Add organization

How much do you have to pay if your card is misused in Denmark?

The Payments Act sets fixed limits.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

As a rule your bank carries the loss when someone else misuses your card. As of 2026, you pay up to 375 kr. if your PIN, SMS code or MitID was used, even if you never gave it away. You can pay up to 8,000 kr. if you did not tell the bank as soon as possible, gave the code to the person who misused it, or acted very carelessly. If a payment was not approved with two elements, such as a password and an SMS code, you do not pay anything.

Practical info

Why

  1. The limits are in § 100 of the Payments Act.
  2. The bank has to prove that the payment was recorded correctly.
  3. Contactless misuse is as a rule the bank's loss.

Details

You only pay without any limit if you acted fraudulently, or gave away your code knowing it could be misused, which is very rare.

Tip

Never write the PIN on the card or share it, because that can move you into the 8,000 kr. group.

What may differ

The amounts are set in the Payments Act and can be changed by law, so check your card terms as well.

Common misconception

If a thief uses your card, you have to pay for everything yourself.

What actually happens

In most cases you pay nothing or at most 375 kr., and the bank carries the rest of the loss.

People also ask

  • What should you do if your card is lost or stolen?
  • How fast must the bank refund an unauthorised payment?
  • Do you need a PIN for contactless payments in Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

Practical info
Help