Inkasso is Their Intimidation Tactic
Forbruker Europa has explicitly confirmed that Norwegian Lab uses debt collection threats as a deliberate intimidation strategy to pressure victims into paying for subscriptions they never agreed to. The debt collection agency is counting on you being scared into paying — that's the entire business model.
Under Norwegian law (inkassoloven), the debt collection agency must immediately pause all collection activity the moment you dispute the claim. They cannot continue to send letters, make calls, or escalate to court until the dispute is resolved. This is your most powerful weapon.
What to Do When You Get an Inkasso Letter
- Do NOT Pay Immediately Paying the inkasso claim can be interpreted as acknowledging the debt. Once you pay, it becomes much harder to get the money back. Do not pay until you have sent your dispute and the matter is resolved in your favor.
- Identify the Debt Collection Agency The letter will be from a debt collection agency (inkassobyrå), not from Norwegian Lab directly. Common agencies in Norway include Kredinor, Lowell, Intrum, Gothia, and Conecto. Write down their name, the case reference number (saksnummer), and the claimed amount.
- Send a Written Dispute to the Inkasso Agency This is the critical step. Send a written dispute (email or registered mail) to the debt collection agency stating that you dispute the entire claim. Reference inkassoloven §17, which requires them to pause all collection activity upon receipt of a dispute. Include a copy of your dispute letter to Norwegian Lab. Keep copies of everything.
- Simultaneously Dispute with Norwegian Lab Send a separate written dispute to Norwegian Lab. State that you never consented to a subscription, that the subscription terms were hidden, and therefore the debt is not valid. Demand that they withdraw the claim and instruct the inkasso agency to close the case. Reference the Norwegian Marketing Control Act and EU Consumer Rights Directive.
- Request that the Inkasso Agency Return the Case Under Norwegian law, if a claim is disputed, the debt collection agency should return the case to the creditor (Norwegian Lab) for resolution. Explicitly request this in your dispute letter. The agency cannot legally continue collection on a disputed claim.
- File with Forbruker Europa and Forbrukertilsynet File complaints with both agencies. Forbruker Europa for mediation, Forbrukertilsynet for enforcement. Include copies of all correspondence with both the inkasso agency and Norwegian Lab. These official complaints add significant weight to your case.
- Do NOT Ignore Court Summons If the matter escalates to Forliksrådet (conciliation board) or Namsretten (enforcement court), do NOT ignore it. Attend the hearing or file a written response. Failure to respond can result in a default judgment against you. Bring all your evidence: the original ad/screenshots, correspondence, your cancellation email, and the dispute letters.
Inkassoloven: Your Legal Protection
Inkassoloven §17 — Duty to Pause
When a debtor disputes a claim in writing, the debt collection agency must immediately suspend all collection activities until the creditor has assessed the dispute. This includes pausing payment demands, phone calls, and any escalation to court. The agency must inform the creditor and await their response.
Full legal text: "Dersom skyldneren bestrider kravet skriftlig, skal inkassoforretningen straks stanse inndrivingen inntil fordringshaveren har tatt stilling til innsigelsen."
Inkassoloven §8 — Good Practice
The law requires debt collection agencies to follow "god inkassoskikk" (good debt collection practice). Pursuing a claim that the agency knows or should know is disputed on reasonable grounds violates this standard. Norwegian Lab's subscription trap is well-documented by Forbruker Europa — the agency cannot claim ignorance.
If the agency continues collection despite your dispute, you can file a complaint about the agency itself with Finanstilsynet (the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway), which oversees all licensed debt collection agencies.
Dispute Letter for the Inkasso Agency
Copy this template and send it to the debt collection agency listed on the letter. Send it by email and, if possible, by registered mail (rekommandert).
Subject: Dispute of Claim — Case #[Inkasso Reference Number] — Norwegian Lab AS To [Debt Collection Agency Name], I am writing to formally dispute the claim referenced above (saksnummer: [CASE NUMBER]) in its entirety, including all principal amounts, interest, and collection fees. Background: I made a one-time purchase from Norwegian Lab on or around [DATE]. At no point during the ordering process was I informed that this was a subscription. No subscription terms were clearly disclosed at checkout. The claim is based on an alleged subscription agreement that was never validly formed. Legal Basis for Dispute: 1. The contract violates the Norwegian Marketing Control Act (markedsføringsloven §§6-8 and 7-2) due to misleading omissions of material terms. 2. The contract violates the EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) for failure to provide clear pre-contractual disclosure. 3. Forbruker Europa has publicly stated that claims from Norwegian Lab based on hidden subscription terms are not valid. 4. Under inkassoloven §17, you are legally required to immediately suspend all collection activities upon receipt of this written dispute. I request that you: 1. Immediately suspend all collection activity in accordance with inkassoloven §17. 2. Return this disputed claim to Norwegian Lab AS for resolution. 3. Confirm in writing that collection has been paused and that no payment remark (betalingsanmerkning) will be registered. I have also sent a separate dispute to Norwegian Lab AS. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Address] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]
Send this letter to BOTH the inkasso agency and Norwegian Lab. If you receive confirmation that the dispute has been registered, keep that confirmation. If the agency refuses to pause collection, file a complaint with Finanstilsynet (finanstilsynet.no) against the agency itself for violating god inkassoskikk.
What Happens After You Dispute
- Day 0: You send written dispute to the inkasso agency and Norwegian Lab.
- Day 1–14: The inkasso agency must immediately pause collection. They forward your dispute to Norwegian Lab and await their response.
- Day 14–30: Norwegian Lab must assess your dispute. In most cases with documented subscription trap complaints, they have no valid response and the matter goes quiet.
- Beyond 30 days: If Norwegian Lab provides no substantive response, the case effectively stalls. The agency cannot legally resume collection without the creditor's instruction and resolution of the dispute.
- Possible outcome: The case is either dropped or Norwegian Lab continues to assert the claim. If they continue, escalate to Forbruker Europa, Forbrukertilsynet, and if necessary, be prepared to defend yourself in Forliksrådet with all your documentation.
Where to Get Help
Forbruker Europa
Free cross-border mediation. Handles complaints against Norwegian companies. Has already investigated Norwegian Lab. forbrukereuropa.no
Forbrukertilsynet
Norwegian Consumer Authority. Enforces the Marketing Control Act. Can issue fines. File a complaint at forbrukertilsynet.no
Finanstilsynet
Norwegian FSA. Oversees licensed debt collection agencies. File complaints about inkasso agency misconduct at finanstilsynet.no
Your National Authority
File with your own country's consumer protection agency. In Denmark: Forbrugerombudsmanden. In Sweden: Konsumentverket. In Germany: Verbraucherzentrale. In the Netherlands: ACM.