If a dispute arises
If you and another party, such as a supplier, business partner, customer or competitor, do not agree on something – you have a dispute. This could be a dispute about e.g. payment, marketing or damages.
There are several ways to resolve disputes. If you cannot resolve the dispute yourself, you or the other party can in some cases apply for a payment order or judicial assistance. Read more about this further down on this page. In other cases, the dispute will have to be resolved in court, through arbitration or through mediation.
If you need advice on how to resolve a dispute, you can contact your accounting consultant, an accountant, a lawyer or your trade organisation.
When the customer does not pay
If your client has not paid you on time, you should send them a reminder, and it is important that you know the rules on reminder fees, penalty interest and due dates.
Payment reminders and penalty interest
If, despite payment reminders, the customer does not pay, you can use a debt collection agency to recover the debt. You can also apply for a payment order from the Swedish Enforcement Authority to collect the money. A payment order can be used to collect most types of debts.
When you do not receive your delivery
If your supplier does not deliver what you have agreed, you can apply to the Enforcement Authority for judicial assistance to get the goods you ordered. Judicial assistance can also be used to repossess goods, evict someone or enforce a contract.
Judicial assistance and repossession
Resolve a dispute in court
If the other party contests a decision regarding a payment order or judicial assistance, the dispute can only be settled in court. You can also go to court directly to resolve such disputes.
If you want damages, to stop someone from marketing their products or services in a certain way, to protect patents, trademarks or designs, etc., you must go to court.
Does the contract have an arbitration clause?
If the dispute is about a contract, and the contract contains a provision stating that disputes will be settled through arbitration, a court cannot normally settle the dispute. In such case, it must be settled through an arbitral tribunal.
It is common for a contract to include a provision that disputes will be settled through arbitration. Arbitration is a form of private administration of justice governed by special legislation.
Resolve a dispute through arbitration
Mediation – an informal way to resolve disputes
It is becoming increasingly common for companies to resolve disputes voluntarily with the help of a mediator. Mediation is a more flexible, informal and inexpensive way to resolve disputes than going to court or arbitration.
Resolve a dispute through mediation
Alternative dispute resolution
Alternative dispute resolution involves resolving a dispute outside of court. It is often a faster and cheaper solution for both consumers and businesses.