Danish Debt Collection Letters in English: What the Terms Mean
What do rykker, påkrav, hovedstol and udlæg mean? A guide to the key words in a Danish debt collection letter, explained in English, with links to our glossary.
info General information, not legal advice. Rules and rates can change, so always check the current rules and get advice on your specific case. Disclaimer
Short answer
A Danish debt collection letter usually follows the same pattern: who the claim is from, what it concerns, the amount broken down into principal, interest and fees, a payment deadline, and a warning of further costs. If you know ten to twelve key words, you can understand most letters. If in doubt, ask the sender to explain the claim, and do not pay anything you do not understand.
Who is this for?
This article is for anyone who has received a letter in Danish about an unpaid bill but does not read Danish well, and for businesses that need to explain Danish claims to foreign customers or partners. Each Danish word below links to a fuller explanation in our glossary.
How a typical letter is structured
- Sender (afsender): the creditor, a debt collection agency or a lawyer, with contact details
- The claim (kravet): invoice number, date and what was supplied
- The amount (beløbet): principal, reminder fees, any fixed compensation, interest and the total (i alt)
- The deadline (frist): a specific date for payment
- The warning: that the case will go further with additional costs if payment is not made
The key words
- rykker: a reminder about an unpaid bill
- rykkergebyr: a fee for a reminder: at most DKK 100 per reminder for at most 3 reminders
- inkassovarsel / påkrav: the last letter before debt collection, with a deadline of at least 10 days
- hovedstol: the original amount, without interest and fees
- morarente: interest for late payment: the reference rate plus 8 percentage points a year
- kompensationsbeløb: a fixed DKK 310 that can only be claimed from businesses
- inkassoomkostninger / salær: the costs of recovery, capped according to the size of the claim
- indsigelse: your statement that you dispute the claim
- betalingspåkrav: a simplified procedure at the bailiff's court; you have 14 days to object
- fogedretten: the part of the district court that deals with enforcement
- udlæg: the bailiff's court's seizure of assets as security for the claim
- forældelse: a claim can no longer be enforced; the general period is 3 years
See all the terms in our Danish to English debt collection glossary.
Do not rely on machine translation alone
Legal words such as påkrav, forkyndelse (service of documents) and udlæg are often translated wrongly. Look up the key words, and ask the sender if anything is unclear.
Which stage is the case at?
The words in the letter tell you how far the case has gone. A rykker is a reminder. An inkassovarsel or påkrav is the final warning before debt collection, and it must give a deadline of at least 10 days. If the letter says inkasso or names a debt collection agency, the case has been handed over for collection. A letter from fogedretten (the bailiff's court) or retten (the court) means the case has gone to the courts, and you must respond before the deadline. Read about how to respond to a debt collection letter.
What you can check
Whatever the language, the same rules apply: at most DKK 100 per reminder for at most 3 reminders at least 10 days apart, the DKK 310 fixed compensation only from businesses, and collection costs within the caps. Collecting debts for others requires authorisation from Rigspolitiet, the Danish National Police; lawyers are exempt.
Reply in writing, in English if need be
If you disagree, say so in writing, explain why and keep a copy. You can write in English. Read about objections.
Frequently asked questions
What does frist mean?
Frist means deadline. In a debt collection notice, the deadline must be at least 10 days from sending.
What is the difference between rykkergebyr and inkassoomkostninger?
A rykkergebyr is a reminder fee of at most DKK 100 per reminder. Inkassoomkostninger are the costs of the recovery itself once the case has gone to debt collection, and they are capped according to the size of the claim.
What should I do if I get a letter from fogedretten?
Respond before the deadline. With a payment order (betalingspåkrav) you have 14 days from service to object. If you ignore it, the order can have the same effect as a judgment.
Getting started
If you are a foreign business with a claim against a Danish customer, read our guide on how to collect a debt from a Danish company. Through InkassoHurtig you can get no-obligation quotes from police-authorised debt collection agencies and lawyers. This content is general information and not legal advice.