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Debt collection in Sweden

Expert debt collection in Sweden, conducted locally

Risk-free. Pay only upon success
9,5 % in commission
19,5 % in commission
Debt collection conducted locally in Sweden
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After 6 months struggle on my own, I got the money in two weeks with Oddcolls help.

An easy to use web interface where you upload all documents pertaining to the case. After that you can follow progress until it’s closed and they paid out the debt about 1 week after closure. They also collected late fees, that I was entitled to by German laws, I wasn’t aware of existed. In total I got more money than my debt, even after collection fees where paid.

Henrik |
Gothenburg, Sweden
Rated 9,3 out of 10 based on 111 reviews on Kiyoh!

Professional debt collection in Sweden

Do you have a Swedish customer who has not yet paid their invoice? In that case, the process must follow Swedish rules and regulations, which can make debt collection in Sweden challenging if you’re not familiar with the local system.

Our experts have the knowledge, experience, and tools to recover your money quickly and efficiently. Read on to see how it works!

Cross-border debt collection made simple

Oddcoll is an international debt collection platform built for global businesses. We make debt collection in Sweden straightforward for companies based outside the country.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Access to trusted debt collection agencies and law firms around the world
  • Local specialists who understand Swedish law and business culture
  • Transparent, fixed fees agreed in advance
  • No collection, no fee: you only pay if we succeed

Whether your customer is based in Stockholm, Gothenburg, or anywhere else in Sweden, our process ensures your case is handled locally and effectively.

Our local Swedish debt collection partner

For the best results, we work directly with Observa Inkasso & Juridik, our partner debt collection agency in Sweden. As soon as you submit your case, their team will start recovery efforts on the ground.

With in-depth knowledge of national procedures, they manage everything from initial contact to legal action if needed — ensuring successful outcomes for cases involving debt collection in Stockholm, debt collection in Gothenburg, and across the rest of Sweden.

Understanding Swedish debt collection laws

All debt collection in Sweden is governed by the Swedish Debt Collection Act, which ensures recovery efforts are fair, legal, and respectful of the debtor.

In Sweden, debt collection refers to the process of recovering overdue payments through formal measures. Common actions include:

  • Sending a written payment demand
  • Applying for a payment order
  • Warning the debtor that legal action will follow if payment is not made

These steps make it clear that non-payment can lead to higher costs and potential legal consequences.

Good debt recovery practice

All debt collection agencies in Sweden are required to follow good debt collection practice, which means:

  • No unnecessary harm, inconvenience, or undue pressure on the debtor
  • Communication must always be clear, accurate, and professional
  • Debtors must be treated with respect and dignity

Licensing requirements

Under Section 2 of the Debt Collection Act, companies must hold a licence from the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) to legally conduct debt collection in Sweden.

Before taking action

Before initiating any debt collection steps, an invoice must be overdue. According to good practice:

  • The debtor must first receive a payment demand (via invoice or written notice)
  • The notice must give a reasonable timeframe to pay or respond, with a minimum of eight days from the date issued

Communication with the debtor

A debt collection agency in Sweden must respond promptly to any questions from debtors regarding the claim and its legal basis. All communication should be clear, accurate, and complete, as well as respectful and professional.

Following these rules ensures ethical, effective debt collection in Sweden, whether the claim is in Stockholm, Gothenburg, or elsewhere.

Judicial debt collection in Sweden

If a Swedish debtor fails to pay despite recovery attempts, you can initiate a judicial debt collection process. Sweden offers a streamlined legal procedure called an “order for payment” (Betalningsföreläggande).

Applying for an order for payment in Sweden

An order for payment can be used for any past-due debt, regardless of the amount. It is not mandatory; creditors may alternatively file a writ of summons to start ordinary court proceedings.

