Purchases and consumer rights
Legal help filing a complaint with ARN
Has a business rejected your complaint or failed to respond to your claim? We assess whether the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes can review the matter and help you present your claim, organize the evidence and respond to the business.
- Response within one business day
- Experienced lawyers
- Online, wherever you are
What is an ARN complaint?
The National Board for Consumer Disputes, known in Sweden as ARN, reviews disputes between consumers and businesses. The procedure is entirely in writing and is based on the information and evidence submitted by the parties. ARN does not conduct its own investigation or hear oral testimony.
ARN issues a recommendation explaining how the dispute should be resolved. The decision is not legally binding in the same way as a court judgment, although most businesses comply with ARN’s recommendations.
When can you file a complaint?
Before filing with ARN, you normally need to submit a clear claim to the business. The business must have rejected all or part of your claim or failed to respond within a reasonable time.
ARN will generally consider the dispute only if:
- you purchased the product or service as a consumer for private use
- the other party is a business
- the business rejected your claim or failed to respond
- ARN receives the complaint within one year of your first complaint to the business
- your claim meets the minimum value for the relevant category
- the dispute falls within a category that ARN reviews.
Depending on the type of dispute, the current minimum claim is SEK 750, SEK 1,500 or SEK 3,000. The filing fee is SEK 150 and is not refunded if ARN decides that it cannot review the case.
What should the complaint contain?
Your complaint should clearly explain what you want the business to do and why you believe you are entitled to that remedy. You may request that the business repair or replace a product, perform the service again, reduce the price, refund your payment or compensate you for a financial loss.
Include the documents needed to support your claim, such as:
- the agreement, order confirmation or receipt
- your complaint and other communications with the business
- photographs or inspection reports
- warranty terms and product descriptions
- invoices and records showing your financial loss.
Because the process is conducted in writing, your claim and evidence need to be clear and well organized. The business may respond, and you will normally have an opportunity to comment before ARN makes its decision.
How we can help you
We assess the dispute and help you present a clear, legally relevant claim.
Assessment of the dispute
We review the events, the applicable rules and whether ARN is able to consider your claim.
Preparing the claim
We help you state the remedy you are seeking and explain the legal grounds for it.
Organizing the evidence
We review agreements, correspondence, photographs, reports and other documents supporting your position.
Responses during the proceedings
We help you respond to the business and provide additional information requested by ARN.
Get help from a lawyer with your consumer dispute
Schedule a 15-minute meeting with a lawyer to review and discuss your situation.
If you need further assistance, we’ll explain your options, how we can assist you, and what it would cost. If you hire us for your case, the cost of the first 15 minutes will be deducted from your final bill.
Talk to a lawyer
15-minute legal consultation
A brief meeting for quick guidance. Get answers to your questions, understand your rights and options, and learn how to move forward.
Need more help? You can also schedule a longer meeting with a lawyer for assistance with a specific task or a more complex situation.
Concerned about the cost? In some cases, part of the cost may be covered by legal expenses insurance or legal aid. We also offer payment plans through Klarna. Learn more about costs and financing →
Get help from our lawyers
Our lawyers can assess your claim, prepare the complaint and help you respond to the business during the proceedings.
Mirxan Özalp
Lawyer
Mirxan specializes in real estate law, housing and tenancy law, construction law, general civil law, contract law, and consumer disputes. He speaks Swedish, English, and Kurdish, specifically the Kurmanji dialect.
Farid Laghrissi
Lawyer
Farid assists individuals and businesses with employment law, tenancy law, financial family law, contracts, disputes, and other business and corporate law matters. Farid speaks Swedish, English, Arabic, Darija, and French.
Mirella Nunes Siqueira
Consulting lawyer
Mirella specializes in business law, financial family law, employment law, and consumer law. She speaks Swedish, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about arn complaint
The filing fee is SEK 150. It is not refunded if ARN rejects the case without reviewing the dispute. If your claim succeeds, you may ask the business to reimburse the filing fee.
ARN must normally receive your complaint within one year of the date when you first complained to the business. Special rules may apply to certain banking and insurance disputes.
No. The decision is a recommendation and cannot be enforced in the same way as a court judgment. If the business does not comply, you may need to consider bringing the claim before a court.
The parties cannot normally recover their legal fees in ARN proceedings. If the dispute is later brought before a court, the legal expenses coverage included in your home insurance may cover part of the cost of legal representation. The coverage available depends on your insurance terms, the value of the dispute and whether the other requirements for legal expenses coverage are met.
Let a lawyer contact you
Tell us briefly about your situation, and we’ll get back to you within one business day to schedule a video consultation.