Net 30 stretched to Net 105 and your Vilnius manufacturing contact says "kitą savaitę" (next week) in Lithuanian—for the seventh time. You've sent ten follow-ups across language barriers, but the operations manager who signed your purchase order is now "waiting for director approval" and nobody else will commit to a payment date or acknowledge the delay formally.
The invoice references a UAB in Vilnius, but they redirect you to the Kaunas production facility. Kaunas says the Klaipėda port operations handles supplier payments. Entity confusion across Lithuanian cities—and your invoice sits unpaid in EUR while they continue producing furniture for Nordic markets and receiving shipments through Klaipėda port from your competitors who accept "Baltic payment timing."
You have the purchase order, delivery confirmations, and email acceptances—mix of English and Lithuanian documentation. They've gone silent for 95 days, and you're not sure if this is a manufacturing quality dispute, a cash flow issue waiting for their Nordic customers to pay, entity structure confusion, or whether Lithuanian business culture allows indefinite delays before formal escalation damages the relationship.
If This Sounds Familiar, You're in the Right Place
- Net 30-60 terms routinely drift to Net 75-120+ with "next week" or "waiting for approval" responses
- Acceptance disputes appear only after payment requests (manufacturing quality, logistics timing from Klaipėda port)
- Entity confusion: Vilnius headquarters vs Kaunas manufacturing vs Klaipėda port/logistics operations
- Decision-maker who approved (often director or owner) is now "reviewing with management"
- Evidence scattered: English emails, Lithuanian invoices, shipping documents from Baltic ports
- Language barriers: Lithuanian documentation required for court proceedings despite English business communication
- Cross-border Baltic/EU complications: different collection approaches needed
- EUR adoption mindset: Lithuania only adopted EUR in 2015, some older businesses still think in LTL terms
- "Management is reviewing" stalls with no timeline
- Logistics timing disputes: "Port delays caused issues" or "delivery timing affected quality"
What Changes When Collecty Runs the File
- Evidence pack assembled in first 48 hours (purchase orders, Lithuanian documentation, delivery confirmations—Lithuanian/English)
- Entity and decision-owner mapping across Lithuanian locations (who actually approves payments in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda UAB/AB structures)
- Industry-aware, Lithuanian-capable outreach (we work in Lithuanian and English for manufacturing, logistics, IT—understanding Baltic pragmatism)
- Acceptance reconstruction when "quality specifications" or "logistics timing" disputes appear
- Lithuania/EU-aware escalation routing (European Payment Order eligibility, Lithuanian court thresholds, relatively efficient Baltic legal system)
- Documented reporting cadence (you know what's happening, why, and what's next—in English)
- Relationship-smart persistence (Baltic trade ties protected where possible)
Collecty works Lithuania B2B files from €1K to €250K+, across manufacturing, logistics, IT services, and food processing—evidence-first, Lithuanian-capable, EU-compliant across Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys.
The Lithuania Baltic Gateway™
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Statute of Limitations | 3 years for commercial claims |
| Currency | EUR (Eurozone since 2015) |
| EU Membership | EU member since 2004 |
| Language | Lithuanian (English increasingly common) |
| Payment Terms | Typically Net 30-60 |
| Entity Types | UAB (private) vs AB (public) |
Industry Scenarios: When Lithuanian Payments Stall
Manufacturing (Furniture/Electronics)
The situation: Component supplies to Kaunas furniture manufacturer, €25K, 90 days overdue. "Quality specification review" without documented issues.
What we do: Reconstruct delivery acceptance, document specification compliance, route through efficient Lithuanian court system if needed.
Logistics/Freight
The situation: Port services at Klaipėda to freight forwarder, €18K, 75 days overdue. "Port timing issues" despite on-schedule delivery.
What we do: Document port records and delivery confirmations, map logistics company structure, apply structured Baltic escalation.
IT Services/Fintech
The situation: Software development services to Vilnius fintech, €35K, 85 days overdue. "Milestone acceptance review" without clear objections.
What we do: Reconstruct project milestones and acceptance, document usage/deployment, route professional EU-compliant collection.
Why Not DIY / Lawyer-First / Write It Off?
| Approach | Typical Outcome | When It Works |
|---|---|---|
| DIY follow-up | Low response after 3-4 attempts; language barrier (Lithuanian requirements); no EU escalation path | Small amounts, strong existing relationship, same-city debtor |
| Lawyer-first | High cost upfront (€2K-7K+); relationship damage; court timelines 9-15 months; translation costs | Large amounts (€25K+) with litigation budget; relationship already broken |
| Write it off | 100% loss; precedent set with Baltic customers; no collection attempt | Amount below €1K; debtor insolvency confirmed |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for commercial debt in Lithuania?
Lithuanian commercial claims typically have a 3-year statute of limitations under the Civil Code. Requirements vary—consult local Lithuanian counsel for specific situations.
Can I use the European Payment Order in Lithuania?
Yes. Lithuania has been an EU member since 2004 and fully participates in the European Payment Order regulation. This can be efficient for cross-border enforcement when evidence is properly documented.
Is Lithuanian language required for collection?
For business communication, English is increasingly common, especially in Vilnius IT sector. However, formal legal documents and court proceedings require Lithuanian language documentation. Having Lithuanian-language capability significantly improves collection effectiveness.
How long does Lithuanian debt collection typically take?
Amicable collection in Lithuania can resolve within 30-60 days when evidence is strong. Court proceedings take 9-15 months. The relatively efficient Baltic legal system means enforcement can be practical for mid-sized claims.
What's the difference between UAB and AB companies?
UAB (uždaroji akcinė bendrovė) is a private limited company, the most common entity type. AB (akcinė bendrovė) is a public limited company for larger enterprises. Understanding which entity you're dealing with affects collection strategy.
How does Klaipėda port affect collection?
Klaipėda is Lithuania's main port and Baltic logistics gateway. Many payment disputes involve port timing, logistics delays, or cargo condition claims. Documentation of port records and delivery confirmations is crucial for logistics-related collection.
What industries are most common for Lithuanian B2B collection?
Manufacturing (furniture, food processing, electronics), logistics/freight (Klaipėda port), IT services/fintech (Vilnius), agriculture/food processing, and wholesale/distribution. Manufacturing and logistics represent the largest share of B2B disputes.
Has EUR adoption changed payment culture?
Lithuania adopted EUR in 2015, relatively recently. Some older businesses may still reference LTL (Litas) conversion mindsets for larger amounts. EUR adoption has generally improved transparency for cross-border transactions.
Next Steps: Getting Your Lithuania Collection Started
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Sarah Lindberg
International Operations Lead
Sarah coordinates our global partner network across 160+ countries, ensuring seamless cross-border debt recovery.
