Inkassovarsel – template and requirements
An inkassovarsel — the formal notice that a claim may go to debt collection — is not a form you have to buy. Under Norwegian law it is a plain letter that meets four requirements in § 9 of inkassoloven, the Debt Collection Act. With those four in place the notice is valid, and without a valid inkassovarsel the claim cannot go to debt collection at all. Here is the template, and what each part has to say.
The four requirements
The notice must be in writing. It must give at least 14 days to pay, counted from the day the notice is sent. It must clearly state which claim it concerns – invoice number, amount, and original due date. And it must expressly state that the claim will be sent to debt collection if it is not paid. If the last point is missing, it is merely a purring, an ordinary payment reminder, no matter what you call it in the subject line.
The template
Send it in Norwegian. This is the letter your customer receives, and the phrasing is what makes it a valid inkassovarsel. Replace everything in [square brackets], and keep the rest as it stands. INKASSOVARSEL Til [kundens navn] Faktura [nummer] på [beløp] forfalt til betaling [dato]. Beløpet er fortsatt ikke betalt. Beløp: [totalt] (faktura [beløp] + purregebyr 38,00 kr) Kontonummer: [kontonummer] Merk betalingen med fakturanummer [nummer] Betalingsfrist: [dato, minst 14 dager frem] Dersom kravet ikke er betalt innen fristen, vil det bli sendt til inkasso uten ytterligere varsel, jf. inkassoloven § 9. Det vil da påløpe inkassoomkostninger som belastes dere. Ved betaling etter opprinnelig forfall beregnes forsinkelsesrente fra forfallsdato, for tiden 12,25 % p.a. (forsinkelsesrenteloven § 3). Har dere innsigelser mot kravet, ber vi om at dere melder fra skriftlig innen samme frist. Er fakturaen allerede betalt, send oss en kopi av betalingsbekreftelsen. Vennlig hilsen [ditt navn, foretak]
When you can send it
You can send an inkassovarsel as soon as the invoice is overdue. If you want to add the purregebyr of 38 kroner, however, you must wait until 14 days have passed after the due date. Most people therefore send the inkassovarsel on day 14 or shortly after: the fee is then legal, and you avoid an extra purring round first.
Send it so you can prove it
Email is enough. The law only requires it to be in writing, not registered mail. Send it from your own email address, keep the copy, and note the date – that is the date the 14-day deadline starts from, and it is your documentation if the case later goes to a debt-collection agency or to forliksrådet, the conciliation board. Do not send the notice from a service that hides who the sender is.
When the deadline has expired
Then you have three paths. You can send the claim to a debt-collection agency, which takes over the case in exchange for a fee. You can send a betalingsoppfordring – your own formal payment demand – with a statutory fee of 113 kroner. Or you can go to forliksrådet, the conciliation board, which involves a court fee and doesn’t require a lawyer. For smaller amounts between businesses, forliksrådet is often the quickest route, and a decision there can be enforced.
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Create a debt-collection notice for freeFAQ
Is a purring the same thing as an inkassovarsel?
No. A purring is a payment reminder with no legal requirements for its content. An inkassovarsel is the step the law requires before collection proceedings, and it must contain the four points above. You can skip the purring, but not the inkassovarsel.
Can I send the inkassovarsel by email?
Yes. The requirement is that it be in writing, and email counts. Keep a copy of the sent message so you can prove when the deadline started.
What if the customer disputes the claim?
Then the claim can’t be sent to collections as undisputed. If the objection is genuine, it must be settled between you or decided by forliksrådet, the conciliation board. Always ask for objections in writing and before the deadline—that way you know where you stand.
Do I have to use a collection agency afterwards?
No. You can pursue your own claim yourself, including taking the case to forliksrådet. An agency is a service you may buy, not something Norwegian law requires.
General information, not legal advice. Rates verified by FSA and updated.