Provisions for invoices and dunning notices

Keep this in mind 

• You are responsible for paying the invoice when due.  

• If you do not pay when due, the company may levy a dunning charge against you or send your case to a debt collection agency.  

• If you have received an inaccurate invoice, a dunning charge or a demand for payment from a debt collector or Enforcement Authority, you need to contest the claim with a written response to the company.  

What is an invoice?

An invoice is the same thing as a bill. The invoice specifies what you need to pay and when you should make the payment. Invoices can be delivered in various ways, both digitally and through regular mail.

Can companies charge an invoicing fee? 

Companies are allowed to charge an administration fee for processing payments, provided that this is stated in the contract between you and the company. The invoicing fee is allowed provided that it is reasonable and corresponds to the actual cost that the company incurs due to the payment processing. 

This means that companies can also charge a fee for payments via e-invoice and direct debit, provided that this is stated in the contract. However, sometimes the fee can be lower if you change the payment method from, for example, a paper invoice to an e-invoice. 

You are responsible for paying on time 

When you purchase something on credit with an agreement to pay by invoice, you are always responsible for paying the invoice by the due date. This applies irrespective of whether you have received the invoice or not. If your invoice gets lost in the post, for example, this does not change your obligation to pay it. If you don’t have the invoice, you need to contact the company and ask for the invoice details so that you can pay. 

If you do not pay on time, you may be required to pay late payment interest and a reminder fee.

If it was not stated before you made the purchase, when the latest payment date for the invoice is, you are not obligated to pay late payment interest and reminder fees if the invoice has been lost or reached you late.

How much time do you have to pay an invoice? 

There is no law that specifies how many days you have to pay an invoice. For example, you cannot demand 30 days to pay. The company sets its own terms. You accept the terms when you choose to do business with the company and must pay when the company requests it.

If the company has not specified when payment should be made, you pay when you have received the goods or the service is completed.

Keep in mind that the due date on the invoice is the date by which the company must have received the money. It is not the last day you can make the payment.

Withhold payment in case of defects or delays

Are there defects in the goods or service, or has the company not met the promised time? Then you have the right to withhold payment. This acts as security for your claim. Notify the company in writing that you are withholding payment and why. Keep a copy.

Dunning charges – what applies? 

If you do not pay your invoice when due, the company can send you a new invoice and levy a dunning charge against you. Any dunning charge must be specified in the contract and it cannot be more than SEK 60. The amount in the dunning notice must be paid within the time limit stated on the reminder invoice. 

The company may only charge a dunning charge once. 

Have you paid on time but still received a dunning notice?

If you have paid the invoice on time but still received a dunning notice, you can object to the dunning notice by writing to the company. E-mails are a good way to document that you have contacted them.

Use a bank statement or a receipt showing when and how much you paid. 

Further information about how to contest an invoice 

Debt collection and payment default records 

If you have not paid the invoice when due, the company can send you a claim via a debt collection agency. 

Receiving a debt collection demand is not the same as having a payment default record placed on your credit file. But if you do not pay your debt, it may lead to a payment default record being placed on your credit file.

If you think the debt collection demand is unfounded or otherwise wrong, you need to challenge it, meaning to contest the validity of the debt collection demand. You should never ignore a debt collection demand, even if you think it is faulty.

Contact the party who sent the demand for payment, preferably by e-mail. Be sure to keep a copy of your e-mail or other document showing that you contested the demand. You will not have a payment default record placed on your credit file notice for contesting a faulty claim. 

Read more about debt collection and payment default records 

How late can a company send an invoice?

A company has the right to demand payment from a consumer for up to three years. So if you have not paid for what you purchased, it doesn’t matter if the company contacts you after, say, a year to demand payment. You are still under the obligation to pay.

After three years, the company can no longer claim the money from you. That means that the collection of the debt is time barred, due to time specified in the statute of limitations having run out.  Sometimes the statute of limitations period may be extended, for example if the company sends you a new demand notice. You cannot therefore count on your debt becoming time-barred. 

Read more about debts and the statute of limitations

The company chooses whether they want to offer an invoice

It is up to each individual company to decide which credit terms and payment methods they offer their customers. You can never insist that the company allows you to pay in a specific way, for example by invoice. But, of course, you should be able to pay via invoice if they have promised it in any way, such as in the terms and conditions.

Do you not know what the invoice is for?

If you have received an invoice and are unsure of its purpose, contact the company and request an invoice specification.

Received an invoice for something you did not order?

If you have received an invoice for something you did not order, you should dispute the invoice. You have the right to dispute incorrect invoices. Disputing an invoice means that you notify the company that you challenge the validity of the invoice and therefore will not pay it. It is important that you explain why in your opinion the invoice is incorrect or unfounded, for example because you have not purchased anything from the company. 

When you dispute an invoice, it is important that you contact the company in writing so that you have a written record of your formally challenging the validity of the invoice and not simply neglected to pay. You can send an e-mail, for example. 

Dunning notice on the invoice you disputed

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

Further information about how to contest an invoice