Lost deposit or advance payment
Supplier took your deposit and stalled? We issue a demand letter, negotiate a refund, and — if needed — litigate or arbitrate in China to recover the deposit with interest.
China Money Recovery Lawyer
I'm Jennifer Kang（康丹丹律师）, a China-licensed foreign-related lawyer. When a China purchase goes wrong — a lost deposit, a refused refund, a supplier who vanished — I act on the ground: demand letters, negotiation, litigation or arbitration, and asset freezing. You usually never need to fly to China.
Money recovery cases
If money left your account and didn't come back as promised, you may have a recoverable claim. As a China-qualified foreign-related business lawyer, I pursue it through the right channel — demand letter, negotiation, litigation or arbitration (CIETAC / HKIAC / SIAC), and enforcement on the ground.
Supplier took your deposit and stalled? We issue a demand letter, negotiate a refund, and — if needed — litigate or arbitrate in China to recover the deposit with interest.
Good returned or rejected, but the supplier kept your money? We escalate through a lawyer's demand, platform/authority complaints and legal action — no travel required from you.
The order never ships, or arrives months late and useless. We pursue specific performance, cancellation, refund and compensation for your commercial losses.
Goods arrive wrong, broken or below sample quality? We raise a quality claim, demand repair/replacement or reject the goods, and pursue a refund and damages under Chinese law.
A fake factory, a middleman in disguise, or a supplier that vanished with your wire? We trace entities, preserve evidence, file complaints and pursue civil and criminal routes to recover funds.
Machinery installed but cannot operate, and the supplier can't fix it? That's a fundamental breach — we demand rescission of the contract, return of goods and refund of payments plus compensation.
A favorable judgment is only paper until it's enforced. We apply for enforcement, trace assets and freeze bank accounts/goods so the award becomes real money in your account.
Unpaid debts owed by a Chinese counterparty to your overseas company? We recover them through Chinese legal channels and cross-border cooperation, including asset preservation.
Prefer the full disputes overview? See all China supplier dispute services →
How it works
No legal jargon. No surprise fees. You always know where your recovery stands.
Message me on WhatsApp or email — free, confidential, in plain English. Share your contract, payment proof and chat logs (as much as you have).
I'll tell you honestly whether the money is recoverable, the best channel (demand vs. litigation/arbitration), the cost and the realistic timeline.
Demand letters, negotiation, filing, hearings, asset freezing — handled by your China counsel. You usually don't need to fly to China.
Court enforcement and asset tracing turn a favorable result into cash in your account — not just a piece of paper.
Common questions
Often, yes. As a China-qualified foreign-related lawyer I send a formal demand letter, negotiate, and — if needed — file litigation or arbitration, apply for asset freezing and enforce the result in China. We first assess your contract, payment proof and chat logs to give you an honest view of the odds, cost and timeline.
Usually no. As your China counsel I can represent you under a power of attorney, issue the demand letter, attend hearings and pursue enforcement on the ground. Most foreign buyers never need to fly to China for the recovery process.
Not necessarily. Acting quickly matters because evidence can disappear and limitation periods run, but many cases are still recoverable even after the supplier goes silent. Send me your contract, payment records and chat logs and I'll tell you where you stand.
Yes. In litigation or arbitration we can apply for property preservation (资产保全) to freeze the supplier's bank accounts, goods or other assets in China before judgment, which dramatically improves the chance of actually collecting.
We apply to a Chinese court for recognition and enforcement, including asset tracing and compulsory enforcement — so a favorable award becomes real money in your account rather than a piece of paper.
It depends on the amount at stake, the evidence and the path (demand letter vs. litigation/arbitration). The first assessment is free and confidential, and I'll give you a transparent scope and fee before any work begins — if a claim isn't worth pursuing, I'll tell you straight.
Preserve the order, the supplier's store and company details, the contract or proforma invoice, and every payment and chat record. As a China-licensed lawyer I send a formal demand to the supplier's registered entity, escalate through the platform, and — if needed — file arbitration or litigation in China. Acting fast improves the odds of freezing funds before they move.
Not necessarily. Many "disappeared" suppliers are still traceable through their registered company, bank and trading records in China. We locate the entity, preserve evidence, and pursue civil recovery and — where fraud is clear — criminal reporting. Even if the contact goes silent, the company and its assets often remain reachable through legal channels.
Yes. Foreign buyers can litigate or arbitrate in China, or via CIETAC/HKIAC/SIAC, and be represented by China counsel under a power of attorney — you generally do not need to appear in person. I handle filings, hearings and enforcement on the ground while you stay abroad.
A CIETAC, HKIAC or SIAC award is enforceable in China once recognized by a Chinese court. We file for recognition and enforcement, then pursue asset tracing and compulsory enforcement so the award becomes collectable money rather than a paper right. As a New York Convention signatory, eligible foreign awards can also be enforced in many other countries.
Strong cases rest on: (1) the contract, proforma invoice or purchase order; (2) payment proof such as wire/TT receipts and the beneficiary's bank details; (3) all chat and email logs with the supplier; (4) photos and specifications of the goods, plus any inspection reports; (5) the supplier's company name and registration number if known. Send what you have — even partial records let us assess your position.
Demand-letter stage often resolves in days to a few weeks. Litigation or arbitration in China typically runs several months to over a year depending on complexity, evidence and whether the supplier defends. Enforcement adds more time if assets must be traced. I'll give you a realistic, plain-English timeline after the first free assessment.
Get in touch
The first conversation is free, confidential and in plain English. Send me what you have — even just a screenshot of the supplier and your payment — and I'll tell you whether the money is recoverable and the fastest way to do it.