What is a Forderungsexekution / account seizure?
A Forderungsexekution is an Austrian court enforcement procedure that allows a creditor to recover an unpaid debt by seizing funds held in your bank account. The court order is issued by an Austrian district court (Bezirksgericht) and served on Qonto as the third-party bank (Drittschuldner). Once Qonto receives and validates the order, it is legally required to comply.
What happens to my account when a seizure order is received?
As soon as Qonto receives a valid seizure order, we are legally required to freeze the funds on your account immediately. Depending on your balance compared to the amount owed:
- If your balance covers the full seizure amount, the seized amount will be isolated and frozen — the remainder of your balance stays freely accessible.
- If your balance is below the seizure amount, your entire account will be suspended. The seizure remains active on any future incoming funds until the full amount is reached.
You will receive a notification from Qonto informing you of the seizure.
How long before funds are transferred to the creditor?
Under Austrian law (§ 304 EO), a mandatory waiting period of 4 weeks applies from the date Qonto receives the seizure order before any payment can be made to the creditor. This waiting period applies to all business types — sole traders and companies alike. It cannot be shortened by the client's consent.
After this 4-week period, Qonto will transfer the seized funds to the creditor.
What happens if I have multiple seizures on my account?
Multiple seizures are processed in chronological order based on the date each order was received by Qonto.
Can I appeal the seizure order?
Yes. As the debtor, you have 14 calendar days from the date of service to file a Rekurs (appeal) with the court that issued the order. We recommend consulting an Austrian lawyer to assess whether an appeal is warranted in your situation.
When will my account be unblocked?
Your account will be unblocked once the full seizure amount has been paid to the creditor, or once the court issues an order lifting the seizure (Einstellung der Exekution).