Key points for filing an order for payment:

  • The application must be written, signed, and clearly state the grounds for the debt, the claim amount, and the due date
  • Creditors can represent themselves without legal counsel
  • The application must provide enough detail for the debtor to understand and assess the claim
  • Judges do not perform further legal assessment at this stage

Disputes

If the debtor disputes the claim, the case is transferred to the district court (tingsrätten) for standard proceedings. When a payment order is issued, it specifies a deadline for the debtor to contest the claim, usually ten days from the date of issuance. If the debtor submits a statement of opposition, the creditor is notified and may request that the case continue in the district court.

If the debtor does not respond within the deadline, the Enforcement Authority can issue a ruling, which becomes enforceable and allows the creditor to proceed with recovery.

Standard proceedings for debt collection in Sweden

Creditors may choose ordinary civil court proceedings instead of an order for payment, or if the debtor disputes the claim.

  • Civil cases are generally heard in general courts
  • The case must be filed with the district court that has jurisdiction, typically where the company is registered

Debt collection enforcement in Sweden

After a debt has been legally confirmed in Sweden, enforcement allows creditors to actually recover the money owed. In terms of debt collection in Sweden, enforcement is the step that turns a court judgment or an order for payment into payment from the debtor.

The Swedish Enforcement Service (Kronofogdemyndigheten) carries out this process. A court verdict or order for payment is required before enforcement can begin, and while the debtor usually covers the fee, creditors may need to pay it upfront if the debtor lacks sufficient assets.

Enforcement actions are managed by enforcement administrators under the supervision of a senior officer, ensuring that debts are recovered efficiently and in accordance with the law.

Insolvency proceedings in Sweden

When a debtor is unable to pay, insolvency proceedings provide a structured method for creditors to claim assets and recover debts. This is a crucial part of debt collection in Sweden, especially for larger or insolvent companies.

The Bankruptcy Law governs the process, which may involve bankruptcy (konkurs), business restructuring, or debt relief. In bankruptcy, the debtor’s assets are collected into a bankruptcy estate (konkursbo) and managed on behalf of the creditors. One or more trustees (konkursförvaltare) oversee the estate, ensuring that assets are handled properly and fairly.

The Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogdemyndigheten) oversees the entire process, providing creditors with a clear and legal path to recover what they are owed.

Get help collecting debts in Sweden now!

If you need to recover payments from Swedish customers, our debt collection agency in Sweden can help. With local expertise, we enhance your chances of receiving payment quickly and efficiently.

Contact us today or put our Swedish debt collection agency directly to work by uploading your unpaid invoice.

Frequently asked questions about debt collection in Sweden

Debt collection in Sweden normally starts with a payment reminder or an inkassokrav, the formal Swedish debt collection demand. The creditor can then apply to Kronofogden, the Swedish Enforcement Authority, for a betalningsföreläggande if the debt remains unpaid. If the debtor doesn’t dispute the claim, Kronofogden can issue an utslag, which can form the basis for enforcement.

Oddcoll handles the process through a licensed local partner in Sweden. The partner communicates with the debtor in Swedish, sends compliant collection demands and can take the claim to Kronofogden when amicable debt recovery does not result in payment. Professional local handling helps you follow Swedish collection rules without having to manage the process yourself.

The time required to recover a debt in Sweden depends on whether the debtor pays voluntarily, disputes the claim or has assets that can be used to satisfy the debt.

Amicable collection is generally the quickest route. If the debtor doesn’t pay, a creditor can apply to Kronofogden for a betalningsföreläggande. An uncontested claim can then proceed to an utslag and enforcement. Disputed claims may need to be taken to the district court, which can take considerably longer.

Oddcoll aims to resolve Swedish debt collection cases at the amicable stage wherever possible, while keeping legal recovery as an option when it is appropriate.

Oddcoll offers debt collection in Sweden on a no-win, no-fee basis for the amicable collection stage, with a commission charged only on money recovered.

Swedish law also allows certain collection costs to be claimed from the debtor. A payment reminder can cost up to SEK 60 where the relevant conditions are met, while an inkassokrav can carry a collection cost of up to SEK 180 per claim. Applying to Kronofogden for a betalningsföreläggande currently costs SEK 300. These costs may be recoverable from the debtor.

