The Swedish Enforcement Authority (, ; abbreviated as KFM; colloquially known as Kronofogden) is the
government agency
A government agency or state agency, sometimes an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government (bureaucracy) that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, s ...
in
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
responsible of debt collection, distraint, evictions, and enforcement of court orders. The authority also supervise trustees in bankruptcy.
Authority
The Enforcement Authority is the only organization in Sweden empowered to withdraw money from bank accounts of
debtor
A debtor or debitor is a legal entity (legal person) that owes a debt to another entity. The entity may be an individual, a firm, a government, a company or other legal person. The counterparty is called a creditor. When the counterpart of this ...
s and, if necessary, visit the homes and companies of debtors to seize (
distrain) property. The authority also has the right to withhold money directly from a debtor's income.
It can collect debts for individuals and businesses as well as for the government.
Payment order
A person or organization whose debtor refuses to pay an outstanding debt can submit a claim (payment order) to the Authority. The respondent is served the claim, and has to respond within a certain time. If there is no response and if there is proof that the claim has been served the recipient, the Authority is empowered to announce an enforceable verdict, which can be used for foreclosure. If the respondent disputes a debt claim, the claim must be tried by a court in a civil lawsuit. The payment order system is therefore a fast track to get an enforceable verdict in cases where the legal claim is not disputed, and in other cases an alternative to subpoena.
See also
*
Swedish government agencies
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Government agencies of Sweden
National law enforcement agencies of Sweden
Public finance of Sweden
Debt collection