BDIU

What BDIU does

BDIU (Bundesverband Deutscher Inkasso-Unternehmen e.V.) is a Berlin-based non-profit trade association founded in 1956 that represents approximately 70% of Germany's active debt collection industry through 450 member companies, which collectively employ around 15,000 people, handle 39 million new collection cases annually, and return €5 billion to the economic cycle each year. The association provides a binding Code of Conduct adopted in 2020 and effective from October 1, 2021, an independent ombudsman and complaint procedure for consumers, regional working groups across Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich, and four specialized industry committees. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Deutsche Inkasso Akademie (DIA), delivers the Sachkundelehrgang professional certification course and continuing education seminars for collection industry professionals.

The association operates a publicly accessible website (inkasso.de) that includes a filterable member directory by specialization, a consumer-facing Mahnung-checken tool to identify fraudulent collection notices, a Beschwerdeformular linked to the ombudsman procedure, and a public-facing news and consumer-protection resource library. Membership fees, structured under a Beitragsordnung (contribution order) sized to company scale and most recently amended on May 6, 2025 (effective January 1, 2026), constitute the primary revenue stream, supplemented by DIA training fees and revenue from the BDIU Kongress, the year-end Virtueller BDIU Kongress, and the Strategieforum. The association is led by President Anke Blietz-Weidmann and Managing Director Dennis Stratmann, and since 2014 has managed the work of FENCA, the European Federation of National Associations of Credit and Collection Companies, organizing the annual FENCA World Congress to extend its reach beyond Germany.

Name

BDIU

Legal name

Bundesverband Deutscher Inkasso-Unternehmen e.V.

Website

https://inkasso.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BDIU (Bundesverband Deutscher Inkasso-Unternehmen e.V.) is a German non-profit trade association founded in 1956 representing 450 debt collection member companies covering 70% of Germany's active collection industry. It provides a binding Code of Conduct, ombudsman services, professional training via its DIA subsidiary, and industry representation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Collection Agencies (561440)

SIC

Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Collection Agencies (Consumer) (FSAKAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credit Counseling & Debt Management Plans (DMP) (FSAKAJAH)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Debt collection industry
• Receivables management
• Consumer protection advocacy
• Professional certification training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: BDIU generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees paid by debt collection companies. The fee structure is designed to be accessible to companies of all sizes, from small sole-proprietors to large corporate groups.
2. Training and Education Services: Revenue from the Deutsche Inkasso Akademie (DIA), a subsidiary providing professional development courses, certification programs, and seminars for collection industry professionals. Members receive discounted rates.
3. Event Revenue: BDIU Kongress (annual in-person congress) and Strategieforum events generate revenue through attendance fees. Members receive discounted participation rates.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BDIU is a non-profit trade association that represents approximately 450 debt collection companies in Germany (covering roughly 70% of active operators) and provides industry-wide services including a binding Code of Conduct, an ombudsman-based Beschwerdestelle (complaint office), public consumer-protection tools, and the Mitgliederportal for member companies. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Deutsche Inkasso Akademie (DIA), it delivers professional certification and continuing-education programs, and it runs paid annual events such as the BDIU Kongress and Strategieforum.

Product overview

BDIU (Bundesverband Deutscher Inkasso-Unternehmen e.V.) is a German trade association for debt collection companies, not a product company. Its website (inkasso.de) serves as an informational portal for members, consumers, and the public. The site provides access to member directories, complaint-handling tools (Beschwerdeformular), consumer protection resources (Mahnung checken, Inkassoglossar, Identitätsdiebstahl information), the BDIU Code of Conduct, publications including the newsletter 'Die Inkassowirtschaft,' event information (Kongress, Strategieforum), and educational offerings through its subsidiary Deutsche Inkasso Akademie (DIA). No commercial software products or modules are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BDIU Membership
• Deutsche Inkasso Akademie (DIA) Training and Certification Programs
• BDIU Kongress (Annual Congress)
• Strategieforum (Strategy Forum)
• Virtueller BDIU Kongress (Virtual Congress)

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 billion Euro returned to economic cycle annually through collection efforts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FENCA (European Federation of National Associations of Credit and Collection Companies)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014BDIU has managed FENCA's work since 2014 and organizes the annual FENCA World Congress. FENCA is the European umbrella organization for debt collection associations, representing the industry at the European level.
• FenecaminorOthersListed as membership organization. FENCA is the European Federation of National Associations of Credit and Collection Companies.
• BDWI (Bundesverband der Wirtschaftsverbände)minorOthersListed as membership organization. BDWI is a German economic association federation.
• Netzwerk Europäische Bewegung DeutschlandminorOthersListed as membership organization. European Movement Germany network.
• BGA (Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen)minorOthersListed as membership organization. German trade association.
• WettbewerbszentraleminorOthersListed as membership organization. The Competitors' Center is a self-commitment institution for German advertising and competition law.
• BMBF DeutschlandstipendiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBDIU supports the Germany Scholarship program (Deutschlandstipendium) at the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht (HWR) Berlin, funding talented students in business and law.
• Institut für Finanzdienstleistungen e.V. (iff)minorOthersBDIU Managing Director Dennis Stratmann participated in an iff conference in Hamburg to discuss collection fees with consumer advocates and debt counselors.
• Inkasso Suisse (Swiss Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDIU Managing Director Dennis Stratmann attended the Inkasso Suisse annual meeting in St. Gallen on May 21, 2026. Both associations share expertise and discuss industry topics.
• IACC (International Association of Commercial Collectors)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collection association. President Erwin Falkner attended Inkasso Suisse event alongside BDIU.
• IKV (Inkassoverband Österreich)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian debt collection association. President Walter Strobl attended Inkasso Suisse event alongside BDIU.
• Inkassoakademie.de (Deutsche Inkasso Akademie)coreOthersThe German Collection Academy (DIA) is a subsidiary providing professional training and certification for collection industry professionals. BDIU members receive discounted rates.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ACA International: US trade association for the credit and collection industry with comparable member services including advocacy, ethics/compliance standards, training and a member directory. The closest international functional peer to BDIU.
• Credit Services Association (CSA): UK trade association for debt collection and credit management agencies. Operates a member code of practice, training, and member directory analogous to BDIU's Code of Conduct and DIA training.
• Inkasso Suisse: Swiss debt collection trade association. Direct counterpart to BDIU at the national level, with similar member, training and advocacy functions for the DACH region.
• IKV (Inkassoverband Österreich): Austrian debt collection trade association. Comparable DACH-region association with member companies, codes of practice and industry advocacy similar to BDIU.

Broad incumbents

• FENCA: European federation of national collection associations managed by BDIU since 2014. Functions as a pan-European trade body, comparing to BDIU at the continental level rather than national level.
• IACC (International Association of Commercial Collectors): International association for commercial debt collection. Overlaps with BDIU's international and cross-border recovery mandate under the FENCA umbrella.
• Bankenfachverband: German financial services trade association with overlapping creditor-side membership. A broader financial industry association sharing similar advocacy, training and event functions.
• DIHK (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag): German chambers of commerce umbrella organization. Represents many creditor-side businesses that engage BDIU members, with a similar advocacy, training and event infrastructure.

Regional players

• Deutscher Bund-Verlag (debitoris / Verlag Deutscher Inkasso-Dienst): German debt collection information and publishing resource serving similar members and creditors. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct trade association peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BDIU_inkasso_de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BDIU