The general limitation period for a claim in Sweden is 10 years. For certain claims made by a business against a consumer for goods or services supplied for private use, the limitation period is three years.

The limitation period can be interrupted in several ways. For example, a written demand or reminder from the creditor can interrupt prescription, after which a new limitation period begins. A debtor’s acknowledgement of the debt or payment of interest or part of the debt can also interrupt the period.

This makes it important to keep accurate records of reminders and other collection activity when pursuing an old Swedish debt.

An inkassokrav is a formal debt collection demand sent to a debtor in Sweden. It sets out the debt and tells the debtor what may happen if they don’t pay or dispute the claim.

Swedish debt collection is regulated by the Inkassolagen, the Swedish Debt Collection Act. Businesses carrying out professional debt collection for another party generally need authorisation from Finansinspektionen, Sweden’s financial supervisory authority.

Swedish rules also set requirements for the content of an inkassokrav and the time given to the debtor. The applicable guidance has traditionally provided for a payment period of at least eight days, subject to the circumstances and the method of delivery.

Oddcoll’s local Swedish partner handles the collection demand in accordance with Swedish requirements and communicates with the debtor in Swedish.

A betalningsföreläggande is Sweden’s order-to-pay procedure for recovering an unpaid debt through Kronofogden. It can be used for many types of money claims between businesses and individuals once the payment due date has passed.

The application fee is currently SEK 300. If the debtor does not dispute the claim, Kronofogden can issue an utslag confirming the claim. The creditor can then request enforcement of the debt. If the debtor disputes the claim, the matter cannot simply proceed to an utslag and may instead need to be taken to the district court.

Oddcoll can assess the case and, where appropriate, arrange for the claim to proceed to Kronofogden.

A betalningsanmärkning is a payment remark recorded by a Swedish credit reference agency. It can affect a company’s ability to obtain credit and other financial services.

For companies, an application for a betalningsföreläggande can itself be recorded in credit information registers. However, for individuals and sole traders, an application alone does not normally result in a payment remark.

This distinction is important when pursuing Swedish business debts. The potential impact on a company’s credit record can provide an additional incentive to resolve an unpaid claim before it progresses further.

If a debtor disputes a claim submitted to Kronofogden, Kronofogden cannot issue an utslag on the disputed claim. The creditor must then decide whether to take the matter to the district court, or tingsrätt, for a judgment.

Whether court action is worthwhile depends on factors such as the amount owed, the evidence supporting the claim and the debtor’s financial position. Oddcoll can assess the circumstances and help you decide whether further legal recovery is appropriate.

An unpaid invoice and details of the debt are normally enough to start a debt collection case. That said, information that can support the claim includes the contract, purchase order, order confirmation, delivery records, correspondence and proof that the invoice was issued and became due.

If the case proceeds to Kronofogden, the application must include details such as the parties involved, the amount claimed, the due date, interest and the basis of the claim. Kronofogden recommends providing enough information to make clear what the debt relates to.

Oddcoll can review the available documentation and tell you what is needed to start your Swedish debt collection case.

The chances of recovery depend mainly on the validity of the claim and the debtor’s ability and willingness to pay. Sweden has a well-established debt collection system, with professional inkasso followed by the Kronofogden procedure for unpaid claims.

Using a local debt collection partner can make the process easier for international creditors. Oddcoll’s Swedish partner communicates with debtors in Swedish, handles the local collection process and can escalate suitable cases to Kronofogden. This gives you a practical way to pursue Swedish debts without having to manage the local procedure yourself.

How Debt collection in Sweden works

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How debt collection in Sweden works

1. Upload your invoice

Create an account and upload your invoice via the platform, API or CSV – easily and in seconds.

2. Local experts take over

Our hand-picked partners in the Sweden handle the collection with effective measures, including demand letters, calls and legal steps.

3. Get paid

Once the payment is completed, the money is sent directly to you – quickly, securely and without hassle.

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