How to dispute an incorrect invoice

A purchase could for example be when:

• you have placed an order that a company has confirmed.
• you have accepted a company’s offer.
• you have accepted a quote from a company.

Start by contacting the company to point out the error. Preferably, contact them in writing, for example via email. Sometimes errors are due to mistakes that can easily be resolved by pointing them out to the company.

If the company does not agree to correct what you believe is wrong, you need to decide how to handle the invoice. One way is to dispute parts of the invoice or the entire invoice. Another way is to pay under protest.

If you don’t have an email account, you can ask to borrow one from someone. If someone else is going to dispute on your behalf, you may need to give them a power of attorney.

Dispute the entire invoice or part of the invoice

Disputing an invoice means informing the company that you are protesting the invoice and therefore will not pay it. It is important to explain why you believe the invoice is incorrect, for example, if the amount does not match what was agreed upon.

Check how much of the invoice is incorrect

Determine which part of the invoice is incorrect. The basic principle is that you should pay for the part that is correct. Sometimes you need to inform the company that, for example, you will pay half of the invoice amount but dispute the rest.

Dispute in writing

Contact the company in writing. You can, for example, send an email or a registered letter. Also, take a photo or make a copy of the dispute so you can show that you have disputed it.

The company is not required to read or respond to your dispute. The important thing is that you can show that you have informed them.

You do not need to send the invoice when disputing. If you want to send the invoice to the company, you should send a copy and keep the original yourself.

After you have disputed

The company does not need to respond to or approve your dispute for it to be valid. If the company believes they are entitled to payment, it is up to them to pursue the matter further. After you have disputed, you can wait to see how the company acts. If the company does not send any more demands, you do not need to do anything further.

What happens if you dispute an invoice without it being incorrect?

If a dispute resolution board (such as the National Board for Consumer Disputes) or a court determines that you have disputed the invoice without grounds, you may have to pay interest on arrears, collection costs, and other expenses to the company. If it turns out that the company is entitled to payment, they can claim compensation for the costs they incurred when demanding payment from you.

Pay under protest

Paying under protest means that you pay what the company demands while simultaneously informing them that you disagree. For example, this could be because the company wants a higher price than what was agreed upon in the contract. You can later have your case reviewed to see if you are entitled to a refund.

If you pay without explaining that you are paying under protest, you can still make claims against the company afterward. However, by paying under protest, it is clear that you did not agree. The company cannot then claim that you accepted the demand simply because you paid.

An option if you feel uncertain

Paying under protest can be a good option if you are unsure about disputing the claim. Since you pay, you do not need to worry about reminder fees and interest on arrears, or that the company will turn to a collection agency or the Enforcement Authority. However, you will need to pursue the case yourself if you want to claim back the money.

Part of the invoice is correct

Is part of the invoice correct? Inform the company which part of the invoice amount you are paying under protest.

Inform the company in writing

Inform the company in writing that you will pay, but that you are doing so under protest because you disagree with the company. You can, for example, send an email. Save the email as proof.

How to have your case reviewed

To have your case reviewed, you can contact the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN). ARN can assess whether you are entitled to a refund.

Even if you dispute the invoice, the company may still insist on their claim and send reminders or turn to a collection agency.

If you receive reminders for invoices you have disputed

If you receive a reminder for an invoice you have already disputed, you do not need to dispute the reminder. By disputing the original invoice, you have already explained that you will not pay. However, if you have not disputed the original invoice, it is important to contact the company and explain why you are not paying.

If you receive collection demands

Sometimes companies turn to collection agencies to help collect the payment. Receiving a collection demand does not mean you have to pay. It also does not mean you have received or will receive a payment default notice.

You can dispute a collection demand in the same way you dispute a regular invoice, but you need to send your dispute to the collection agency that sent the demand. It is important to explain why you are disputing the demand. Dispute in writing, for example via email.

If you have not purchased anything, you are not obligated to pay the invoice.

If the company claims that you have accepted or ordered something, it is up to the company to prove it.

Disputing an invoice

Disputing an invoice means notifying the company that you are contesting the invoice and therefore will not pay it. It is important to explain why you believe the invoice is incorrect. In this case, because you have not purchased anything from the company.

Dispute in Writing

Contact the company in writing. This way, you can prove that you have contested the invoice and not just ignored it. For example, you can send an email. If you send a letter, it is advisable to send it by registered mail. Also, make a copy or take a photo of your dispute.

You do not need to send the invoice when disputing. If you want to send the invoice to the company, you should send a copy and keep the original yourself.

If you do not have an email account, you can ask to borrow one from someone. If someone else is disputing on your behalf, you may need to give them a power of attorney.

