Received a debt demand letter? What to check before replying

Preserve the original and identify the document

When a debt demand letter arrives, keep every page, the envelope and receipt-date information. Read who is claiming what, the documents cited and the requested action and date. A creditor's or representative's letter is not a court summons merely because it uses legal language, but it should not be ignored. If court papers are enclosed or the document type is unclear, check them separately at once. Do not substitute the letter's deadline for a procedural deadline in court documents.

Verify the sender through an independent channel

Compare the creditor's name, reference number and contact information with existing records. Use a contact channel verified independently of the letter's links or QR codes. For a representative, request information confirming whom they act for and which matter they handle. The Department of Provincial Administration's summary discusses identifying collectors and creditors and prohibiting false impersonation of courts within the debt collection law. Applicability must be checked against the creditor and debtor types; do not assume identical conditions govern every business debt.

Reconcile the claim with your own evidence

Separate principal, interest, charges and the calculation date as stated in the letter, then compare them with the relevant agreement, invoices and payment evidence. For discrepancies, list amounts supported by payment records, amounts of unknown origin and amounts needing explanation. For example, a letter may have been calculated before the latest instalment was paid. Supply information for an updated calculation rather than assuming either that the entire debt has disappeared or that every claimed amount is correct.

Separate known facts from disputed points

Prepare a brief chronology with supporting documents, such as agreement, work receipt and payment dates. Keep evidenced facts, recollections and unresolved matters in separate fields. If you are not the named person or do not recognize the transaction, record the issue for inquiry without disclosing unnecessary personal information. Do not edit original files or delete messages to make the chronology support a desired conclusion.

Prepare questions before confirming a balance or making a new agreement

Before signing a balance confirmation, sending a reply that may be used as evidence or accepting a new instalment proposal, have a lawyer review the wording and documents for possible consequences. Prepare questions about amounts requiring further checks, points to address and dates requiring action. No single response suits every case, and another person's experience does not establish how many days you have to reply.

Prepare a consultation file and retain communication records

A B Law Firm consultation file should contain the letter and envelope, cited documents, reconciliation table, payment history and decisions needing advice. Flag approaching dates at the outset so urgency can be assessed. After contact, retain the time, recipient and exact message sent. This preparation supports focused factual review; it is not a promise of debt cancellation, successful negotiation or a particular court outcome.

References

• Department of Provincial Administration: Summary of the Debt Collection Act B.E. 2558 (in Thai)
• B Law Firm: Legal advice and civil litigation services (in Thai)