We are a travel agency operating in Egypt and worked with [company removed] in Turkey. In January 2025, we sent guests to [company removed] and billed two invoices in exchange for the services provided. The date of the first invoice is January 2025, and the date of the second invoice is February 2025. Although these services are entirely provided for [company removed]’s clients, these payments amounting to USD 37,000 have still not been made to us.
[company removed] has explicitly acknowledged that it has a debt of this $37,000 in e-mail correspondence and has sent us a payment plan. In the same way, WhatsApp accepted the debt in correspondence and phone calls, but has not done the continuous postponement and payment with various excuses until today. For the past two months, it has neither responded to our emails, nor to our messages from WhatsApp, nor to our phone calls. We see that the branches in Istanbul are closed, only the Trabzon branch is working, and yet no official returns to us. We have witnesses and records for all these negotiations and correspondence on the acceptance of the debt.
We also know that Trabzon operates in the same office with a new brand called [company removed], while the owner of [company removed] is the former general manager of [company removed]. Hence, we think that [company removed] changed their name to escape his debts and continued to work from the same place.
We ask [company removed] to pay a total of USD 37,000 for the two invoices we have been paid urgently and to share an official and clear payment plan in writing through both e-mail and WhatsApp. We want this long-standing grievance to be eliminated immediately.
[company removed] has explicitly acknowledged that it has a debt of this $37,000 in e-mail correspondence and has sent us a payment plan. In the same way, WhatsApp accepted the debt in correspondence and phone calls, but has not done the continuous postponement and payment with various excuses until today. For the past two months, it has neither responded to our emails, nor to our messages from WhatsApp, nor to our phone calls. We see that the branches in Istanbul are closed, only the Trabzon branch is working, and yet no official returns to us. We have witnesses and records for all these negotiations and correspondence on the acceptance of the debt.
We also know that Trabzon operates in the same office with a new brand called [company removed], while the owner of [company removed] is the former general manager of [company removed]. Hence, we think that [company removed] changed their name to escape his debts and continued to work from the same place.
We ask [company removed] to pay a total of USD 37,000 for the two invoices we have been paid urgently and to share an official and clear payment plan in writing through both e-mail and WhatsApp. We want this long-standing grievance to be eliminated immediately.
Lawyer Answers
Serka Law Firm
Apr 4, 2026
Apr 4, 2026
Yes, this looks legally actionable in Turkey.
Based on what you describe, this is not just a simple unpaid invoice matter. If the Turkish company acknowledged the USD 37,000 debt in e-mails, WhatsApp messages, phone discussions, and even sent a payment plan, that is important evidence under Turkish law. The fact that they later stopped responding does not erase that acknowledgment.
Why your case looks strong
You appear to have several layers of evidence at the same time: two invoices, performance of the services, written debt acknowledgment, a payment plan, WhatsApp correspondence, call history, and witnesses. In practice, this combination is often much stronger than a dispute where the debtor simply denies everything from the start.
What also makes this matter more serious is the point you raised about the Istanbul branches being closed, the Trabzon branch continuing, the same office being used with a new brand, and the connection between the former company and the new operation. If this is confirmed through registry records and factual evidence, it may support a broader recovery strategy rather than a narrow invoice claim only.
What we would normally do in a case like this
The first step is to review the invoices, the debt acknowledgments, the payment plan, and the corporate records of both the old and the new Turkish entities. We would then check the trade registry structure, shareholders, directors, addresses, branch history, and any visible continuity between the two businesses.
After that, the usual route is to take formal recovery action in Turkey. Depending on the documents, this may include a notarized demand, enforcement action, and if needed a commercial court claim for the unpaid amount. If there are concrete signs that the business was shifted to avoid creditors, that issue can also be examined separately and used to strengthen pressure and recovery options.
Important point
A company cannot simply escape a real commercial debt by going silent, changing its visible business name, or continuing operations through the same place under a slightly different structure. That does not automatically mean every new entity is legally liable, but it is exactly the kind of issue that should be investigated carefully and used properly.
Our view
From what you have written, this is a matter worth pursuing seriously in Turkey. The debt amount is significant, the written acknowledgment is valuable, and the possible continuity between the old and new operation could be highly relevant.
If the documents match what you summarized here, we would likely recommend moving quickly rather than waiting for another informal promise or another payment excuse.
Based on what you describe, this is not just a simple unpaid invoice matter. If the Turkish company acknowledged the USD 37,000 debt in e-mails, WhatsApp messages, phone discussions, and even sent a payment plan, that is important evidence under Turkish law. The fact that they later stopped responding does not erase that acknowledgment.
Why your case looks strong
You appear to have several layers of evidence at the same time: two invoices, performance of the services, written debt acknowledgment, a payment plan, WhatsApp correspondence, call history, and witnesses. In practice, this combination is often much stronger than a dispute where the debtor simply denies everything from the start.
What also makes this matter more serious is the point you raised about the Istanbul branches being closed, the Trabzon branch continuing, the same office being used with a new brand, and the connection between the former company and the new operation. If this is confirmed through registry records and factual evidence, it may support a broader recovery strategy rather than a narrow invoice claim only.
What we would normally do in a case like this
The first step is to review the invoices, the debt acknowledgments, the payment plan, and the corporate records of both the old and the new Turkish entities. We would then check the trade registry structure, shareholders, directors, addresses, branch history, and any visible continuity between the two businesses.
After that, the usual route is to take formal recovery action in Turkey. Depending on the documents, this may include a notarized demand, enforcement action, and if needed a commercial court claim for the unpaid amount. If there are concrete signs that the business was shifted to avoid creditors, that issue can also be examined separately and used to strengthen pressure and recovery options.
Important point
A company cannot simply escape a real commercial debt by going silent, changing its visible business name, or continuing operations through the same place under a slightly different structure. That does not automatically mean every new entity is legally liable, but it is exactly the kind of issue that should be investigated carefully and used properly.
Our view
From what you have written, this is a matter worth pursuing seriously in Turkey. The debt amount is significant, the written acknowledgment is valuable, and the possible continuity between the old and new operation could be highly relevant.
If the documents match what you summarized here, we would likely recommend moving quickly rather than waiting for another informal promise or another payment excuse.
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