After disputing an invoice

The company does not need to respond to or approve your dispute for it to be valid. If the company believes they are entitled to payment, it is up to them to pursue the matter further. Once you have disputed, you can wait to see how the company acts. If the company does not send any more demands, you do not need to take any further action.

As long as you can show that you have contested the incorrect invoice, you do not risk getting a record of non-payment.

Is there no agreement between you and the company? Then you are not obligated to pay for goods the company has sent to you.

You should also not have to pay to return the goods if the company wants them back, or if you do not want to keep them.

Have you received a notification that you have a package to collect?

If you have not purchased anything from the company, you do not need to pick up packages the company sends.

Even if you dispute the invoice, the company may insist on their claim and send new invoices, reminders, or turn to a debt collection agency.

If you receive new invoices from the same company

If you receive invoices for something other than the invoices you previously contested, you need to contact the company in writing and dispute these as well. You can also clarify that you will not pay any new invoices, as there is no agreement between you and the company.

If you receive reminders for invoices you have disputed

You do not need to dispute reminders for invoices you have already contested. By disputing the original invoice, you have already explained that you will not pay.

If you receive a collection demand

In some cases, companies turn to debt collection agencies to help collect payment. Receiving a debt collection notice does not mean you have to pay. It also does not mean you have received or will receive a record of non-payment.

You can dispute a debt collection notice in the same way you dispute a regular invoice, but you need to send your dispute to the debt collection agency that sent the notice. It is important to explain why you are disputing the claim. Always dispute in writing, for example via email.

Sometimes companies turn to the Enforcement Authority for help in collecting payment. However, you still have the opportunity to dispute the claim. If the company turns to the Enforcement Authority, you will receive a letter about a payment order from the Enforcement Authority. The letter will explain what to do if you disagree with the claim and how much time you have to respond.

First, you need to confirm that you have received the letter. You can do this by either signing the acknowledgment of receipt and sending it back to the Enforcement Authority, logging in and responding on “My Pages,” or calling the Enforcement Authority’s customer service. Confirming that you have received the order is not the same as agreeing to the claim; it is just proof that you are aware of the claim.

The Enforcement Authority does not assess whether the company has the right to demand payment from you or not. Therefore, it is important to inform the Enforcement Authority that you dispute the claim if you believe it is incorrect.

No record of non-payment as long as you take action

If you inform the Enforcement Authority within the response time that the claim is incorrect, you will not receive a record of non-payment. It is if you do nothing, meaning neither pay nor inform them that the claim is incorrect, that the Enforcement Authority issues a so-called decision. This means that the Enforcement Authority determines that you must pay what the company demands. At this stage, you will receive a record of non-payment from the credit reporting agencies, which means they will note that you have not paid the debt on time.

If the company wants to proceed with the case

If you dispute the claim from the Enforcement Authority, the Enforcement Authority will inform the company that you believe the claim is incorrect. If the company disagrees, they can request that the Enforcement Authority transfer the case to the district court. The fee charged by the court depends on the size of the debt and how the case will be handled.

If you lose the case in the district court, you may have to pay the fee along with other legal costs. However, you do not risk receiving a record of non-payment as long as you comply with the court’s decision.

If the company does not want the case to be transferred to the court, the Enforcement Authority will close the case.

Many consumers worry that a case may be taken to court. But remember that it is the company that must be able to prove that they are entitled to payment from you. Also, not all companies choose to take the case to court.

If the company is from an another EU country Companies in other EU countries can, just like Swedish companies, seek help from the Swedish Enforcement Authority to try to get paid. This is called applying for a European Order for Payment. In such a case, you will receive a letter with the European Order for Payment from the Enforcement Authority in Sweden.

The letter will explain what to do if you want to dispute the order. The dispute must be received within 30 days from the date you received the order. Remember to keep a copy.

Once the Enforcement Authority has received your dispute, the company can choose to have the case transferred to the district court. If the company does not want the case to be transferred to the district court, the Enforcement Authority will close the case.

Many consumers worry that a case may be taken to the district court, but remember that it is the company that must be able to prove they are entitled to payment from you. Also, not all companies choose to take the case to court.

Companies in other EU countries can, just like Swedish companies, seek help from the Swedish Enforcement Authority to try to get paid. This is called applying for a European Order for Payment. In such a case, you will receive a letter with the European Order for Payment from the Enforcement Authority in Sweden.

The letter will explain what to do if you want to dispute the order. The dispute must be received within 30 days from the date you received the order. Remember to keep a copy.

Once the Enforcement Authority has received your dispute, the company can choose to have the case transferred to the district court. If the company does not want the case to be transferred to the district court, the Enforcement Authority will close the case.

