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Debt collection Sweden: get your Swedish invoices paid
Do you conduct business in Sweden and have sent an invoice that remains unpaid? Nonpayment is quite rare in Sweden, but if you are dealing with a debtor who refuses to pay, you can rely on a fast and efficient legal system to enforce payment.
Collection Company can assist you with this. As an international debt collection agency, we work with an extensive network of Swedish lawyers and attorneys. Together with them, we provide both extrajudicial and judicial debt collection services in Sweden.
- Nationwide coverage in Sweden
- One dedicated English speaking contact
- Proven track record
- Tailor-made services for each case
- Expert advice and a transparent process
- 24/7 online access
Specialized in Swedish debt collection
Collecting outstanding debts abroad can be quite challenging and there are several hurdles to overcome. Dealing with a different language and different laws and regulations to pursue your money can be time consuming and complicated.
Fortunately, Collection Company specializes in collecting outstanding debts abroad. We work together with a wide network of top local debt collection specialists in Sweden. They know exactly how to swiftly and efficiently collect your outstanding invoice. Additionally, we strive to recover the expenses you have made because of the late payment.
Do you have an outstanding claim in Sweden and would you like to discuss the best way to collect it? Please leave your details, and one of our international debt collection specialists will contact you.
Transfer your claim now
Have you sent an invoice to Sweden that remains unpaid? Or do you have any other outstanding claims? Leave your contact details and one of our international debt collection agents will get in touch with you to discuss your case.
Why choose Collection Company for debt recovery in Sweden?
- Global coverage
- One dedicated English speaking contact
- Experienced debt collection specialists with knowledge of Swedish legislation
- Broad network with local lawyers and bailiffs
- Seamless connection from extrajudicial to judicial action
- Effective local approach
- 24/7 tracking through your own Online Cockpit
How does debt recovery work in Sweden?
Swedish courts operate very efficiently, and there is a special expedited procedure for uncontested invoices. It is possible to quickly collect your claim through a judicial process.
However, we generally advise starting with extrajudicial collection (amicable debt recovery). Perhaps your debtor has forgotten about the invoice or there is another reason for the late payment. By not immediately resorting to legal action, the customer relationship with your debtor is less likely to suffer damage.
- Upload your invoice online
- We'll start your case
- We'll start with the debt collection process
- Together we decide the best strategy for collecting your debts
- Monitor the status of your case 24/7
- Any questions? Your personal accountmanager will answer them all!
- Your invoice is payed
Extrajudicial debt collection
During the extrajudicial debt collection process, we try to get in touch with your defaulter. We do this by sending reminders, but also through telephone calls. In this way, we remind your debtor of the debt and give them the opportunity to pay it before we initiate legal proceedings.
In total, we try to make contact with your debtor 16 times over a period of three weeks, gradually increasing the pressure. Ultimately, we give your debtor a final warning: they must pay the invoice before the specified due date, otherwise we will take legal action.
Most debtors, partly due to the excellent Swedish legal system, realize that it is pointless to let it get that far and pay the invoice during the extrajudicial debt collection process.
Judicial debt collection
If, however, it is not possible to persuade your debtor to pay the outstanding debt during the amicable procedure, we can rely on our excellent network of lawyers and legal experts in Sweden. Together with them, we can initiate judicial proceedings. The course of this process depends on whether your debtor disputes the claim or not.
Uncontested claims
An uncontested claim is an invoice that your debtor does not pay without raising any objections. They do not question the validity of the invoice, but simply do not pay.
In that case, there is a highly efficient fast track procedure in Sweden. If your debtor does not dispute the claim, we can file a payment request (Betalningsföreläggande) with the kronofogdemyndigheten (also known as the “kronofogden“) 12 days after the last reminder has been sent. This is the Swedish authority responsible for debt collection. We can submit the request online.
If the request is granted, your debtor has 12 days to respond. Subsequently, the debt will be registered in the public register, which will impact your debtor’s creditworthiness.
In addition, the kronofogdemyndigheten will issue a payment order. The authority will execute this order themselves within 4 to 12 weeks after its issuance. The execution costs amount to 300 Swedish Krona (SEK).
If your debtor raises objections to the payment order, a regular judicial procedure will follow.
