Client won't pay — Tribunal għal Talbiet Żgħar · Malta

Direct answer

Freelancers are not protected like employees, but they have fast tools: statutory late-payment interest and a fixed recovery fee from the day after the due date (EU late-payment rules), and a court payment order that in most countries takes weeks and needs no lawyer. Send one formal reminder with a 7-day deadline and the interest, then file the payment order at Tribunal għal Talbiet Żgħar (justice.gov.mt). Ċentru ta' Medjazzjoni Malta (2122 2140) is a cheaper route if the client disputes the work; Aġenzija għal Għajnuna Legali (2567 4200) advises on contracts and cross-border claims.

Call firstTribunal għal Talbiet Żgħar

Report toĊentru ta' Medjazzjoni Malta

If that failsAġenzija għal Għajnuna Legali

🗣️ What to say

"Invoice [number] of [date] for [service], [amount], was due on [date] and remains unpaid. I ask for payment within 7 days to [account]. From [due date] statutory late-payment interest and the €40 recovery fee apply. If unpaid, I will file a court payment order without further notice."

🪜 Step by step

One formal reminderDated, amount, due date, 7 days, the interest and fee. Registered mail or email with read receipt.
Check the paperworkQuote, order, delivery confirmation, invoice. A disputed job needs proof of delivery; an undisputed one just needs the invoice.
Payment order at Tribunal għal Talbiet ŻgħarOnline in most countries, small fee, no lawyer. If the client does not object within the period, it becomes enforceable.
Client disputes the work? Ċentru ta' Medjazzjoni MaltaMediation or the small-claims track. The threshold is what matters, not the merits.
Cross-border clientThe European Payment Order and the European Small Claims Procedure work across the EU with standard forms; Aġenzija għal Għajnuna Legali explains which.

📇 All contacts

Tribunal għal Talbiet ŻgħarClaims up to €5,000 without a lawyerLast step, with a clear claim🔗 justice.gov.mt/en/justice/Pages/Small-Claims-Tribunal.aspx

Ċentru ta' Medjazzjoni MaltaMediation in neighbour and consumer disputesFor neighbour disputes📞 2122 2140 🔗 mediation.mt

Aġenzija għal Għajnuna LegaliFree lawyer below the income thresholdWhen you cannot afford a lawyer📞 2567 4200 🔗 legalaidmalta.gov.mt

Ċentru Ewropew tal-Konsumatur Malta (ECC Malta)Free help with sellers in other EU countriesSeller in another EU country, Norway or Iceland📞 2122 1901 🔗 eccnetmalta.gov.mt

❓ Frequently asked

What interest can I charge?

The statutory commercial rate (the ECB rate plus 8 points, roughly) plus a €40 minimum recovery fee per invoice, without agreement, from the day after the due date.

The client is a consumer, not a business

Then the commercial rules do not apply; the consumer rate is lower and the recovery fee needs a contract clause. The payment order still works.

The client is going bankrupt

File your claim with the administrator immediately and stop working for them. Unsecured creditors get little; speed gets more.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

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“freelancer client not paying Malta”
“court payment order unpaid invoice”
“late payment interest freelancer”
“european payment order”
“small claims unpaid invoice Malta”

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🧾 My client will not pay my invoice — what can I do as a freelancer?