Kreditupplysningar

Kreditupplysningar are credit reports that summarize information about an individual’s or a company’s creditworthiness. They are compiled and maintained by specialized credit information agencies, known as kreditupplysningsföretag, and are used to help lenders, landlords, and other businesses assess risk in financial or contractual decisions.

A typical kreditupplysning contains identifying information (such as name, address and personal identifiers), current and historical credit accounts, payment history, and any late payments or defaults. It may also include public records related to financial matters (for example insolvent situations) and data derived from inquiries made by lenders or other parties. In some cases, information about a consumer’s debt collection status or ongoing enforcement actions can appear in the report. The data are drawn from lenders, banks, public records, and other sources permitted by law, often with the consumer’s consent or as allowed by regulatory rules.

The use of kreditupplysningar is governed by national law and data protection rules. In Sweden, kreditupplysningsföretag operate under specific legislation and GDPR provisions. Individuals have rights to access their own file, request corrections of inaccurate data, and obtain information about who has requested their kreditupplysning. Retention and handling periods for different data types vary and are subject to legal limits. Data accuracy and proportionality are important principles, and consumers can challenge incorrect entries or seek deletion where appropriate.

Typical users include banks and fintech lenders evaluating loan applications, landlords evaluating tenancy risk, utilities and service providers setting credit terms, and, in some cases, employers conducting background checks when legally permissible.