Many consumers worry that a case may be taken to the district court, but remember that it is the company that must be able to prove they are entitled to payment from you. Also, not all companies choose to take the case to court.

Disputing a European Order for Payment from a foreign court

In some cases, the company seeking payment from you may apply for the court in the country where the company is located to issue the payment order. The service and payment order may then come from the County Administrative Board in Stockholm, which is the central authority for international service of process.

You dispute an order from the County Administrative Board in Stockholm in the same way as you dispute a European Order for Payment. The difference is that you should send the dispute to the court instead of the Enforcement Authority.

Once the court has received your dispute, the case can be transferred to the district court or dismissed.

Sometimes it is not clear whether you have an agreement with the company or not. Examples of situations that can lead to uncertainty include when:

• you have accepted sample pack, free goods, or very cheap items
• you have placed an order with a company that requires membership
• you have had contact with the company but are unsure of what was agreed upon

It is a good idea to contact the company and question the invoice if you are unsure what it pertains to. Do this in writing, for example via email.

You can usually find an email address on the invoice. If there is no email address, you can check the company’s website. If there is only a contact form, it is a good idea to take a photo or screenshot of the message you send to the company.

You can ask to borrow an email account from someone if you do not have one yourself. If someone else is disputing on your behalf, you may need to give them a power of attorney.

The company needs to be able to prove that you accepted an offer or placed an order. You can ask the company to provide evidence that you have entered into an agreement with them.

There are different ways to respond to the invoice depending on if and what the company replies to you.

• Can the company, for example, provide evidence that you purchased something from them? Read under “use the right of withdrawal.”
• Can the company not show that there is an agreement? Then you can read under “dispute the invoice.”
• Are you unsure? Then “pay under protest” might be a good option.

Use the right of withdrawal

When you enter distance contract without meeting the company, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal by law. The 14 days you can cancel the purchase can be extended if the company has not provided you with the information about the right of withdrawal that they are legally required to give you.

Examples of agreements made remotely include when you buy something online or by phone. You may therefore have the opportunity to cancel the purchase even if the company, for example, can show that you placed an order online.

Read More About the Right of Withdrawal

Read on our page about the right of withdrawal to find out what applies in your situation.

About the right of withdrawal

Dispute the invoice

If you are sure, for example, that there is no agreement, you can choose to dispute the invoice. This means that you notify the company that you object to the invoice and therefore will not pay. It is important to explain why you believe the invoice is incorrect.

Dispute in writing

Contact the company in writing. This way, you can prove that you have contested the invoice and not just ignored it. For example, you can send an email. If you send a letter, it is advisable to send it by registered mail. Remember to take a photo or make a copy of your dispute.

You do not need to send the invoice when disputing. If you want to send the invoice to the company, you should send a copy and keep the original yourself.

How you can phrase yourself

In the message to the company, you should provide your contact details as well as the number, amount, and date of the invoice you consider incorrect.

After disputing an invoice

The company does not need to respond to or approve your dispute for it to be valid. It is up to the company to pursue the matter further if they still believe they are entitled to payment. You can wait to see how the company acts. If the company does not send any more demands, you do not need to take any further action.

As long as you can show that you have contested the incorrect invoice, you do not risk getting a record of non-payment. However, if you receive new invoices, it is important to dispute these as well.

Pay under protest

Paying under protest means that you pay what the company demands, but at the same time inform the company that you disagree with them. This allows you to later proceed to have your case reviewed and see if you are entitled to get your money back.

If you pay without explaining that you are paying under protest, you can still make claims against the company afterward. However, by explaining that the payment is made under protest, it becomes clear that you did not agree with the company when you paid.

An option if you feel unsure

Paying under protest can be a good option if you feel too unsure to dispute the claim. Since you pay, you do not have to worry about reminder fees and late interest, or that the company will turn to a debt collection agency or the Enforcement Authority. However, you will need to pursue the matter yourself if you want to claim the money back afterward.

Inform the company in writing

Inform the company that you will pay, but that you are doing so under protest because you do not agree with the company. For example, it may be that you do not think the company can prove that there is an agreement between you.

Contact the company in writing. For example, you can send an email. Save the email as proof.

In the message to the company, you need to provide the number, amount, and date of the invoice.

How to have your case reviewed

To have your case reviewed, you can contact the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN). ARN can assess whether you are entitled to get back the amount you paid under protest.

Is there no agreement between you and the company? Then you are not obligated to pay for goods the company has sent to you.

You should also not have to pay to return the goods if the company wants them back, or if you do not want to keep them.

Have you received a notification that you have a package to collect?

If you have not purchased anything from the company, you do not need to pick up packages the company sends.

