Payment remark
A payment remark is a registration of a person or company in a debt register - such as Experian's RKI or Debitor List.
The payment remark is based on one or more amounts owed by a debtor to a creditor.
In Denmark, any company can register individuals and businesses in a debt register, it just requires an agreement.
In practice, however, it is primarily debt collectors and lawyers who handle the vast majority of payment reminders on behalf of their customers.
Read more below about everything you need to know about payment remarks.
When can a company create a payment remark?
A company may create a payment remark when three written reminders have been sent to the debtor.
On the last reminder, the debtor must be made aware that the debtor is registered in a debt register.
The minimum amount must be DKK 200.
In the case of debt to the public sector, the amount must be a minimum of DKK 7,500 - and the calculation must take place no earlier than four weeks after the warning that the debtor will receive a payment remark.
The debtor must not have objected to the claim during the reminder phase.
Who can create payment remarks?
Basically, all companies that have an agreement with a debtor register, such as Experian(RKI) or Debitorlisten - can make payment remarks.
In practice, however, it is typically lawyers and debt collection companies that handle reminder processes and collections on behalf of other customers - who do the actual registration and payment reminder.
What are the consequences of having a payment remark?
The consequences of having a payment remark registered on yourself or your business - can be significant.
For rigtig mange virksomheder, banker og offentlige myndigheder foretager løbende kredittjek af deres kunder – herunder også indsamling af betalingsanmærkninger.
A payment remark can thus have the consequence that you get worse credit, shorter payment terms, higher interest rates or something completely different.
Everything from banks to telecom companies use information from a debtor register.
How do you get a payment remark removed?
You get your payment remark removed by paying your claim. Typically, the payment must be made to the person who made the registration - which is often a lawyer or a debt collection agency.
Once you've paid your claim, the payment remark will typically disappear immediately.
How long are you registered in a debt register?
You are generally registered in a debt register for 5 years if you cannot pay your claim.
In other words, this does not mean that the creditor's claim against you lapses - the creditor's claim can legally be extended indefinitely, but generally for 3 or 10 years - depending on the nature of the claim.