How to recover money from a Turkish supplier
You paid in advance and the goods never arrived, or arrived defective. What you can do, in what order, and what to check first.
A foreign buyer can recover an advance payment from a Turkish supplier through a formal demand, enforcement proceedings, an interim attachment of the supplier's assets, and if needed mediation followed by a lawsuit in the commercial court. Check two things first: whether you notified the supplier of the problem in time, and which court and law your contract points to. Turkey is a party to the CISG, which gives buyers a two-year outer limit for defect notices.
What should you check before acting?
Pending lawyer review| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Did you give notice of the defect or non-delivery in writing? | Under the CISG: within a reasonable time, at the latest two years after delivery. Under Turkish domestic law: 2 days for evident defects, 8 days after inspection |
| Does the contract choose a court or arbitration? | If it is silent, the case normally goes to a Turkish court at the supplier's seat |
| Does the contract choose a law? | If it is silent, the law of the seller's place of business applies, together with the CISG where both countries are parties |
| Is there a bank guarantee or letter of credit? | Calling on the bank is faster than any court route |
| Is the supplier still trading and does it have assets? | Decides whether an interim attachment is worth its cost |
What are your options, in order?
Pending lawyer reviewFormal demand
A demand served through a Turkish notary sets a deadline and puts the supplier in default.Interim attachment
If the claim is due and assets may disappear, the court can freeze them. Security of about 15% of the claim. No mediation needed first.Enforcement proceedings
Open to foreign creditors without a judgment. The supplier has 7 days to object. With a disputed claim, expect an objection.Mediation
Mandatory before a commercial lawsuit for money. It must finish within 6 weeks, extendable by 2. Skipping the first meeting costs you the legal costs even if you win.Lawsuit or arbitration
Commercial court at first instance took 383 days on average in 2025. An arbitration clause replaces both mediation and court.Foreign claimants are usually asked for security for costs of 15% to 20% of the claim, unless a treaty exempts them. See what applies to your country.
Does a criminal complaint help?
Pending lawyer reviewRarely. Turkish prosecutors treat non-performance of a contract as a civil matter. Fraud requires that the supplier deceived you from the outset, for example with forged documents or a fake identity. Where that is the case a complaint can add pressure, but it does not replace the civil steps that actually recover money.
How do you protect the next order?
- Pay by letter of credit, or ask for an advance payment guarantee from the supplier's bank
- Agree an inspection before shipment and a written notice procedure for defects
- Choose a law and a forum in the contract. An arbitration clause avoids mandatory mediation and the appeal stages
- For smaller contracts consider fast-track arbitration at the Istanbul Arbitration Centre: claims up to TRY 5,000,000, a sole arbitrator and an award within three months
- Check the supplier in the trade registry and for concordat proceedings before paying
What does it cost?
Official fees and our fixed prices are on the debt collection page, and the recovery assessment tool estimates them for your claim. A recovery assessment costs EUR 450 and takes 3 working days.
Common questions
Pending lawyer reviewCan I get my advance payment back from a Turkish supplier?
Yes, if the supplier did not deliver or delivered goods that do not conform and you gave notice in time. The practical route is a formal demand, then enforcement proceedings or an interim attachment, then mediation and a lawsuit if the supplier disputes the claim.
Does the CISG apply to purchases from Turkey?
Turkey has been a party to the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods since 1 August 2011. It applies when the buyer's country is also a party and the contract does not exclude it.
How quickly must I complain about defective goods?
Under the CISG, examine the goods as soon as practicable and notify the supplier within a reasonable time, and in any case within two years of delivery. If Turkish domestic law applies instead, the periods are much shorter: 2 days for evident defects and 8 days for defects found on inspection.
Which court decides if the contract says nothing?
Normally a Turkish court at the supplier's seat or at the place of performance, applying the law of the seller's place of business. A written jurisdiction or arbitration clause changes this.
Should I file a criminal complaint for fraud?
Usually not as a first step. Failure to perform a contract is treated as a civil dispute. Fraud requires deceit from the outset, and a complaint does not itself recover money.
Related pages
How long does commercial litigation take in Turkey?
Official 2025 court durations in Turkey: 383 days at commercial courts, 371 days on appeal, 185 days at the Court of Cassation. Stages and shortcuts.
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How to enforce a foreign arbitral award in Turkey under the New York Convention: procedure, documents, refusal grounds, court fees and duration.
ReadDebt recovery assessment
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