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What should you do if you get an inkasso letter for a debt you do not owe?

Disputing a claim.

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Short answer

If you do not owe the money, say so clearly in writing to both the company and the collection firm, and keep objecting in writing if they continue. It is the company that must prove that you owe the money, not you who must prove that you do not. If you have objected, it is normally against good practice to send the claim to collection without dealing with your objection, and the seller must take the claim to court instead. If you only dispute the amount, you can pay under protest or refuse to pay and accept the risk of losing the case.

Practical info

Why

  1. Written objections are proof if the case goes to court.
  2. Silence about goods you never ordered can be seen as accepting the claim.
  3. A disputed claim cannot be registered with a credit agency until a court has decided.

Details

If the case goes to court, you can ask the judge to transfer it to Forbrugerklagenævnet or another approved complaints board, if the case fits there.

Tip

Send your objection with proof of posting or by email, so you can show when you objected.

What may differ

Paying under protest and refusing to pay carry different risks, and free legal advice is available from Advokatvagten.

Common misconception

Many think that a debt in collection must be paid first and argued about later.

What actually happens

You can dispute the claim, and a seller may not keep pushing a disputed claim through collection.

People also ask

  • Can I be registered in RKI if I dispute a bill?
  • What does paying under protest mean?
  • How do I complain about an inkasso firm?

Sources

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

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