When to use it
Use it whenever the claim has to be stated precisely — with the formal demand, on transfer to debt collection, and always when the case is going to court. An interest statement that cannot be recalculated is an open invitation to dispute: the debtor does not need to contest the claim, he only needs to contest the interest — and the case is then no longer undisputed.
It has to be right
The wording is rarely the problem. It is the deadline, the fee and what the letter leaves out — and the mistake costs you the expenses, not the debtor.
- Interest accrues on the principal — not on the total claim with fees added on top
- The reference rate changes every six months. A claim running across two half-year periods must be calculated at two rates
- Interest runs from the due date, if one has been agreed. If none has, only from 30 days after a demand for payment
- A statement using one fixed rate across several years will not hold up in the bailiff's court
How to fill it in
Most placeholders are trivial. These are not.
- The reference rate
- Danmarks Nationalbank's lending rate as at 1 January and 1 July, plus 8 percentage points. The rate MUST be checked for every period — it changes, and an out-of-date rate makes the whole statement wrong.
- The start date
- The due date, if one has been agreed. If no due date was agreed, interest runs only from 30 days after you made a demand for payment.
- The basis
- The principal. Not the total claim. If you calculate interest on the principal plus fees, you are charging too much — and that is an objection that holds.
Frequently asked questions
Which interest rate applies?
The statutory rate is Danmarks Nationalbank's lending rate plus 8 percentage points. In commercial relationships a higher rate may be agreed — if a rate is stated in your terms of sale, that is the rate that applies.
Can I calculate the interest on the total claim?
No. Interest accrues on the principal. There is no legal basis for charging interest on fees, and a statement that does so can be attacked.
Legal disclaimer. The template is generic and free to use. It is not legal advice and does not take account of the circumstances of your particular case. Rates, deadlines and statutory references change — check them before you use the document. If the claim is large, disputed or heading for court, call us before you send anything.