Service page: Class actions and consumer claims lawyer.
What to do now
- Check whether the law requires a specific request in your case. The table below sets out the common situations. Examples are exemplary damages against a dealer, non-conformity of a product, and rescission of a contract after an extension.
- Gather the documents: an agreement, an order, invoices, receipts, correspondence, photos. The letter relies on them.
- Write according to the template below: to whom, what happened and when, and what the demand relies on. Then state exactly what you are asking for, and by when.
- Send it in a way you can prove: registered mail with confirmation of delivery, or an email of which you keep a copy.
- Keep every reply. A written admission of the debt, or payment of part of it, starts the limitation period again. This does not apply if the limitation period was raised together with it. (section 9 of the Prescription Law)
- The deadline has passed? Choose a route according to the amount and the matter. The options are a small claim up to NIS 39,900 (2026) and the Magistrates' Court. For a claim for a fixed sum, there are also enforcement proceedings at the Execution Office.
Must you send a warning letter before a claim?
As a rule, no. The Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018, provide that a court proceeding is opened by filing a statement of claim (regulation 9(a)). They do not set a general duty to send a letter before that. Even so, some laws attach a legal effect to a request or notice to the other side, sometimes specifically in writing. In these cases, the letter is part of the right itself:
| The situation | What the law requires | Section |
|---|---|---|
| A claim for exemplary damages against a dealer | You can file the claim only after the consumer sent or delivered to the dealer in writing, including by electronic communication, the request that the section lists for that case, for example to return the payment or to stop a charge. When the dealer continues to charge after a continuing transaction was canceled, the cancellation notice is enough, provided that it was not given orally. | Section 31A(b) of the Consumer Protection Law, 5741-1981; section 14I(a) |
| A product that was delivered and does not conform to what was agreed | The buyer must notify the seller of the non-conformity immediately after the time for inspection or immediately after discovering it, whichever is earlier; without notice, the buyer may not rely on it. Even when the non-conformity is hidden, or the seller knew of it and did not disclose it, notice is required immediately after it is discovered. | Sections 13–16 of the Sale Law, 5728-1968 (חוק המכר, התשכ״ח-1968) |
| Rescission of a contract because of a non-fundamental breach | First you give the party in breach an extension to perform the contract. If the contract was not performed within a reasonable time after the extension, you may rescind it, unless rescission would be unjust in the circumstances. Rescission is made by notice to the party in breach within a reasonable time after the extension has passed. | Sections 7(b) and 8 of the Contracts (Remedies for Breach of Contract) Law, 5731-1970 (חוק החוזים (תרופות בשל הפרת חוזה), התשל״א-1970) |
| Defamation in a newspaper, on radio or on television | A demand signed by the injured person to publish a correction or denial. If they were not published as required and within a reasonable time, the good-faith defense will not be available to the editor and to those responsible for the publication, under the conditions in the section. | Section 17(a) of the Prohibition of Defamation Law, 5725-1965 (חוק איסור לשון הרע, התשכ״ה-1965) |
| A claim for a fixed sum in enforcement proceedings (up to ₪75,000) | Before filing the claim with the Execution Office, you send the debtor a warning of the intention to file it, by registered mail with confirmation of delivery, in the wording of Form 19A, stating the amount of the claim, the main facts, the details of the contract or undertaking and the date the debt arose, together with the supporting documents. The request is filed after 30 days from service and no later than one year; after one year a new warning is needed. Without the warning there is no proceeding. | Section 81A1(b1)–(c) of the Execution Law, 5727-1967 (חוק ההוצאה לפועל, התשכ״ז-1967); regulation 109A of the Execution Regulations, 5740-1979 (תקנות ההוצאה לפועל, התש״ם-1979) |
Is it a consumer transaction, and are you considering a claim for exemplary damages? Then the letter should expressly ask for what section 31A(a) of the Consumer Protection Law lists for your case. Examples are the return of the payment you made, or stopping a charge. Keep proof of sending. Is the dispute about a harmful publication? More rules apply. See A warning letter before a defamation claim: what it should include and what not.
