Rules to prevent children from incurring debt
There are rules meant to stop children and young people from going into debt. If you are under 18, you may not buy things on your own by instalment or invoice, or enter into a contract that incurs debt. For example, you are not allowed to buy a mobile phone or clothes and pay later.
A contract that could lead to you going into debt must be approved by your parents (legal guardians) and by the municipality's chief guardian or Committee of Chief Guardians to be valid.
Children may still incur debts
Despite the rules, it happens that you who are under 18 incur debts. The reason may be that your parents and the municipality's chief guardian approved a contract that means you incur debt.
You under 18 may also become indebted for not being able to pay taxes, fines, or damages. If, so we at the Enforcement Authority help the person who is entitled to get paid.
If you get an invoice from someone who wants to get paid
Contact the chief guardian
Have you received an invoice for buying something or for entering into another contract involving going into debt? If you made the purchase before turning 18, you can contact the municipality's chief guardian. The chief guardian must approve contracts that mean you incur debt.
Has the chief guardian not approved a purchase or contract that means you go into debt? In that case, you can object to the invoice.
Please note that in some cases you may become indebted without the chief guardian approving the debt. One example is if a surcharge is imposed on you for not paying the bus ticket.
The Swedish Consumer Agency has more information on how to object to an invoice.
Disputing an incorrect invoice
Contact the person who wants to be paid
It is important that you contact the person who is saying you must pay, for example via email.
If you receive a letter from us
You and your parents receive a letter
If the person who wants to get paid is not, they can contact us to get a decision stating you are obligated to pay. You who are over 15, but under 18, will then receive a letter (order) from us. Your parents also receive information about the letter.
The letter includes a claim for payment or for you to do something. You may be required to do what is set out in the claim. We have not taken a position on whether the claim is correct or incorrect.
Important that your parents respond
Your parents must respond that they have received the claim. The next step is for them to consider whether the claim is correct or incorrect. Then they must act. Since you are under 18, it is your parents who will take a position and act on your behalf.
What does it mean to take action?
If you and your parents think the claim is correct, and you are able to pay, you must pay directly to the person who wants to be paid. If you and your parents think the claim is incorrect, your parents must object to the claim. Then they must also explain why the claim is incorrect.
If your parents do not take action
If your parents do not take a position and act, we may decide that you are obligated to pay or do what is stated in the claim. That's why it's important that they read through the letter and do what it says there.
We contact the chief guardian
We will send a copy of the letter to the municipality's chief guardian.
More information
You and your parents can read more on our website:
If we decide that you are obligated to pay
We try to collect the debt if
You and your parents will then receive a letter from us. We will also contact the municipality’s chief guardian.
You can read more on our website:
Decision that you or the company must pay or do something (verdict)
If the debt applies to tax, fines, damages
Debts due to tax or a court judgment
You under 18 may receive a letter from us because you have not paid taxes, for example because you own mutual funds or a real property unit. You may also have been sentenced by a court to pay fines or damages.
If you don't pay your debt on time, you risk the debt being turned over to us.
If you are under the age of 18, your parents may be obligated to pay damages. If so, this is stated in the judgment.
You and your parents can read more on our website:
Help is available
In your municipality, there is a budget and debt adviser who can help you and your parents. It doesn't cost anything.
You can find information on the Hello Consumer website: