the late payment directive as implemented in italy: recent cases and possible developments antonio...
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The Late Payment Directive as implemented in Italy:
recent cases and possible developments
Antonio Debiasi
Rucellai & RaffaelliMilan - Italy
RUCELLAI & RAFFAELLI Ankara, November 22, 2007 Ankara, November 22, 2007 Law Firm
Directive 2000/35/CE has been implemented in Italy through:
Legislative Decree n. 231 of October 9th, 2002
Art. 1: exclusions [6.3 Directive]
Art. 2: definitions [2 Directive]
Art. 3: responsibility of the debtor [3.1.c Directive]
Art. 4: payment of interest [3.1.a-d, 3.2 Directive]
Art. 5: interest rate [3.1.d Directive]
Art. 6: recovery of costs [3.1.e Directive]
Art. 7: grossly unfair agreements [3.3-3.4 Directive]
Art. 8: safeguard of collective interests [3.5 Directive]
Art. 9: amendments to the code of civil procedure [5 Directive]
Art. 10: sub - supply agreements [3.1.d-e Directive]
Art. 11: retention of title [4 Directive]
The Legislative Decree n. 231/2002
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Principles established with respect to the payment of interest
• Interest run automatically the day following the expiration of the term of
payment;• No need for a reminder;• the “legal” term for payment is established in article 4, unless a different
term is agreed in the contract;• the terms for payment mirror the provision of Directive 35/2000:
• 30 days from receipt of invoice/request, or• 30 days from receipt of goods/services, if date of invoice/request is not certain or
invoice/request is received before the goods/services, or• 30 days from acceptance/verification – if provided – of goods/services, if
invoice/request is received before such date
• specific discipline is provided for deteriorating foodstuff
Article 4: Payment of interest
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unless otherwise agreed upon between the parties
the level of interest for late payment is equal to the interest
rate applied by the European Central Bank to its most
recent refinancing operation carried out on the first calendar
day of the half year considered plus at 7 percentage points
and applies for the subsequent six month term
Article 5: level of interest for late payment
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Article 5: Applicable Interest Rate
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Period Reference rate % Margin % Interest rate %7.11.2002- 31.12.2002 3,35 +7 10,35
1.1.2003-30.6.2003 2,85 +7 9,85
1.7.2003-31.12.2003 2,10 +7 9,10
1.1.2004-30.6.2004 2,02 +7 9,02
1.7.2004-31.12.2004 2,01 +7 9,01
1.1.2005-30.6.2005 2,09 +7 9,09
1.7.2005-31.12.2005 2,05 +7 9,05
1.1.2006-30.6.2006 2,25 +7 9,25
1.7.2006-31.12.2006 2,83 +7 9,83
1.1.2006-30.6.2007 3,58 + 7 10,581.7.2007-31.12.2007 4,07 +7 11,07
Pursuant to article 7:
the agreement on the payment date or on the consequences of the delayed payment is void if results to be grossly unfair for the creditor, considering:
• the good commercial practice• the nature of goods/services• the contractual relationships• any other circumstance
Article 7: Grossly Unfair Agreements
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Greatest difficulties in obtaining timely payments are met by private undertakings when dealing with the public administration:
the public administration often performs delayed payments, with possible damages to private companies
Payment delay in dealing with public administration
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RUCELLAI & RAFFAELLI Ankara, November 22, 2007 Ankara, November 22, 2007 Law Firm
Giorni medi di pagamento nel le Regioni i tal iane
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
al 31.12.2006 al 31.03.2007 al 30.06.2007 al 30.09.2007
An example: the pharmaceutical sector
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al 31.12.2006 al 31.03.2007 al 30.06.2007 al 30.09.2007
ABRUZZO 214 242 307 366
BASILICATA 143 144 198 150
CALABRIA 398 450 412 463
CAMPANIA 600 398 390 442
EMILIA ROMAGNA 397 403 359 356
FRIULI 97 96 164 96
LAZIO 401 476 448 574
LIGURIA 284 297 312 271
LOMBARDIA 245 248 282 226
MARCHE 232 249 284 258
MOLISE 763 790 448 591
PIEMONTE 217 209 261 218
PUGLIA 220 233 261 257
SARDEGNA 265 267 324 298
SICILIA 289 317 295 252
TOSCANA 146 157 209 163
TRENTINO A.A. 84 105 174 115
UMBRIA 178 185 230 199
VALLE D'AOSTA 94 115 170 115
VENETO 247 250 286 250
ITALIA 299 293 313 302
Council of State n. 4996/2007
It is void the clause of a tender which imposes the acceptance of payment within 120 days from the receipt of invoice
Derogation to the payment terms and interest rates for late payment provided for by d.lgs 231/2002 is allowed only if expressly and voluntarily agreed upon by the parties
COURT CASES DEALING WITH CLAUSES NON CONSISTENT WITH d.lgs. 231/2002
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Council of State n. 43/2006
It is void the exclusion from a tender of a company in presence of an acceptance of all the clauses of the tender and of a separate declaration that void clauses are not accepted
Criteria for compensation of the occurred damage
COURT CASES DEALING WITH CLAUSES NON CONSISTENT WITH d.lgs. 231/2002
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Administrative Court of Piemonte n. 3292/2007
It is void the provision in tenders of clauses imposing payment term of 150 days from the receipt of invoice and interest rate of 0,25% over the reference rate.
Action by an association of undertakings representing collective interests pursuant to art. 8 of d.lgs 231/2002
COURT CASES DEALING WITH CLAUSES NON CONSISTENT WITH L.D. 231/2002
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Extraordinary transactions in the case of the settlements on
healthcare receivables:A view on the side of creditors
Settlements with the public entities
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Art. 5 of the directive ensuring that an enforceable title can be obtained
on unchallenged claimsvs.
legislation and practice on credit collection in Italy
Legal Actions as a mean to fight delay payments
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The case of law decree n. 277/2004 on the “Ordine Mauriziano”
(exclusion of attachment procedures and the request of interests during a certain time frame).
Issues of compliance with the EC Directive 35/2000
The extraordinary interventions
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The Late Payment Directive as implemented in Italy:
recent cases and possible developments
Antonio Debiasi
Rucellai & RaffaelliMilan - Italy
RUCELLAI & RAFFAELLI Ankara, November 22, 2007 Ankara, November 22, 2007 Law Firm
Antonio DebiasiRUCELLAI&RAFFAELLIVia Montenapoleone, 1820121 Milano - Italy