If you’re an international here, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of the RKI register. Don’t worry: we’re here with all you need to know about what it is, why you don’t want to be named on it and how to keep yourself off it!
What is the RKI register?
RKI stands for Riber Kredit Information. It is Denmark’s register of bad debtors, i.e. individuals who have debts they have not paid within the required timeframes. RKI is administered by Experian, which you may be familiar with from previous countries you have lived in. Virtually all companies that lend money or provide other types of credit are members of RKI. Previously RKI was known as Ribers.
At the end of June 2023, 173,007 Danish residents were registered in RKI, and the total debt from these amounted to DKK 9.1 billion.
Who can add names to the register?
Debt collection agencies, lawyers and private companies use it to register their debtors.
Why are individuals or companies added to the register?
- If you or your business owes 200 DKK or more in unpaid debts to creditors. These might include banks, finance companies you have taken out loans with, car repayments, mobile phone contract providers, store cards, insurance providers, craftspeople who have carried out work on your home or any other agency you have obtained credit from.
- If you or your business owes 7500 DKK or more in unpaid debts to the Danish government, for example for unpaid utilities bills, traffic offences, parking fines or taxes.
Note that the amounts above may seem relatively low but are still enough to find yourself on the register, with serious, long-term consequences for your ability to obtain future credit.
In Denmark, systems for outstanding debts may be very different from countries you have lived in before. Timescales for payments and reminders are typically short and swift action is taken if payments are not made on time. It is important to be aware of this and to make payments to your creditors on time.
You can be added to the RKI register if you have received three written reminders with the correct 10-day notice and have not responded to them. The third reminder must clearly warn you that RKI registration will occur. It is not a requirement that the reminder letter has a reminder fee on it.
Boye Graversen, a partner in Beierholm, one of Denmark’s leading accountancy firms, told LWID: “All bigger companies in Denmark have quite a strict policy. If you don’t pay, you’ll automatically be added to the register. Companies see it as helping each other so that individuals or businesses with bad credit history don’t go on to cause issues for other creditors.”
How will you know if your name is being added to the register?
RKI will write to you to inform you who has reported you, what the debt is and how long you will remain on the register for.
If you dispute the debt, they cannot add you to the register so it is important to challenge the decision if you think it is a mistake. Ultimately, if RKI does not accept your dispute, a court will decide whether or not you should be added to the register.
What are the consequences of being named on the RKI register?
Being named on the RKI register has serious and long-term consequences in Denmark, for individuals and businesses. These may be very different from those in countries where you have lived before. Therefore it is important to be aware of RKI when taking on any consumer debt.
If you have a debt of 1000 DKK or more in the RKI register, this information will be disclosed by RKI to its customers. Almost all credit providers in Denmark are customers of RKI.
Ultimately, being named on the register will make it very difficult to obtain credit as a private individual or company in Denmark. This includes:
- Getting a mortgage
- Renting an apartment or other property
- Getting a job, in some cases
- Taking out insurances
- Obtaining a bank loan
- Taking out a mobile phone or other utility
- Getting a petrol card
“If your name is put in the register, it’s really difficult,” says Boye Graversen. For example, getting a mortgage loan won’t be possible. All banks and reputable creditors in Denmark use the register and they have a policy not to loan to people who are on the RKI register. Therefore, It’s really important to stay out of the register.”
Being named in the register may also mean that craftspeople and other providers of household services are unwilling to work with you on a credit basis.
If you are applying for permanent residency in Denmark, one of the basic requirements is that you do not have any debt to public authorities. If you are named in the RKI register for this reason, your application is likely to be refused.
How can you avoid being named on the register?
The best advice is to stay in control of your finances.
- Ensure you have a good overview of your finances. Know your income and outgoings
- Set a weekly or monthly budget for living expenses
- Use betalingsservice (automatic payment service) to automatically pay regular bills, ensuring you have enough money in your account to cover these
Experian provides the following short video (in Danish) with advice: RKI Registret | Experians skyldnerregister | Info om RKI, indberetninger og gode råd | Experian
Remember to check your e-Boks as well as your email and physical mail for bills. In Denmark, many invoices, particularly from the Danish government or the Kommune, will arrive in this way. “I sometimes see people having issues because they don’t have their e-Boks notifications set up,” says Boye Graversen. “Then they miss a bill, then very quickly the reminders start to arrive. So remember to check your e-Boks, and always check your spam folder too.”
What if you have debts and are struggling to pay them?
Contact creditors you owe money to as soon as possible. You will find them willing to discuss your situation with you and will probably be surprised at the adjustments they are prepared to make so you can continue to pay your debts in an affordable way for you.
Do not ignore invoices, emails or phone calls from your creditors. They will not go away and in Denmark there is a much shorter window in which to pay your debts than in other countries you may have lived in. Late payment fees are high and will be added with each reminder letter.
“It’s always better to contact your creditors and try to make some kind of payment agreement, then you may be able to keep out of the RKI register,” says Boye Graversen. “Keeping silent definitely isn’t the way to go!”
How can you check if you’re named on the RKI register?
Check if you’re on the register: Log på – DinInfo | Experian. You can do this anonymously.
How can you get your name deleted from the register?
Put simply, you must pay your debt to your creditors or their debt collection agency. Your registration will be deleted after your final payment is made.
RKI registration is valid for up to five years. At the end of this time, your name will be removed from the register. However, this does not make your debt disappear. You must still pay it off even if five years have passed.
A creditor cannot report you again for the same reasons, even if you have not paid off your debt.
What if someone you live with is named on the register?
Unlike in some countries, this will not affect you unless you are also named on the register. The registration is linked to the individual, not the address.
If you still have questions and want to find out more:
Check out Experian’s website here. Information is in Danish.
RKI Registret | Experians skyldnerregister | Info om RKI, indberetninger og gode råd | Experian
You can email Experian at forbrugerservice@experian.dk
Or telephone 87 46 56 56 Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 12.00
If you have an accountant or financial advisor, you can also approach them for further advice.
Boye Graversen is Partner in the Vejle office of Beierholm Accountancy (Vejle)
Beierholm is one of Denmark’s leading advisory and accountancy firms, with offices across the country. Further information in English is available here: Beierholm: State-authorised public accountants across industries
Last Week in Denmark has not received any payment from companies mentioned in this article.
