Borrowing with a betalningsanmärkning
A default does not close every door. It makes the loan dearer and the choice narrower, and some lenders will still consider you.
Updated 2026-09-05
A betalningsanmärkning, a Swedish credit register note recording that you failed to pay a debt on time, stays on file for three years, and the major banks will almost always decline. Svea Bank, Marginalen Bank, Avida and several of the brokers' partner banks lend anyway, at a higher rate. Svea Bank is one of the few that will also consider you with an ongoing debt at Kronofogden, the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
What a default is, and is not
It is a note held by the credit reference agencies. It does not arise from one unpaid invoice but when the matter has gone to Kronofogden and a judgment has been issued. It stays for three years for private individuals, counted from the note, not from when the debt was paid.
Paying the debt therefore does not remove the note. Pay it anyway: the debt otherwise grows, and lenders who do consider you with a default look at whether it has been settled.
Who will consider you
The niche banks with more risk appetite: Svea, Marginalen and Avida are the usual names. Brokers are often the most effective route, because one application reaches up to 40 banks on a single credit check, and one yes is enough.
Expect a rate at the top of the range. It is still far cheaper than a quick loan, and the 22.00% cap applies here too.
Do this first
Get your own credit report free from UC and see exactly what is recorded. Sometimes there are notes that are wrong, or that should already have expired, those can be corrected.
Do not apply widely and impulsively. Every direct application triggers its own credit check, and many checks in a short period lower your rating further. Use a broker instead, once.
If you have several debts at Kronofogden, a new loan is rarely the answer. Your municipality's budget and debt adviser is free and bound by confidentiality.
See lenders that accept a default
Common questions
How long does it stay?
Three years for private individuals, five for sole traders. The clock runs from registration, not from when the debt was paid.
Does comparing loans here show up anywhere?
No. We run no credit check and collect no personal data. Nothing you do on this site appears in your UC record.
Can I block myself from credit checks?
Yes. UC offers a block that stops new checks. It is effective protection if you feel borrowing has become a problem.