Debt collection demands and record of non-payment

When you buy something with an invoice, you must pay it on time.

If you don’t pay on time, the company you bought from can send the debt to a debt collection agency. Then the agency will send you a payment demand. You should pay the debt to them.

Getting a debt collection demand does not mean you automatically get a record of non-payment (a payment default).

About provisions for invoices and dunning notices

Start by checking if the debt collection demand is correct. If the claim is correct, it’s important that you pay within the time stated on the invoice. You should pay the company that sent the claim.

If the claim is incorrect, you need to dispute it.

Fee for Collection Notice

The entity sending a collection notice has the right to charge a fee for this. The collection cost can be a maximum of 180 SEK.

You must be given at least 8 days from the day the dept collection agency sent the demand.

You should have at least 4 banking days to pay or protest from the time you are assumed to have received the demand. A banking day means a day when Swedish banks are open (usually Monday-Friday, excluding holidays).

Contact the sender of the collection demand if you are late with the payment. Maybe you can agree on a solution, such as setting up an installment plan?

Have you paid, but late? Contact the dept collection agency and inform them that the payment is on its way. Otherwise, the company might proceed with the demand, for example, to the Enforcement Authority.

If the debt collection demand is unfounded, you can dispute (contest) the demand for payment. You do this by contacting the company that sent the collection demand. Describe why you believe the demand is incorrect.

You must have good reasons for not paying, such as the demand being for something you did not order. Not being able to afford it is not a sufficient reason.

If you have good reasons to dispute the demand, the debt collection agency must quickly investigate the matter, ask the creditor (the company you owe money to) what they think, and then inform you of their conclusion.

Contact them in writing, for example via email. It is important to have proof that you have protested the demand and why.

The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FI) grants licenses to and supervises dept collection agencies. Visit their website if you have questions about how a collection agency is allowed to operate.

Dept collection on FI’s website (In Swedish)

Sometimes companies turn to the Swedish Enforcement Authority for help in collecting debts. The Enforcement Agency is a government authority that helps companies collect their money.

If the company has applied to the Swedish Enforcement Authority, you will receive a letter (order) from the Swedish Enforcement Authority with an order to pay.

This is what you do:

1. Confirm that you have received the letter

Confirm that you have received the letter with the claim by logging in to "My pages", submitting the acknowledgement of receipt, or by calling the Swedish Enforcement Authority’s customer service. This does not mean that you accept the claim. It is simply proof that you are aware of its existence.

2. Pay

If the claim is correct, you should pay the party you owe money to. If there is a representative, you should pay the representative. You also need to pay interest and other costs.

3. The party you owe money to withdraws the application

Once you have paid, the party you owe money to should withdraw their application from the Swedish Enforcement Authority.

If the demand for payment is incorrect

The Swedish Enforcement Authority does not assess whether the company has the right to demand payment from you. If the claim is incorrect, you must inform the Swedish Enforcement Authority that you dispute (object to) the claim. Read the letter from the Swedish Enforcement Authority to find out how to dispute and how much time you have to respond.

You can only get a record of non-payment if the case has escalated to the Swedish Enforcement Authority, and you neither pay nor contest the claim.

If you take no action, the Swedish Enforcement Authority issues what is called a decision (verdict). This means that the Swedish Enforcement Authority decides that you should pay what the company demands. It is only at this point that you receive a record of non-payment.

If you pay or contest the claim within the time specified by the Swedish Enforcement Authority, you will not receive a record of non-payment.

Can you get a record of non-payment after disputing a claim?

If you dispute the claim from the Enforcement Authority, the company may choose to take the matter to court.

If the court decides that you should pay, you will not receive a record of non-payment as long as you comply with the court's decision and pay. However, if you do not respond to the summons or do not attend the court hearing, it may result in a default judgment. This will give you a record of non-payment.

If you have a record of non-payment, it can become difficult to, for example:

• rent a home
• take out a bank loan
• get a subscription.

Many companies request a credit check from a credit reporting agency before deciding to enter into an agreement with you.

Contact a credit reporting agency if you want to check if you have received a record of non-payment.

List of credit reporting agencies on the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection's website

Contact the financial and debt counseling service in your municipality if you need assistance. The counseling is free for you.

A financial and debt counsellor can help you overview your finances and provide practical advice if you are in debt. You can also get assistance with applying for debt restructuring.

Assistance with finances, budget, and debts

Financial problems can be a sign of economic abuse. Economic abuse is a form of domestic abuse where someone controls or restricts another person’s access to money and financial resources.

This can include, for example, someone controlling your bank accounts or online banking, taking out loans in your name, or preventing you from earning an income.

You can find more information about economic abuse and what you can do if you are affected on our website. Public authorities, municipalities and organisations can offer support.

Are you experiencing economic abuse (in Swedish)