According to the Enforcement Committee of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the first quarter of 2026, there were 6.7 million enforcement proceedings in Kazakhstan involving 2.3 million debtors on bank loans and microloans. This means that every third overdue debt has already entered the stage of forced collection.

Many borrowers underestimate the danger of early delinquencies. A single missed payment seems like a minor issue that can be put off "for later." However, it is precisely this "later" that often turns into serious financial losses.

As noted by Alibek Orazov, Director of the Eurasian Legal Center, once a client's debt comes under the control of a bailiff, negotiating with the bank is no longer possible.

"At the initial stage, while the debt is still with the bank or microfinance organization, the situation remains relatively manageable. The lender is interested in getting the money back and is often willing to offer restructuring, a deferment, or a revised payment schedule. But as soon as the lender obtains an enforcement document (a court order, writ of execution, or notarial endorsement), the debt is transferred to a private bailiff. From that moment on, negotiations are over, and collection becomes compulsory," says the lawyer.

According to him, the transfer of a case to a private bailiff automatically increases the total amount owed. Added to the principal debt is the bailiff's remuneration (roughly 3 to 25 percent) of the amount being collected. With a debt of five million tenge, the bailiff's fee could amount to 500,000–600,000 tenge.

Beyond the amount being collected, the bailiff has the right to:

• freeze bank accounts;
• withhold up to 50% of income;
• restrict foreign travel (for debts exceeding 173,000 tenge);
• place liens on property.

To avoid worsening an already difficult situation and to steer clear of forced collection, A. Orazov recommends reaching out to the creditor in a timely manner.

"Since 2021, a pre-trial settlement mechanism for overdue debts has been in effect. A bank or MFO is obliged to review your restructuring application within 15 days. The sooner you begin the dialogue, the better your chances of resolving the issue without unnecessary costs and restrictions," the lawyer advises.

Many financial analysts recommend that after fully repaying a debt, you must check that the enforcement proceeding has been officially closed and that all restrictions have been lifted. Simply making the payment is not enough – you must obtain a resolution terminating the proceeding. The key takeaway is this: by putting off the problem of debt, you risk paying significantly more. The sooner you take action, the smaller your losses will be.

Rishat MAKHSUTOV

Zanmedia.kz