100+ Free Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

€0

Exam Fee for 1st and 2nd Attempts Since 2024

WKO Meisterprüfungsstelle

§ 118 GewO

Statutory Basis for Inkasso Competence Examination

Gewerbeordnung 1994

§ 95 GewO

Reliability Clearance (Zuverlässigkeitsgewerbe)

Gewerbeordnung 1994

9.2% + Base

B2B Commercial Default Interest Rate

Unternehmensgesetzbuch § 456

3 Years

Standard Limitation Period for Commercial Claims

Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch § 1486

The Austrian Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute is the statutory trade competence examination administered by WKO Meisterprüfungsstellen for licensing debt collection institutes in Austria. It tests comprehensive mastery of the ABGB, KSchG, Exekutionsordnung (EO), Insolvenzordnung (IO), GewO 1994 § 118, Standesregeln für das Inkassogewerbe, and fiduciary client accounting. Under Austrian law since 2024, the first and second exam attempts are free. This prep bank provides 100 research-based practice questions with thorough explanations.

Sample Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under § 1392 of the Austrian General Civil Code (ABGB), what legal effect does a valid assignment (Zession) have on the assigned claim?

A.The claim passes from the previous creditor (assignor) to the new creditor (assignee) with all collateral and secondary rights unchanged

B.The original debt is extinguished and replaced by a completely new obligation (Novation) between debtor and assignee

C.The debtor is immediately relieved of the obligation unless the debtor expressly consents in writing to the assignment

D.The claim becomes an unenforceable natural obligation until confirmed by a competent district court

Explanation: Pursuant to § 1392 ABGB, an assignment transfers the existing claim from the assignor (Zedent) to the assignee (Zessionar) in its existing state, including all ancillary rights, pledges, and guarantees (Nebenrechte). The legal basis of the debt remains identical.

2What is the crucial legal distinction between an open assignment (offene Zession) and a silent assignment (stille Zession) regarding debtor performance?

A.In an open assignment, debtor notification (Verständigung) means the debtor can only achieve debt discharge by paying the assignee; in a silent assignment, payment to the assignor discharges the debt

B.A silent assignment is legally invalid against third parties unless registered in the Austrian commercial register (Firmenbuch)

C.In an open assignment, the debtor loses all defences that existed against the assignor prior to the assignment

D.A silent assignment automatically converts the claim from a commercial claim to a private consumer loan

Explanation: Under § 1395 ABGB, until the debtor is notified of the assignment (Verständigung des Schuldners), the debtor can validly discharge the obligation with debt-discharging effect (schuldbefreiende Wirkung) by paying the assignor. Once notified (open assignment), the debtor can only pay the assignee.

3Under § 1396a ABGB, what is the legal standing of a contractual prohibition of assignment (Zessionsverbot) between two entrepreneurs in a bilateral B2B commercial transaction?

A.An agreed assignment prohibition between businesses is only valid if individually negotiated and not grossly unfair to the creditor

B.Any assignment prohibition in B2B contracts is absolutely null and void under mandatory European commercial law

C.An assignment prohibition between entrepreneurs is always binding on third parties regardless of standard contract terms

D.Assignment prohibitions are only permitted if filed with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice

Explanation: Under § 1396a ABGB (introduced to facilitate factoring), a contractual assignment prohibition between businesses (B2B) is only effective if it was individually negotiated and is not grossly disadvantageous (nicht gröblich benachteiligend) to the creditor.

4A commercial supplier delivers goods to a retailer under a bilateral B2B contract. The retailer defaults on payment. According to § 456 of the Austrian Commercial Code (UGB), what is the statutory default interest rate?

A.9.2 percentage points above the applicable base rate (Basiszinssatz) published by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank

B.4.0% fixed per annum regardless of changes in the European Central Bank policy rate

C.8.0 percentage points above the 12-month EURIBOR benchmark

D.12.0% fixed per annum plus statutory compound interest

Explanation: Under § 456 UGB, where an entrepreneur is in default on a payment claim arising from a bilateral commercial transaction (beidseitiges Unternehmergeschäft), the statutory default interest rate is 9.2 percentage points above the current base interest rate (Basiszinssatz).

5In addition to default interest, what flat-rate recovery compensation is a creditor entitled to claim in a B2B transaction upon debtor default under § 458 UGB?

A.A lump-sum compensation of €40 for internal recovery costs, without having to prove specific damage

B.A mandatory surcharge of 10% of the total outstanding invoice amount

C.A statutory fixed handling fee of €150 payable directly to the debt collection agency

D.No flat-rate compensation is permitted; all administrative expenses must be proven with individual receipts

Explanation: Under § 458 UGB (transposing the EU Late Payment Directive), a creditor in a B2B commercial transaction is entitled to a statutory lump-sum payment of €40 (Pauschalbetrag für Betreibungskosten) upon debtor default, independent of further proven recovery costs.

6A consumer defaults on an installment purchase. What is the statutory default interest rate applicable to a consumer under § 1000 ABGB in the absence of a valid contractual clause?

