Common problems
What do you do when things don't go as expected? A few common situations.
What if the tool makes a mistake in my letter?
It can. The letter goes out under your name, so check it carefully before sending — amount, article number, date. Found something wrong? Edit it directly.
What if the airline just doesn't do anything?
Wait about 14 days after the first letter. Then back to the tool, "I already claimed, but they rejected it", and pick "They didn't respond at all" — the tool then writes a formal notice (ingebrekestelling). That's a legal stick that triggers interest and forces them to take it seriously. Often works.
What if I have to go to small-claims court?
Then you're far along and it's time to bring someone in. Good options: your legal-aid insurance (often part of an annual travel insurance), the Juridisch Loket (free), or a claim agency that only handles the procedure phase. An EU 261 case at the small-claims court under €5,000 costs about €87 in court fees.
What if I don't live in the Netherlands?
The letter still works — Regulation 261/2004 applies EU-wide. But the NL-specific follow-up steps (ingebrekestelling, kantonrechter, ILT report) only apply to cases where Dutch law applies. For EU citizens outside NL: ECC-Net has a country-specific variant.