Provisions for invoices and dunning notices
Regler för fakturor och påminnelser - Engelska
Paying after receiving an invoice is a common payment method. But keep in mind that the company may charge you for issuing the invoice. Check the terms and conditions and be sure to pay when due. If you do not pay on time, you may have to pay a reminder fee and interest on late payments.
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Keep this in mind
You are responsible for paying the invoice when due.
If you do not pay when due, the company may charge a reminder fee, send your case to a debt collection agency, or to the Enforcement Authority.
If you have received an inaccurate invoice, a dunning charge or a demand for payment from a debt collector, you need to contest the claim with a written response to the company.
Invoices and invoice fee
An invoice is the same as a bill. The invoice states how much you need to pay and when payment is due. You may receive the invoice digitally or by post.
The company's terms and conditions determine how you receive the invoice. For example, you cannot demand a paper invoice if the company does not offer that option.
If the company changes the payment terms after your purchase, you must be informed about the change. For example, the company may stop sending paper invoices and instead begin sending digital invoices.
What should an invoice contain?
Normally, you should receive a full invoice. A full invoice should include, among other things, the following information:
- Invoice date
- Sequential number (invoice number)
- Seller's VAT registration number
- Seller's name and address
- Buyer's name and address
- The goods or services covered by the invoice
- Taxable amount (tax base)
- VAT rate
In some cases, a simplified invoice is sufficient. It does not need to contain as much information. A simplified invoice may, for example, be used if the total amount does not exceed SEK 4,000, including VAT.
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.
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.
Has the company not specified when payment should be made? Then 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.
When you purchase something, you are always obligated to pay. This applies even if you have not received the invoice, if it is delayed, or if it has been lost in the mail. Contact the company if you are missing an invoice so you can get the information you need to pay.
If you do not pay on time, you may be required to pay reminder fee and late payment interest.
Not received information about when to pay
If you have not received information about the latest payment date when you made the purchase, you do not need to pay reminder fee and late payment interest if the invoice arrives late or does not arrive at all.
A company is generally entitled to claim payment for up to three years. If the company asks to be paid after, for example, two years, you are still required 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.
Have you received an invoice and are unsure what it is for? Contact the company and ask them to explain the invoice.
If the company does not respond, you can dispute the invoice. Inform the company in writing that you dispute the invoice and explain why.
An alternative to disputing is to pay under protest. Paying under protest means that you pay what the company demands, but at the same time inform the company that you do not agree with them regarding the invoice. Paying under protest can be a good option if you feel too uncertain to dispute the claim.
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.
Notify the company in writing that you are withholding payment and why. Keep a copy.
Even if you are certain that you did not order anything from the company, it is a good idea to dispute the claim. This informs the company that you are contesting the invoice and therefore will not be paying it.
Explain why the invoice is incorrect, for example, because you have not purchased anything from the company.
Contact the company in writing, for example via email. That way, you can show that you have lodged a protest.
Companies can decide for themselves which payment methods they offer their customers. Therefore, you cannot demand to pay in a certain way, for example, via invoice. However, you should of course be able to pay via invoice if they have promised it in some way, for example, in the terms of purchase.
If you cannot afford to pay the invoice, start by contacting the company and asking whether it is possible to postpone the payment.
Reminders and reminder fees
If you pay an invoice late, you may have to pay additional fees.
Reminder fee
If you do not pay on time, the company may send you a payment reminder. The company may add a reminder fee, but only if this is stated in the contract. A reminder fee may be no more than SEK 60.
Companies can only charge a reminder fee once.
Late payment interest
As a rule, you need to pay late payment interest if you do not pay an invoice on time.
From when is the interest calculated?
Did you receive information before the purchase about a final payment date? Then the late payment interest is calculated from the final payment date.
Did you not receive information about a final payment date? Then you may need to pay late payment interest if the company has informed you that they will add late payment interest. In that case, the interest starts to be calculated 30 days after the company has informed you of this. The company can, for example, inform you of this on the invoice.
How much do you have to pay?
The late payment interest is calculated on the amount of your purchase, including VAT. No fees can be included in the calculation. For example, interest cannot be charged on a reminder fee.
The company can decide how high the late payment interest should be. But they must have informed you of the rate before the purchase. It must also not be unreasonably high.
If the company has not informed you of any interest rate, the reference rate + 8 percent on the invoice amount applies. The reference rate is an interest rate set once every six months by the Riksbank.
If you were not told when payment was due
Were you not given any information at the time of purchase about when payment was due? If so, you do not have to pay late payment interest or a reminder fee if the invoice arrives late or does not arrive at all. You can then dispute the fees.
Rules for invoices and reminders on the Consumer Banking and Finance Bureau's website (in Swedish)
If you have paid the invoice on time but still received a reminder, you can dispute the reminder. Contact the company to let them know. It is a good idea to send an email, as this allows you to prove that you have contacted the company.
Use a bank statement or a receipt showing when and how much you paid.
If you were not told when to pay
If you were not given any information at the time of purchase about when payment was due, you do not have to pay late payment interest or a reminder fee. You can then dispute any claim for a reminder fee or late payment interest.
Have you received a reminder for an invoice that you have already disputed? If so, you do not need to dispute the reminder. By disputing the original invoice, you have already made it clear that you will not pay it.
Have you not paid the invoice on time? The company may then send you a claim via a debt collection company.
Receiving a debt collection notice is not the same as receiving a payment default. But if you do not pay your debt, it may lead to a payment default.
Do you think the debt collection notice is incorrect? If so, you need to object to the company that sent the notice. Never ignore a debt collection notice, even if you believe it is incorrect.
Object in writing, preferably by email. Keep a copy of the email or other documents as evidence. You will not receive a payment default for objecting to an incorrect claim.
Proofread: 30 October 2026