A.4% per annum

B.9.2% above the base rate

C.5% above the ECB main refinancing rate

D.0% unless specified in a formal court judgment

Explanation: Pursuant to § 1000 Abs. 1 ABGB, the statutory civil rate of interest in Austria is 4% per annum where no other rate has been legally agreed upon.

7Under § 6 Abs. 1 Z 15 of the Austrian Consumer Protection Act (KSchG), what standard must debt collection charges meet to be legally recoverable from a consumer debtor?

A.The costs must be necessary for purposeful legal enforcement (zweckentsprechend) and proportionate to the outstanding claim

B.The costs can be set at any arbitrary amount provided they are disclosed in the creditor's general terms and conditions

C.No debt collection costs of any kind can ever be claimed from a consumer under Austrian law

D.Collection agencies may automatically charge a flat fee of €250 regardless of the underlying debt amount

Explanation: Under § 6 Abs. 1 Z 15 KSchG, contractual clauses obliging a consumer to pay collection or recovery costs are void unless the costs are necessary for expedient and purposeful legal enforcement (notwendig zur zweckentsprechenden Rechtsverfolgung) and proportionate to the debt.

8What is the general limitation period (Verjährungsfrist) under § 1486 ABGB for claims arising from commercial deliveries of goods and services?

A.3 years, running from the date the claim could have first been exercised

B.30 years, matching the long general prescription period of the ABGB

C.5 years, running from the end of the calendar year of invoicing

D.1 year, provided a formal reminder was sent within 6 months

Explanation: Under § 1486 Z 1 ABGB, claims for the delivery of goods or performance of commercial/trade services are subject to the special short limitation period of 3 years (dreijährige Verjährungsfrist).

9How does a formal acknowledgment of debt (Anerkenntnis) by the debtor affect the running of the statute of limitations under § 1497 ABGB?

A.It interrupts (unterbricht) the limitation period, causing the full limitation period to begin anew from the date of acknowledgment

B.It merely suspends (hemmt) the limitation period for exactly 60 calendar days

C.It has no legal effect on the limitation period unless recorded in an execution-ready notarial deed

D.It permanently prevents the debt from ever becoming subject to any future limitation period

Explanation: Under § 1497 ABGB, an explicit or conclusive acknowledgment of debt (e.g. through partial payment or installment requests) interrupts the limitation period, resetting the clock so that the applicable limitation period starts completely afresh.

10A creditor sends multiple out-of-court collection letters and warning notices to a debtor. What effect do these extrajudicial reminders have on the statutory limitation period under Austrian civil law?

A.Simple out-of-court reminders neither interrupt nor suspend the limitation period; judicial action is required under § 1497 ABGB

B.Each reminder automatically extends the statutory limitation period by 12 months

C.A registered collection letter permanently stops the statute of limitations from running

D.Extrajudicial reminders suspend the limitation period for up to 5 years under the Austrian Commercial Code

Explanation: Under Austrian law (§ 1497 ABGB), out-of-court reminders (Mahnungen), even if sent by registered mail or through a collection agency/lawyer, do NOT interrupt the statute of limitations. The creditor must bring a court action or initiate judicial proceedings to prevent prescription.

About the Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Exam

The Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute is the statutory Austrian competence examination required under § 118 of the Trade Code (Gewerbeordnung 1994) to obtain a trade license for operating a debt collection agency (Inkassoinstitut). The trade is classified as a regulated reliability trade (Zuverlässigkeitsgewerbe § 95 GewO), requiring rigorous knowledge of civil contract law (ABGB), consumer protection (KSchG), court enforcement (Exekutionsordnung), insolvency (Insolvenzordnung), professional conduct standards (Standesregeln), and fiduciary accounting. This practice bank provides 100 researched multiple-choice study questions in English.

Assessment

Written and oral examination before a commission at a WKO Meisterprüfungsstelle under the Inkassoinstitute-Befähigungsprüfungsordnung of the Fachverband der Immobilien- und Vermögenstreuhänder. The Prüfungsordnung specifies knowledge of: Vertragsrecht einschließlich Konsumentenschutzrecht; Gewerberecht einschließlich Organisation der Wirtschaftskammern; Zahlungs-, Verrechnungs- und Schriftverkehr; Bürgerliches Recht; Grundbuchsrecht; Devisenrecht; Datenverarbeitung, Datensicherung und Datenschutz; Scheck- und Wechselrecht; Exekutionsrecht; Insolvenzrecht; Kreditwesen; Strafrecht; Zivilprozessrecht; Wettbewerbsrecht; Konsumentenschutzgesetz; and Standesrecht. Passing the Befähigungsprüfung is one of the qualification routes recognised in § 1 Z 5 Inkassoinstitute-Verordnung; the other routes are academic and vocational qualifications combined with documented practice.

Time Limit

varies-by-module

Passing Score

Graded on the Austrian school scale (1 to 5); all subjects must achieve at least Genügend (grade 4).