Does a warning letter stop the limitation period from running?
No. The Prescription Law, 5718-1958 (חוק ההתיישנות, התשי״ח-1958), counts the period for a claim “for which no action has been filed”. An “action” is a civil proceeding before a court (sections 1 and 5), and a letter is not such a proceeding. The general period for a claim that does not concern land is seven years from the day the cause of action arose (sections 5(1) and 6). Another law may set a different period for a particular matter (section 27).
In one situation, the reply to the letter changes the calculation (section 9). The other side may admit in writing that the right exists, or perform part of it. Then the limitation period starts from the day of the admission. This does not apply if the limitation period was raised together with the admission. So it is advisable to keep every written reply you receive.
Thinking of sending a warning letter, or did you receive one?A first call to look at your case. I will get back to you within one business day.
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What happens after you write to me
- You write what happened and with whom. No documents.
- I get back to you within one business day for a short call of a few minutes.
- If it is a matter I handle: after the call you will receive, in writing, what will be done and what the next step is. Work starts only after you approve.
At the end of the call you will know one of three things: it is a matter I handle, and what the next step is; you can manage without a lawyer, and which guide fits; or it is outside my field, and where to turn.
Service: a warning letter you received
Received a warning letter? Send it to me
Before you reply, delete anything or pay: I will read the letter, and in a short call I will tell you what it claims, by when you need to reply and what your options are.
What should the letter include?
- To whom: the exact name of the dealer, the company or the person, as it appears on the invoice, the receipt or the agreement. Add an address for sending.
- The facts: what was agreed, what was paid, what went wrong and when, in order of time. Dates and order or inquiry numbers, without adjectives and without name-calling.
- The basis: the clause in the agreement or the section of the law that the demand relies on, if you know it. It is better to describe the facts well than to guess a section.
- The demand: exactly what you are asking for: a refund, cancellation of a charge, a repair, delivery or removal. It is advisable to break down any amount you demand by its components.
- A deadline for a reply: a defined date, so that it is clear whether the demand was met.
- Reservation of rights: a sentence stating that the letter does not waive any claim or remedy.
- A way of sending that can be proved: registered mail, or an email of which you keep a copy.
A warning letter template to copy
The template suits an ordinary civil or consumer dispute. Examples are a charge that should not have been made, a product that was not supplied, a service that was not given or a refund that did not arrive.
[Date]
To
[Name of the dealer, the company or the person, as it appears on the invoice, the receipt or the agreement]
[Postal address or email address]
Re: Demand concerning [a short subject, for example: order number ___ of ___]
1. On [date] [what was agreed or bought, and what was paid].
2. On [date] [what went wrong: what was not supplied, what was charged or what was said].
3. I contacted you on [date] by [channel: phone, email or chat], [inquiry number, if any], and received no response to my demand.
4. [If known: the clause in the agreement or the section of the law that the demand relies on.]
5. I therefore request [the exact demand, for example: a refund of the amount paid, cancellation of the charge, a repair or delivery].
6. Please send me your reply in writing by [date], to [email address or postal address].
7. If I do not receive a response by that date, I will consider further steps, including turning to the courts.
8. Nothing in this letter is a waiver of any claim, right or remedy.
Sincerely,
[Full name]
[Phone and email]
The template is meant to help with the wording and does not replace a check of the case. Replace every pair of square brackets with the details of your case and delete lines that are not relevant.
When the demand is for money: how to build the amount
A letter that demands a “refund” without a detailed amount invites an argument over the numbers. An amount built from components is harder for the other side to reject. This is how to build it:
- A list of open invoices or charges, each with a date, a number and an amount.
- What has already been paid or credited: payments on account, credit notes, set-offs made by the other side.
- Reconciliation with the ledger: in a business, compare the list with the customer’s or the supplier’s ledger account in the books. Then there is no gap the other side can point to.
