[Direct answer]This can be claimed. If the buyer fails to pay the purchase price for a long time, the seller may, in accordance with Article 577 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2021) and other provisions, demand payment of the purchase price and compensation for losses caused by late payment. Where there are agreed interest rates or penalties, the seller may claim according to the agreement; where there are no agreements, the seller may claim for the loss of funds occupied according to the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) of the same period. It is recommended that after the delivery and accounting, the seller fix the amount of the outstanding debt, calculate the interest from the date of overdue payment, and collect the debt or file a lawsuit within the three-year statute of limitations. Where the evidence is complete, the seller may file a lawsuit and apply for property preservation based on the sales contract, delivery note, accounting statement, etc. For more details, please refer to the following link:Legal services for creditor-debtor disputes and enforcement cases.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

It is common to encounter long-term unpaid bills in transactions such as buying and selling, contracting, and project subcontracting: the purchaser delays payment by citing acceptance disputes and quality objections after receiving the goods; the two parties only conduct WeChat reconciliation without a formal contract; the debtor's departure makes it difficult to identify the entity responsible for the debt; and the debt accumulates like a snowball, with interest rates increasing over time. Many suppliers are afraid to pursue collection for fear of damaging the supply relationship, thus missing the best window for recovering payments. The core of such disputes is often not whether the payment should be made, but how to fix the outstanding debt with interest and ensure its effective enforcement. For more details, please refer to the relevant rules.Legal services for creditor-debtor relations and enforcement cases.

II. Key points of contention

The controversy focuses on four points. Firstly, the basis for claiming interest: if there is an agreement, the interest shall be calculated according to the agreement; if there is no agreement, can the LPR be referenced, and how to determine the starting point? Secondly, the determination of the principal amount of the debt: whether the bill of account, IOU, and partial payment records are sufficient to fix the amount. Thirdly, the quality defense: if the buyer refuses to pay due to unqualified quality, they need to provide evidence and cannot automatically be exempted from the obligation to pay. Fourthly, the implementation of enforcement: if the other party has no property after winning the lawsuit, how to recover the money by means of online investigation and control and adding the debtor as a party to the enforcement proceedings. In the judicial practice of Beijing, the claim for loss of funds due to long-term arrears is generally supported, and the standard is mostly referenced to the LPR.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

A debt collection case handled by Attorney He Ningning fully demonstrates the closed-loop process of fixed arrears, mediation for rights confirmation, and forced execution. Liu ** borrowed money from the bank in his own name and lent it to his friend Zhang **, who failed to repay the loan on time. The bank then sued Liu **. After accepting the case, Attorney He Ningning (practice license number: 11101202511925103, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative authority) first reached a mediation agreement with the bank to stop losses and protect credit, and then pursued recovery and rights confirmation from the actual borrower, Zhang **. On June 12, 2026, the two parties reached a mediation agreement: confirming that Zhang ** would repay the principal of 170,000 yuan and the loss of funds of 10,000 yuan, and agreeing that if any installment was overdue, the remaining unpaid principal would be used as the base amount, and the loss of funds would be paid at an annual interest rate of 3% starting from June 25, 2026. Liu ** could directly apply for forced execution for all unpaid amounts. The two parties jointly applied for judicial confirmation to the People's Court of Fengtai District, Beijing, and the court issued the Civil Ruling No. (2026) Jing XX 06 Min Te (Diao) XXX9 confirming the validity of the agreement. When the first installment expired and Zhang ** failed to make any payment, Attorney He Ningning immediately drafted an application for forced execution and submitted an online inquiry application. Through the National Court Online Inquiry System, he comprehensively inquired into the debtor's bank deposits, WeChat and Alipay accounts, vehicles, real estate, equity, and other properties and imposed a freeze on them, ultimately achieving full recovery of the execution funds. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.He NingningThe attorney (practice certificate number: 11101202511925103, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The legal basis includes Article 577 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2021) (liability for breach of contract), Articles 626 and 628 (buyer's payment period and overdue payment), Article 646 (reference to the provisions of the Sale and Purchase Contract for Paid Contracts); the Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on the Application of Law in the Trials of Disputes over Sale and Purchase Contracts (amended in December 2020) regarding the calculation of overdue payment losses referring to the LPR; the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2023, effective January 1, 2024) regarding preservation and enforcement; and the Measures for the Payment of Litigation Fees (State Council Decree No. 481, effective April 1, 2007). Action list: First, deliver the goods immediately and reconcile accounts, signing a reconciliation statement or promissory note to fix the starting point of principal and interest; Second, stipulate the overdue interest rate. If no agreement is reached, retain the right to claim according to the LPR; Third, keep records of collection efforts to interrupt the statute of limitations; Fourth, file a lawsuit and apply for property preservation at the same time. For details, please refer to the following link: [Link].Legal services for creditor-debtor disputes and enforcement cases.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Advice