Exam Fee

€0 — free of charge for the first and second attempt since 1 January 2024 (Fachverband der Immobilien- und Vermögenstreuhänder (WKO); administered by Meisterprüfungsstellen)

Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Exam Content Outline

25%

Contract, Civil & Consumer Protection Law (Vertrags-, Zivil- und Konsumentenschutzrecht)

General civil law (ABGB), contract formation, default, damages, assignment of claims (Zession), Consumer Protection Act (KSchG § 6 recovery cost limits), commercial default interest (§ 456 UGB), and statutory reminders

25%

Enforcement, Civil Procedure & Insolvency Law (Exekutions-, Zivilprozess- und Insolvenzrecht)

Enforcement Code (Exekutionsordnung / EO), execution titles, wage garnishment (§ 290a EO), movable property execution, summary order for payment (Mahnverfahren), and Austrian Insolvency Code (IO / restructuring and debt regulation)

20%

Trade Law, Codes of Conduct & Supervision (Gewerbe-, Standes- und Berufsrecht)

Trade Code (GewO 1994 § 94 Z 36, § 95, § 118), Standesregeln für das Inkassogewerbe (BGBl. II Nr. 141/2003), maximum statutory fee caps for debt collection agencies (Inkassogebühren-Verordnung), and professional fiduciary duties

15%

Data Protection, AML & Compliance (Datenschutz, Geldwäscheprävention & Compliance)

GDPR (DSGVO) and Austrian Data Protection Act (DSG), legitimate interest in debt collection, credit agency reporting (KSV1870/CRIF), retention periods, and anti-money laundering (FM-GwG / GewO)

15%

Accounting, Payments & Operational Practice (Verrechnungswesen, Zahlungsverkehr & Praxis)

Trust accounting (Treuhandkontenführung), strict segregation of client and third-party funds, payment clearing, interest and cost settlement sequences (§§ 1415, 1416 ABGB), and statute of limitations management

How to Pass the Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Graded on the Austrian school scale (1 to 5); all subjects must achieve at least Genügend (grade 4).
Assessment: Written and oral examination before a commission at a WKO Meisterprüfungsstelle under the Inkassoinstitute-Befähigungsprüfungsordnung of the Fachverband der Immobilien- und Vermögenstreuhänder. The Prüfungsordnung specifies knowledge of: Vertragsrecht einschließlich Konsumentenschutzrecht; Gewerberecht einschließlich Organisation der Wirtschaftskammern; Zahlungs-, Verrechnungs- und Schriftverkehr; Bürgerliches Recht; Grundbuchsrecht; Devisenrecht; Datenverarbeitung, Datensicherung und Datenschutz; Scheck- und Wechselrecht; Exekutionsrecht; Insolvenzrecht; Kreditwesen; Strafrecht; Zivilprozessrecht; Wettbewerbsrecht; Konsumentenschutzgesetz; and Standesrecht. Passing the Befähigungsprüfung is one of the qualification routes recognised in § 1 Z 5 Inkassoinstitute-Verordnung; the other routes are academic and vocational qualifications combined with documented practice.
Time limit: varies-by-module
Exam fee: €0 — free of charge for the first and second attempt since 1 January 2024

Keys to Passing

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Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the distinction between civil default interest (4% p.a. under § 1000 ABGB) and commercial B2B default interest (9.2% above base rate under § 456 UGB plus €40 flat fee under § 458 UGB).

2Learn the exact statutory limits on debt recovery charges under § 6 Abs. 1 Z 15 KSchG and the Inkassogebühren-Verordnung.

3Understand the execution hierarchy under the Austrian Exekutionsordnung (EO), including wage garnishment calculations and unseizable subsistence minimums (Existenzminimum nach § 290a EO).

4Know the insolvency procedures under the IO: restructuring with self-administration (30% quota in 2 years), restructuring without self-administration (20% quota in 2 years), and private bankruptcy repayment plans.

5Strictly review the Standesregeln für Inkassoinstitute: rules against harassing debtors, prohibition on workplace visits, and mandatory segregation of third-party client funds in dedicated escrow accounts (Anderkonten).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Austrian Befähigungsprüfung Inkassoinstitute?

It is the official trade competence examination required in Austria to obtain a trade licence for operating a debt collection agency (Inkassoinstitut), a regulated trade under § 94 Z 36 and § 118 of the Gewerbeordnung 1994. The examination is administered by the Meisterprüfungsstellen of the provincial Economic Chambers (WKO).

What legal areas are tested on the Inkasso examination?

The examination covers civil law (ABGB), commercial law (UGB), consumer protection (KSchG), civil procedure and court payment orders (ZPO), enforcement law (Exekutionsordnung), insolvency proceedings (Insolvenzordnung), trade law and professional codes of conduct (GewO 1994, Standesregeln), data protection (DSGVO/DSG), and trust accounting.

How much does the Befähigungsprüfung Inkasso cost?

Since 1 January 2024, no examination fee is charged for the first and second attempt at Austrian Meister- und Befähigungsprüfungen administered by the WKO Meisterprüfungsstellen.

How does this practice bank adapt the official Austrian exam?

The official examination is conducted in German with written cases and an oral commission examination. This practice bank provides 100 high-quality English-language multiple-choice questions designed to test and consolidate the statutory principles, calculation formulas, and legal rules required for the qualification.