Contested claims
If your debtor contests your claim, an expedited procedure is not possible, but we can file a lawsuit with the district court (tingsrätt) in your debtor’s region. Your debtor will then be summoned by the court.
After the summons, your debtor has two weeks to file a defense. If they fail to do so, we can request a default judgment from the court, in which you will automatically be granted the favorable outcome.
If your debtor submits a defense, both parties can present their evidence to the court. This will be followed by a hearing, during which both parties can substantiate their claims. Based on this, the judge will make a ruling.
European Small Claims Procedure
Another option is the European Small Claims Procedure (ESCP). We can use the ESCP if you have a claim of less than 5,000 euros. We can submit your claim to a court in the country you are based, which will then forward it to your debtor.
Both parties have the option to digitally submit evidence. It is also possible to request an online hearing. After reviewing all the documents, the judge in your country will make a ruling. This judgment is enforceable in all EU countries, except Denmark.
European Payment Order
Sweden is not part of the Eurozone, but it is a member of the European Union (EU). This means that it is not always necessary to file a lawsuit in Sweden itself.
In the case of uncontested claims, we can sometimes apply for a European Payment Order (EPO). This simplified procedure was established to facilitate the collection of undisputed cross-border claims.
If you are based in an EU country other than Sweden and have sent an invoice to your Swedish debtor that remains unpaid, while your debtor does not contest the claim, we can file a request for a European Payment Order. This is done by completing a few standard forms.
Once the court has issued the European Payment Order, we can turn to the Swedish enforcement authority, Kronofogdemyndigheten, which will enforce the order (without the need for the local court to be involved).
It is only possible to obtain a European Payment Order if your debtor does not contest the claim. If you would like to know if it is possible to apply for a European Payment Order for your claim, our collection specialists will be happy to assist you.
What does the debt collection procedure in Sweden look like?
Step 1
We will send a past due notice (payment reminder) to your debtor. If your debtor does not respond, we will gradually increase the pressure. We will make contact 16 times over a three-week period.
Step 2
If your debtor does not pay the claim, but also does not contest it, we will request a payment order through an expedited procedure. If your debtor does not respond to this, the enforcement authority can seize assets from your debtor.
Step 3
If the debtor disputes your claim, we will file a lawsuit with the district court (tingsrätt). Once we obtain a judgment from the court, we can initiate enforcement action against your debtor.
Interim attachment in Sweden
To prevent the debtor from quickly dissipating assets prior to legal proceedings, it is possible to take preliminary measures in the form of an interim attachment. This guarantees that we can enforce the judgment once the judge has ruled in your favor.
An interim attachment is also a strong leverage tool. Bank accounts can be frozen and company machinery can be temporarily seized, causing significant inconvenience for your debtor. Many defaulters choose to settle their debt when their assets are subject to attachment.
In order to obtain permission for an interim attachment in Sweden, we must submit a request to the district court that is also handling the underlying claim. The judge can then determine that assets will be temporarily secured and bank accounts frozen while the court case is pending. The judge will assess whether there is sufficient evidence for the underlying claim. The judge can impose the interim attachment without hearing the opposing party.
If during the recovery process interim measures are imposed, a lawsuit must be filed with the court within one month, otherwise the attachment will lapse.
Bankruptcy (Konkurs)
One of the most powerful means of pressure you have as the creditor is a bankruptcy petition. According to Swedish bankruptcy law (Konkurslagen), you have the right to file for their bankruptcy if your debtor fails to meet their payment obligations.
This has significant consequences for your debtor. If declared bankrupt, the company (in the case of a business debtor) will be closed, and all assets will be sold. A director may even be held personally liable for the debts, risking the loss of all their assets.
In practice, we often see that a debtor will settle the amount owed when a bankruptcy petition is filed. In such cases, we can stop the bankruptcy procedure.
To file for the bankruptcy of your debtor, we need to submit a bankruptcy petition to the district court in the district where your debtor is located, providing evidence of the claim we have against your debtor.
If your debtor does not object, bankruptcy may be declared immediately. If your debtor disagrees with the bankruptcy, a (temporary) trustee will be appointed to investigate the financial status of your debtor.
Within two weeks, there will be a hearing in which the judge will assess the debtor’s financial situation. If the judge deems your debtor insolvent (unable to meet their payment obligations), they will be declared bankrupt.
