How to track down a Spanish company or sole trader that owes you money
Steps to find the current contact of a Spanish client who stopped paying, what to do if they changed number or address, and how to prepare a claim that works.
IberiaData editorial team · 19 October 2026 · 2 min read
A client who stops paying almost always does the same thing: stops answering the phone. If they've also changed number or address, it feels like they've vanished. That's rarely the case. Spanish companies keep existing, invoicing and carrying a mobile someone answers.
What you need first
- The CIF/NIF on your invoices. It's the key to everything.
- The unpaid invoices with due dates.
- Proof of the relationship: accepted quote, signed delivery notes, emails.
Step 1: check the company is still trading
Look the company up in the BORME. If you see a dissolution, liquidation or insolvency (concurso) notice, change strategy: in insolvency you lodge your claim with the insolvency administrator.
Step 2: find its current contact
The number on last year's invoice may not work. Search the CIF on IberiaData: you'll see whether we have a current phone or email and pay only if you reveal it. Over 90 % of SME and sole-trader numbers are mobiles, usually the owner's.
Step 3: the first call
- Get to the point. Invoice numbers, due date, amount.
- Offer a way out. A payment plan that gets paid beats a judgment that doesn't.
- Confirm in writing the same day.
If you don't speak Spanish, use a Spanish-speaking colleague or a collection agency for the call: it makes a real difference with small businesses.
Step 4: a formal written demand
In Spain the standard is a burofax with certified content and acknowledgement of receipt, sent to the registered office. Spain's late payment law (Ley 3/2004, implementing the EU directive) entitles you to statutory interest and a minimum €40 compensation per invoice for recovery costs in B2B transactions.
Since 2025, many Spanish civil claims require proof of a prior attempt to negotiate before filing. Documented calls, emails and a burofax put you in a strong position.
Step 5: court
- Spanish monitorio: a fast payment procedure for documented, due debts; the initial petition doesn't require a lawyer.
- European Payment Order and European Small Claims Procedure: designed for cross-border EU claims.
What not to do
Don't contact relatives, employees or customers to pressure them, don't post the debt online and don't call at unreasonable hours. It's unlawful and weakens your position in court.
Frequently asked questions
What if the Spanish debtor changed phone number?+
Search the company by its tax ID in an up-to-date directory. With the NIF from your invoice there's no risk of confusing it with another company.
Can I sue a Spanish company from abroad?+
Yes. For cross-border EU claims there are simplified procedures such as the European Payment Order and the European Small Claims Procedure. A Spanish 'monitorio' is another option.
Written and reviewed by the IberiaData editorial team. Last updated: 19 October 2026. If you spot anything out of date, let us know.