- Interest and linkage: according to what was set in the contract. If nothing was set, the court may award linkage differentials and interest on the amount it awards. This is under section 2 of the Adjudication of Interest and Linkage Law, 5721-1961 (חוק פסיקת ריבית והצמדה, התשכ״א-1961).
- Attached documents: copies of the invoices and the correspondence on which the amount relies.
Has something similar happened to you?You can write to me what happened and with whom, without documents.
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How to send a warning letter, and how to prove it was delivered
The aim is to be able to show when the letter was sent and where to. The two common ways are registered mail, or an email of which you keep a copy:
- Registered mail: keep the sending receipt and the registered item number. If the letter was sent with confirmation of delivery, also keep the confirmation when it comes back.
- Email: send it to the address the other side actually uses, for example the one on the invoice, in the agreement or in earlier correspondence. Keep the message you sent, with the date and time, and the reply if one arrives.
- Both ways together: when the deadline matters, you can send the letter on the same day both by registered mail and by email. Say so in the letter itself.
- A copy for yourself: keep the letter exactly as it was sent, together with everything attached to it.
What not to write in a warning letter
A warning letter is meant to show that you are serious, not to frighten. A few things are better left out:
- Threats. Section 428 of the Penal Law, 5737-1977 (חוק העונשין, התשל״ז-1977) prohibits some threats made to induce a person to do an act, or to refrain from an act they are entitled to do. It covers threatening a person, in writing or orally, with unlawful harm to the body, liberty, property, livelihood, good name or privacy of that person or of another person. It also covers threatening to publish or not to publish something about that person. So do not write “if you don’t pay, I’ll post this online” or “I’ll tell all your customers”.
- A police complaint as a bargaining chip. A person who believes an offense was committed complains through the proper channel, separately from the monetary demand. They do not offer to drop the complaint in exchange for payment.
- Smears and allegations you have no way to prove. A letter may attribute something harmful to the recipient and reach, or be able to reach, at least one other person. Such a letter may be considered a publication of defamation (sections 1 and 2 of the Prohibition of Defamation Law).
- Copies to anyone who is not a party. An employer, customers, a WhatsApp group or a social media network are not the recipients of the letter.
- Amounts you have not calculated. A demand that is not detailed is hard to check and to meet; set out each component and its basis.
Did you receive a warning letter? What to do
Do not ignore the deadline in the letter, and do not answer in a hurry. Check the facts against the agreement, the invoices and the correspondence, and decide whether to pay, to offer a solution or to reject the demand. A written admission that the right exists starts the limitation period again from the day of the admission (section 9 of the Prescription Law). So word your reply carefully.
Did you receive a letter because of a post, a review or another publication? The defenses and the first steps are set out in the guide Sued for defamation? The warning letter, the defenses and the first steps.
And if the demand was not met?
The route depends on the amount and the type of dispute. A dispute over an amount of up to NIS 39,900 (the cap for 2026) may be heard in the Small Claims Court. The court fee there is 1% of the amount of the claim and not less than NIS 50. This is under regulation 6(a) of the Small Claims Adjudication (Rules of Procedure) Regulations, 5737-1976 (תקנות שיפוט בתביעות קטנות (סדרי דין), התשל״ז-1976). On the MAHUT meeting (information, introduction and coordination meeting) and mediation, see Mandatory mediation and the MAHUT meeting. When the same breach harms many customers, see Class actions and consumer claims.
Has something similar happened to you?You can write to me what happened and with whom, without documents.
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When is it worth contacting a lawyer?
- You received a letter back from the other side’s lawyer, or a letter threatening a claim against you.
- A deadline is about to pass, and it is not clear whether the warning letter stops it.
- The company keeps charging even after a written demand to stop the charge and return the money.
- The same charge was probably also collected from other customers, and this may be a matter for a class action (section 3(a) of the Class Actions Law and item 1 of the Second Schedule to the Law).
