debt disappear.

Mahnung vs. Mahnbescheid — what's the difference?

Mahnung – an informal letter from the creditor. No court involved.
Mahnbescheid – an official court document in the formal dunning procedure. Miss the deadline to object and it can turn into an enforcement order.

So first, look closely at what you actually got. Does it say "Amtsgericht" at the top with a case number? Then it's probably already a Mahnbescheid, and the deadline is stricter – usually two weeks to object.

First question: is the claim even valid?

Do you recognize this invoice?
Did you actually get the goods or service?
Maybe you already paid and it just wasn't recorded?
Does the amount match what was agreed?

If unsure, ask the sender or dig through old emails and bank statements. Plenty of Mahnungen come from simple admin errors, lost mail, or misallocated payments.

Which deadlines actually matter?

Regular Mahnung: usually a new deadline, often 7–14 days. Matters, but isn't set in stone – with a valid objection you can still respond a day or two late.
Court Mahnbescheid: strict deadline – usually 2 weeks from delivery to object. Miss it and an enforcement order can follow, which is harder to fight.
Termination threats (e.g. rent): can be especially short and especially important.

When in doubt, respond early rather than late. Even a short "I'm still looking into this" or "I'd like a payment plan" beats silence.

How much can a Mahnung cost?

Reminder fees are allowed, but not unlimited – a few euros per reminder is normal, not arbitrary large sums. If your Mahnung suddenly lists 30, 40 euros or more as "Mahngebühren," look twice – that's not automatically legal. Late payment interest can also apply once you're in default; normal, but the calculation should make sense.

How should you respond?

1. Claim is valid, you can pay – just pay, ideally referencing the invoice number.

2. Claim is valid, but you can't pay right now – actively ask for a payment plan or extension. Most creditors respond better to that than to silence.

3. You have doubts – write that you're disputing it and briefly say why. Stay factual, skip the long emotional explanations.

4. You got an actual court Mahnbescheid – use the enclosed form and object on time. For larger amounts, get legal advice too.

Quick example of a reply letter

No complicated language needed. Just cover:

reference to the letter (date, case or invoice number)
what it's about (payment, plan, objection)
the key facts in a sentence or two
a concrete request at the end

This is exactly where BriefMagic helps: describe your situation in your own language, get a clearly structured formal letter in German – with the right tone for authorities, landlords or companies. You don't need to know the structure of a German business letter or hunt for the right phrasing. There's a translation back into your language too, so you know what's actually being sent, and past letters stay saved in case a reply comes.

Quick summary

A Mahnung isn't a court case yet – a Mahnbescheid is.
Check first if the claim is even valid.
Take deadlines seriously, but don't panic.
Mahngebühren have to be reasonable.
A clear reply is almost always the best move.

This article doesn't replace legal advice. For larger amounts or complicated cases, talk to a lawyer or a Schuldnerberatung.