Once bankruptcy is declared, a liquidation procedure (tvångslikvidation) follows. The trustee will dissolve the legal entity and attempt to settle the debts by selling the company’s assets.
When paying off the creditors, secured debts (mortgages, debts incurred during the bankruptcy procedure) generally take priority. Next, debts to employees (unpaid salaries) are paid. Unsecured debts (e.g. unpaid bills) are settled last.
Advice about your case?
Submit your contact details and one of our debt collection specialists will contact you immediately!
Legal areas of debt collection in Sweden
Debts can arise in various ways. It can, for instance, be unpaid bills, but also overdue salary, a rental dispute, or a damage claim. At Collection Company, we recover all types of outstanding claims in Sweden.
We can help you recover the money if you have monetary claims within the following legal jurisdictions:
- Construction law
- Rental and leasing
- Buying and selling
- Labor law
- Agency agreement
- Transport
- Damages and wrongful acts
We work directly for clients as well as for third parties such as lawyers and accountants.
Anything else we can help you with in Sweden?
- Reliable advice on contracts and terms
- Credit information on companies in Sweden
- Disputes regarding retention of title and right of reclamation
- Mediation in reaching private agreements and settlements
Immediately start a debt collection in Sweden?
Fill out our debt recovery registration form to submit your claim. Do you rather get personal advice from a debt collection specialist first? Submit your contact details and call us at 070 – 762 0330 or send us an email.
Free advice on debt collection in Sweden?
Fill in your personal information and plan your free consult.
Why 40.000 customers tried our services
- The #1 collection company in the Netherlands and abroad
- Regional & local specialists
- Years of experience with international invoices
- Your own personal contact
- Extensive advice on the legal process
- Monitor the status of your case 24/7
Meet our specialized legal team
Joost Konings LLMLaw expert- May Leung LLMLaw expert
- Wesley Boeters LLMInterim lawyer
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about debt collection in Sweden
FAQ: What do we need to start a debt recovery in Sweden?
The more evidence you have to support your claim, the stronger your position in court. That’s why we would like to receive as many documents related to the claim as possible. This could include contracts, invoices, and reminders.
If you no longer have certain documents, it’s not a problem. Our debt collection specialist will work out with you what is the best way to prove your claim.
Examples of documents we would like to receive are:
- Copies of agreements made, such as a purchase agreement, email correspondence, a fax confirmation, or simply a summary of what was agreed upon
- (Copies of) your invoices
- (Copies of) your payment reminders
- Your terms and conditions
- Proof of delivery
FAQ: Does retention of title apply in Sweden?
Ownership of goods in Sweden generally transfers to the buyer upon delivery. However, a retention of title is an additional condition that prevents this from happening: ownership only transfers once the invoice is fully paid. This means that you can retrieve the goods if your debtor fails to pay or goes bankrupt.
FAQ: What are the costs for debt collection in Sweden?
In Sweden, debt collection agencies are allowed to charge a fixed fee of 450 SEK for extrajudicial debt collection. For judicial debt collection, the costs for your debtor will be higher. Your debtor is generally responsible for the court fees and (part of) the legal costs.
FAQ: What is the statute of limitations for claims in Sweden?
There is a statute of limitations for monetary claims in Sweden. If you do not file a lawsuit within that period, you cannot conduct legal proceedings anymore. In Sweden, the general statute of limitations is 10 years. Therefore, you must bring your case to court no later than 10 years after the due date of the invoice.
FAQ: Why not hire a debt collection agency in Sweden?
A Swedish debt collection agency can only assist you to a limited extent. Many debt collection agencies are only able to carry out extrajudicial debt collection. If your debtor does not pay during this amicable phase, you will need to find a Swedish lawyer or legal expert who can initiate the judicial proceedings on your behalf. Afterwards you will need to contact the kronofogdemyndigheten yourself to enforce the judicial judgment.
When you transfer your claim to us, you will have one dedicated contact person who will coordinate the debt collection process for you. This debt collection agent works closely with our local experts in Sweden. Therefore, you don’t have to contact parties in Sweden yourself. Collection Company can manage the entire debt collection process for you, from the extrajudicial phase to the judicial phase and the enforcement of the judgment.