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Financial abuse is a form of relationship abuse where someone close to you controls or restricts your finances. This could be a partner, family member, or someone else with whom you have a close relationship. This could mean that you are not allowed to decide how to spend your own money or that you are indebted against your will.
Signs of financial abuse
Recognizing financial abuse is the first step toward receiving help and protecting yourself. If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you may be experiencing financial abuse:
- Has anyone else taken out loans or made purchases in your name?
- Does your partner decide what you can buy or how you should spend your money?
- Have you been denied access to your joint bank account or your bankID?
- Is someone close to you preventing you from earning your own income?
Here's what you can do yourself
There are several things you can do yourself to mitigate the consequences of financial abuse.
Block your information
Block your bankID, Freja e-ID+, bank account, or debit card. Change your email password if someone is using your account without your permission.
Here's what to do
Contact your bank if you want to block your bank ID, bank account, or debit card.
If you want to block your Freja e-id+, call the Freja-eid+ blocking service. You can also find other information about how to manage your electronic ID.
Report to the police
It may be a crime to indebt someone against their will. Report it to the police if you are threatened or forced into indebtedness. Then the police or prosecutor can investigate whether you have been the victim of a crime. You can find instructions on how to do this on the Police website:
Object to a claim
If someone has requested that you pay a claim (order to pay) that you believe to be incorrect, you need to object to it. Do it as quickly as possible.
Ask for help
Ask for help if you are worried about your finances. The local authority budget and debt advisor can give you advice and concrete suggestions on how to plan your finances and manage your debts. The service is free of charge and the advisors are bound by professional confidentiality. You can find contact information on the Swedish Consumer Agency's website:
Get help with budget and debt issues
We can help with this
Support and guidance
Get in touch with us. If you have debts with us, you can get advice based on your situation.
Get back what belongs to you
If you have had to leave your home and were unable to take all your belongings with you, you can apply for our help in getting them back (judicial assistance).
Determining claims for someone to do something
Suspension of attachment of earnings
You can apply for a suspension (respite) of your attachment of earnings if you have had to leave your home suddenly because you are or have been subjected to abuse. You can get a respite if the person you owe money to agrees to it or if there are special reasons. Special reasons may include losing your property and needing to buy the essentials for your new home.
Compensation
You can get our help if a court has decided that you are entitled to damages in a criminal case, and the person who is supposed to pay does not do so. It is free to apply.
Debt restructuring
If you have debts with us that you are unable to pay off for many years, debt restructuring may be an option.