Sweden: Fewer postal days risk missed invoices

Sweden's new postal regulations, which allow some letters to take up to five working days for delivery, pose a risk of missed invoices and payment reminders. The warning comes from the industry organization Svensk Inkasso, which also notes a growing debt burden among Swedish households. The changes took effect last week. The organization highlights that this delay could be particularly problematic during holiday periods when people are away and may not update their temporary addresses. "Not everyone uses digital mailboxes and e-invoices. Therefore, it is important to be extra attentive to incoming mail and due dates during the holiday period," said Fredrik Engström, chairman of Svensk Inkasso, in a press release. While the vast majority of collection claims, nine out of ten, are paid before they reach the enforcement authority, a negative trend is emerging. The number of new collection claims decreased by 6.7 percent in May compared to the same period in 2025. However, the number of closed collection cases also fell by 10.4 percent, indicating that the debt mountain at collection agencies is actually continuing to grow. The organization observes a particular increase among older debtors, those over 65. "At the beginning of 2024, one in seven debtors was over 65 years old. Today, it is approximately one in six. Older people have traditionally been a group with a relatively low incidence of payment problems. Therefore, it is noteworthy that their share of collection cases continues to increase," Engström stated.