Man Ordered to Pay Ex-Partner Over 6 Million Kronur for Card Misuse

A man in Iceland has been ordered by the courts to pay his former cohabitant and mother of his child over six million Icelandic krónur (approximately $43,000 USD) for illegally using her bank card and making significant cash withdrawals. The Reykjavík District Court initially ruled on the case in June 2025, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeals.

The woman reported the man to the police on April 11, 2018, filing complaints for property damage, theft, and domestic violence. A week prior, she had been informed by a foreign bank that her savings account was empty and she owed 100,000 krónur. Upon requesting a bank statement for 2017 and 2018, she discovered he had extensively used her card. In early 2017, her account held over 1.5 million krónur, but by the time she discovered the unauthorized use, he had spent over six million krónur from the card on his own consumption without her knowledge.

The withdrawals were made at bars, restaurants, barbershops, and clothing stores, with substantial amounts taken from ATMs. The man's defense was that he had the woman's consent to use the card, claiming he believed she wanted him to spend the money as she had inherited hundreds of millions of krónur. He argued they had a joint financial arrangement and that his spending was a "drop in the ocean."

During police questioning in August 2023, the man stated he was unemployed when their relationship ended and had often used her card for small purchases like beer and hamburgers. He asserted it was her responsibility to monitor his spending and stop him if necessary, and since she did not, he felt free to use the card. He also cited difficulties adjusting to being penniless after their breakup, having grown accustomed to a comfortable lifestyle during their relationship, which was marked by his increasing alcohol and drug abuse over their five-year relationship. The woman eventually ended the relationship and kicked him out in December 2017.

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The accused explained that it had been difficult to be suddenly without money after the breakup, but the victim had plenty of money and he had become accustomed to a good life in their relationship and their spending was high.