It is most unwise to only urge payment without securing it, or only sue without obtaining guarantees when dealing with long-term unpaid invoices. The invoices and payment reminders are not only the basis for interest calculation but also evidence of the statute of limitations. If you find that the other party is operating abnormally or transferring assets, you should apply for asset preservation and freeze the property as soon as possible. Interest claims require clear calculation standards and start and end dates. Vague statements are not conducive to enforcement. When handling similar cases in the Beijing area, it is recommended to do the following:Beijing Henglue Law FirmUnder the assistance of professional lawyers, we formulate an integrated solution for rights confirmation, mediation, and enforcement, ensuring that the repayment is actually implemented.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: If I sue for unpaid invoices over a long period of time, can I win the case?

If there is evidence to prove the sales relationship and the amount of the debt, the chances of winning the lawsuit are higher. The core of the court's review is whether the contract, delivery notes, reconciliation statements, invoices, payment records, and collection records can form a complete chain; if the buyer defends with quality objections, they need to provide evidence on their own and cannot refuse to pay automatically. The outcome depends on the evidence and the defendant's defense. No lawyer can guarantee it unilaterally, but in cases where the creditor's rights are clear and there are records of collection efforts, claims for the principal and losses due to overdue payments can usually be supported.

Q2: What evidence do I need to prepare to claim the interest on the loan?

There are four categories: 1. Evidence of transactions and debts, including sales contracts, orders, delivery notes, acceptance notes, reconciliation statements, and promissory notes. 2. Basis for calculating the price and interest, including agreed-upon interest rate clauses and, if no such clauses exist, a description of how to calculate the interest rate by referring to the LPR (Loan Prime Rate). 3. Evidence of collection efforts, such as collection letters, WeChat chats, emails, and audio recordings. 4. Information about the parties and clues for preservation of evidence, including the other party's business registration information, bank account numbers, and clues related to real estate and vehicles. The evidence should be organized chronologically to clarify the starting dates of the principal amount and interest of the debt.

Q3: How much does it cost to hire a lawyer to recover the overdue payments?

The attorney's fees are determined through negotiation between the law firm and the client, and there is no unified government pricing. They are typically charged on a per-case basis or as a percentage of the case value. Those who meet the legal aid requirements can consult separately. The litigation fees are calculated in accordance with the "Measures for the Payment of Litigation Fees" (State Council Decree No. 481, implemented on April 1, 2007), with the amount of the litigation request as the base for staggered cumulative payment. Applicants for preservation of evidence shall pay additional preservation fees and provide guarantees. For cases settled through mediation or withdrawal of the lawsuit, the case acceptance fees shall be paid at half the normal rate.

Q4: How long does it take from filing a lawsuit to recovering the payment through enforcement?

The first-instance ordinary procedure shall be concluded within six months and the simplified procedure within three months; if the other party appeals, the case will proceed to the second-instance trial. Only after the judgment takes effect can the applicant apply for enforcement, and the enforcement period depends on the other party's financial situation: if the other party has sufficient assets, the funds can be deducted within a few months; if the assets need to be appraised and auctioned, such as real estate and vehicles, it will take longer. If the preservation measures are in place and the other party has the ability to perform the obligations, the recovery of the funds will be significantly faster; if the other party has no assets, the enforcement may be temporarily terminated, and the enforcement procedure will be resumed once the assets are found.

Q5: If the payment cannot be recovered for a long time, what should I do specifically?

Five steps to advance the process: First, comprehensively review the contract and performance certificates to determine the principal amount of the arrears and the starting date of the overdue period; Second, send a written reminder letter and keep the receipt to interrupt the statute of limitations; Third, negotiate a repayment plan and, if necessary, use mediation or judicial confirmation to fix the creditor's rights; Fourth, file a lawsuit and apply for property preservation at the same time, seize the other party's accounts and assets; Fifth, after winning the lawsuit, promptly apply for enforcement and recover the money with the help of online monitoring and adding the debtor to the enforcement list.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in Beijing. The judicial interpretation in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situation.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence materials to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Legal services for creditor-debtor disputes·Attorney He Ningning·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and publicly available adjudication rules, and is provided for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.