What may you lawfully charge?
The rates are ceilings, not guidance. You may add DKK 100 to each reminder and to no more than three of them — and between businesses the compensation fee comes on top as a separate amount. Against a consumer it may not be charged at all. Run the numbers on your own claim.
How it is calculated
- 01 The reminder fee is DKK 100 per reminder, and a fee may only be charged on three reminders per claim — however many letters you actually send.
- 02 At least 10 days must pass between two fee-bearing reminders. If your system rolls reminders out every 7 days, it is producing fees you cannot charge.
- 03 The compensation fee is a single fixed amount per claim — not per reminder — and it exists only between businesses.
- 04 The collection fee only applies once the case is actually handed over, and it presupposes that a valid formal demand with at least 10 days’ notice has been sent.
What is often got wrong
That is not allowed. Three is three, however many times you have written to the customer.
It is unlawful and a clear breach of good debt collection practice. The fee exists only in business-to-business relationships.
Everything imposed on the debtor must have a legal basis. Invented fees are not merely unrecoverable — they can cost you your licence if you carry out debt collection.
Frequently asked questions
How many reminders may I charge a fee for?
No more than three per claim, and with at least 10 days between each. You are free to send more letters — you just may not charge for them.
May I charge the compensation fee to a private individual?
No. The compensation fee derives from the EU directive on late payment in commercial transactions and exists only between businesses.
Can I charge both a reminder fee and the compensation fee?
Yes, between businesses. It is not either/or — the compensation fee sits on top of the reminder fees on the same claim.
- Reminder fee (rykkergebyr) A reminder fee is the amount a creditor may add to the claim for each reminder letter — no more than 100 kr. per reminder, and for no more than three reminders.
- Compensation fee (kompensationsgebyr) The compensation fee is a fixed amount of 310 kr. that a business creditor may claim from a business debtor on late payment.
- Collection fee (inkassosalær) The collection fee is the out-of-court recovery costs the debtor must pay when a claim is handed over for collection — the amount depends on the size of the principal.
- Renteloven (the Danish Interest Act) Renteloven lays down what interest and what fees may be charged when payment is late.
The figure is one thing. The money is another.
We run the entire process — reminders with the right deadlines, debt collection and the bailiff’s court with lawyers in-house. Create a free account and send in the first case.