§ 8. Good debt collection practice — your most important protection in debt collection

§ 8 is the overarching rule of conduct for all debt collection business in Norway. It has two subsections, and both are important.

The first subsection says that good debt collection practice applies everywhere — not only at large debt collection agencies (inkassobyråer) with a licence (bevilling), but also at companies that collect their own claims and at individuals who occasionally help someone collect money. No one engaged in collection is exempt.

The second subsection sets the concrete limit: methods that subject anyone to "unreasonable pressure, harm or inconvenience" are prohibited. That sounds general — and it is, on purpose. The lawmakers wanted a flexible rule that can catch all forms of unacceptable conduct, however creative the debt collection industry might become.

"Unreasonable pressure" does not only mean obvious threats. It includes anything that creates a level of pressure that is disproportionate to the situation — contact that is too frequent, timing that is frightening, wording that is likely to intimidate.

What specifically is contrary to good debt collection practice?

Over time, the Debt Collection Complaints Board (Inkassoklagenemnda) and the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (Finanstilsynet) have defined what good debt collection practice means in practice. Here are the most important cases:

Excessive contact. Calling once to remind you of an unpaid bill is fine. Calling four times in one day, or sending ten letters in one week, is not. The law sets no exact number, but repeated and persistent contact without a legitimate reason (saklig grunn) is contrary to good debt collection practice.

Contact at unreasonable times. Calling early on a Sunday morning, late in the evening or on public holidays to push for payment is not allowed. The debt collection company should stick to ordinary working hours.

Threats of measures that will not be carried out. It is not allowed to write "you will be reported to the police" or "your car will be taken" if the debt collection company has neither the legal basis to do this nor the intention of doing it. Threats must always be based on real possibilities.

Letters that look like official documents but are not. Some debt collection companies use design and language that make letters resemble court documents. This is misleading and contrary to good debt collection practice.

Contacting your employer, family or neighbours. The debt collection company is not allowed to contact your employer, your spouse, your parents or your neighbours to pressure you into paying. The debt is your business, not your network's.

Presenting the claim as larger or more serious than it is. Saying that your debt has been "passed on to the police" or "registered with the courts" when this is not true is a lie and is prohibited.

Refusing you information. If you have asked for a full breakdown of the claim, the debt collection company is obliged to give it to you. Withholding information you are entitled to is not in line with good debt collection practice.

Starting debt collection measures without following the notification requirements. Sending the case to the enforcement officer (namsmannen) without having sent a debt collection notice (inkassovarsel) and a demand for payment (betalingsoppfordring) with lawful deadlines is a breach of both §§ 9 and 10 — and therefore also of § 8.

What is allowed?

It is important to make the distinction. The debt collection company has every right to:

Contact you in writing and orally to remind you of the debt. Inform you of the consequences of non-payment — more fees, late payment interest (forsinkelsesrente) and possibly collection through the courts (rettslig inndriving). Report a payment default record (betalingsanmerkning) to credit reference agencies (kredittopplysningsforetak) once the conditions are met. Send the case to the enforcement officer and apply for attachment (utlegg) if all notification requirements have been met. Refer you to debt settlement schemes or ask you to get in touch to find a solution.

It is the pressure and the way it is applied that can be unlawful — not the collection itself.

What happens if good debt collection practice is breached?

Breaches of § 8 have concrete consequences for the debt collection company:

You do not have to pay the debt collection fee (inkassosalær). Under § 17, you cannot be charged for costs if the debt collection company has acted contrary to good debt collection practice towards you. This means that what would otherwise have been a cost you had to bear falls away.

The debt collection company can lose its licence. The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway supervises debt collection business. Repeated or serious breaches can lead to the licence being revoked under § 31.

The company can be punished. § 32 says that repeated or serious breaches of § 8 can be punished with fines or imprisonment of up to three months.

The complaints board (nemnd) can order cost coverage. The Debt Collection Complaints Board can decide that the debt collection company must cover the board's own case costs if it breached § 8, cf. § 25.

If you experience something that feels wrong, do this:

Put it into words. Write down what happened, when it happened and who you spoke to. Take photos of letters. Save emails. Log phone numbers and times.

Send a written objection (innsigelse). If you have objections to the claim itself, or believe the procedure is unlawful — put it in writing to the debt collection company. This establishes that you have raised the problem, and can affect your right to avoid costs.

Complain to the Debt Collection Complaints Board. If the debt collection company has a licence under § 5, you can demand a complaints board review (nemndsbehandling). It is free and is normally decided within a few months.

Complain to the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway. Whether or not the company has a licence, you can complain to the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway at finanstilsynet.no. It can take action against the company.