Even if you dispute the invoice, the company may insist on their claim and send new invoices, reminders, or turn to a debt collection agency.

If you receive new invoices from the same company

If you receive invoices for something other than the invoices you previously contested, you need to contact the company in writing and dispute these as well. You can also clarify that you will not pay any new invoices, as there is no agreement between you and the company.

If you receive reminders for invoices you have disputed

You do not need to dispute reminders for invoices you have already contested. By disputing the original invoice, you have already explained that you will not pay.

If you receive a collection demand

In some cases, companies turn to debt collection agencies to help collect payment. Receiving a debt collection notice does not mean you have to pay. It also does not mean you have received or will receive a record of non-payment.

You can dispute a debt collection notice in the same way you dispute a regular invoice, but you need to send your dispute to the debt collection agency that sent the notice. It is important to explain why you are disputing the claim. Always dispute in writing, for example via email.

Swedish company

Do you need help understanding your rights? Or do you want to discuss how to proceed with your case? Then you can contact your municipal consumer guidance service or the Consumer Agency’s information service.

Municipality's consumer guidance

Many municipalities offer consumer guidance. You can turn to them for free information and support. The assistance offered varies from municipality to municipality.

The Swedish Consumer Agency

The Swedish Consumer Agency provides free guidance. We can provide information on your rights and what options you have. We cannot assess your individual case, resolve disputes, or contact companies on your behalf.

Contact the Consumer Agency’s Advisors

Companies within the EU, Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom

Are you a resident of Sweden and the company you have an issue with is registered in another EU country, Norway, Iceland or the United Kingdom? Then you can get free advice from ECC Sweden.

ECC Sweden is part of a network of consumer centers within the EU. In some cases, ECC Sweden may share the case with a sister office in another country to attempt to reach a solution through mediation.

Contact ECC Sweden

To get help with your case, you must have complained to the company in writing.

To ECC Sweden, you need to send a description of the problem and documentation showing what has happened. Documentation is necessary if your case is to be shared with any sister office in another country. Only send copies to the ECC. Keep the originals.

Send your case via email to: konsumenteuropa@konsumentverket.se

The email should include:

• Your first and last name and the name of the company you purchased from
• A description of the problem and how you want the company to resolve it
• The date you placed the order and the date you received it
• The price of what you bought and how you paid
• Documentation as evidence of your case

Once you have submitted your case, you usually receive a response within about a month.

ECC Sweden cannot

• Force a company to act according to the law. The work is based on the company being willing to cooperate with the ECC network to reach a resolution.
• Mediate in a case if we cannot identify the seller or if the seller refuses to cooperate with the ECC network.
• Act as legal representation or assist when the consumer has already initiated legal proceedings.
• Assist in purchases between businesses or purchases between individuals.

If you have questions

ECC Sweden is part of the Swedish Consumer Agency. If you need help understanding your rights or want to discuss how to proceed with your case, you can contact our information service.

Contact the information service

Dispute Resolution via the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN)

You can file a complaint with the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN) if you and the company cannot reach an agreement.

ARN will assess your case and then recommend how your dispute should be resolved. Most companies follow ARN’s recommendations.

A typical processing time is about 6 months.

What does it cost to file a complaint with ARN?

It costs SEK 150 to file a complaint with ARN. When you submit your complaint, you can request that the company compensates you for the cost if ARN makes a recommendation in your favor.

Requirements for ARN to Review Your Case

• The company has rejected your claims or has not responded within a reasonable time.
• The amount you and the company disagree on exceeds ARN’s value limit. You cannot include the fee for filing a complaint with ARN.
• You file the complaint within one year from the first time you complained to the company.

File a complaint on ARN’s website

Need Help with Your Complaint?

Sometimes, the municipal consumer advisors can help you file a complaint with ARN.

Taking the dispute to court

Have you gone through the steps in the information on this page but still have a dispute with the company? Then you can take the dispute to court. You turn to the district court. It costs money to file an application with the court.

Are you unsure whether to go to court or need help pursuing your case? Then you can seek help from a lawyer.

Before hiring legal assistance, you can contact your insurance company. Many home insurances include legal protection, which can cover certain costs associated with legal proceedings.

What does it cost?

A dispute involving a claim under 29,400 SEK (half a price base amount in 2025) is called a simplified dispute or small claim. The fee to apply is then 900 SEK.

If the claim is over 29,400 SEK or the dispute does not involve a specific amount, it costs 2,800 SEK.

If you lose the dispute, you may have to pay both your and the company’s legal costs. However, in small claims, the costs you may be required to pay are limited.

How a Dispute is Handled in the District Court – on the Swedish Courts’ Website (in Swedish)