You can also do it without a lawyer: you can send the warning letter yourself, using the template above. In a small claim, you file and conduct the case yourself. A lawyer may represent you there only with the court’s permission and for special reasons (section 63(a) of the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984).
Frequently asked questions
Must you send a warning letter before filing a claim?
As a rule, no. A civil proceeding is opened by filing a statement of claim (regulation 9(a) of the Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018). The regulations do not set a general duty to send a letter before that. Some laws do require a written request. One example is before a claim for exemplary damages against a dealer (section 31A(b) of the Consumer Protection Law, 5741-1981).
Does a warning letter stop the limitation period from running?
No. The period is counted for a claim for which no “action” has been filed (sections 1 and 5 of the Prescription Law, 5718-1958). An “action” is a civil proceeding before a court, and a letter is not such a proceeding. But the other side may admit in writing that the right exists, or perform part of it. Then the period starts again from the day of the admission (section 9).
May I write in the letter that if they don’t pay, I will publish the story online?
No, and it may be an offense. Section 428 of the Penal Law, 5737-1977 prohibits some threats. It covers threatening to publish something about a person, or threatening unlawful harm to their good name or livelihood. The threat is prohibited when it is made to induce them to do an act, or to refrain from an act they are entitled to do. The letter describes facts and a demand, without threats.
Which way should you send the letter?
For a claim for exemplary damages under the Consumer Protection Law, the request must be in writing (section 31A(b)). It can also be sent or delivered by electronic communication. In any case, it is advisable to choose a way that allows you to prove what was sent and when, and to keep a copy.
How much time should you give the other side to answer a warning letter?
Usually the law sets no deadline, so the letter sets a defined deadline that is reasonable for the matter. In some cases, the law sets a deadline. For example, take a request to execute a claim for a fixed sum in enforcement proceedings. It is filed only after 30 days from service of the warning, and no later than one year (section 81A1(c) of the Execution Law).
The letter was not answered. What is the next step?
Choose a route according to the amount and the type of dispute. An individual can claim up to NIS 39,900 (2026) in the Small Claims Court (section 60(a) of the Courts Law). Some debts can be filed for execution at the Execution Office after a warning in the prescribed wording (section 81A1). This applies to a debt for a fixed sum of up to NIS 75,000, for which there is written evidence. For higher amounts, or when the facts are in dispute, you file a claim in the Magistrates' Court.
Has something similar happened to you?You can write to me what happened and with whom, without documents.
Calls and replies in English or Hebrew
Checklist
- Whether any law requires a notice or a written request in your case, and in what wording.
- The exact name of the person or business receiving the letter, and a correct address.
- Facts in order of time, with dates and order numbers.
- One clear demand, and an amount broken down by components.
- A defined deadline for a reply.
- No threats, no name-calling and no allegations you have no way to prove (section 428 of the Penal Law; the Prohibition of Defamation Law).
- A saved proof of sending, and a copy of the letter.
Sources
- Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018 (regulation 9)
- Consumer Protection Law, 5741-1981 (sections 14I, 31A)
- Sale Law, 5728-1968 (sections 13–16)
- Contracts (Remedies for Breach of Contract) Law, 5731-1970 (sections 7–8)
- Prohibition of Defamation Law, 5725-1965 (sections 1, 2, 17)
- Prescription Law, 5718-1958 (sections 1, 5, 6, 9, 27)
- Penal Law, 5737-1977 (section 428)
- Execution Law, 5727-1967 (section 81A1)
- Execution Regulations, 5740-1979 (regulation 109A)
- Consumer Protection Law: the sections this site discusses
- Contracts (Remedies for Breach of Contract) Law: the sections this site discusses
- Prescription Law: the section this site discusses
- Penal Law: the sections this site discusses
The links lead to the original legislation (in Hebrew). The text was checked on Wikisource on 1 October 2026; the binding text is the one published in Reshumot (the official gazette).