Check your credit record

You have the right to check your credit record for free once a year (section 30 of the Credit Information Act, 11 May 2007/527, or the EU General Data Protection Regulation). Additional checks are subject to a fee set by the controller. In Finland, credit data files are maintained by Suomen Asiakastieto Oy and Bisnode Finland Oy (note: Bisnode is now part of Dun & Bradstreet and currently uses both brand names).

Check your credit record at Suomen Asiakastieto Oy (in Finnish)

Check your credit record at Bisnode Finland Oy (in Finnish)

Removal of payment default entries

The period of validity of payment default entries changed on 1 December 2022. In future, a payment default entry will be removed within one month of the date on which the controller was informed of the payment of the debt.

When you have paid off a debt, it is your responsibility to make sure that notice of the payment will be entered in your credit record (REF entry). In other words, a REF entry will not be entered in the credit information register automatically. A REF entry in the credit record means that the debt has been paid off.

Please note that the credit information register is maintained by two companies in Finland. Notice of the payment of a debt must be submitted to both of these controllers.

Once you have paid off a debt, you can obtain a REF entry in the credit information register in one of the following ways:

• Request the creditor to submit a notification of the payment of the debt to the credit information register. Please note that the creditor may charge a fee for submitting the notification.
• Request the enforcement authorities to submit a notification of the payment of the debt to the credit information register. The enforcement authorities may submit a notification concerning only those payment default entries that have been made due to enforcement action (code UMV or UMS).
• You can submit your request for having your payment default entry erased to National Enforcement Authority Finland's Electronic service . Make the request in the debtor’s service in the section Messages with the topic Credit information. You can also send your request by email ulosotto.uo(at)oikeus.fi. The message must include the name and date of birth of the person. The payment default entry will be erased once the notification has been processed by the credit reference agency.
• You can obtain a ‘Debtor's enforcement matters’ receipt detailing the payment of your debt from the e-services or customer service of the National Enforcement Authority Finland. You should then submit the receipt to the controllers (Suomen Asiakastieto and Bisnode).
• Request a receipt of the payment of the debt from the creditor. The receipt must contain the following information: name of the creditor and debtor, amount paid, date of payment, information identifying the debt (for example, case number), code of payment default and date of registration. This information is needed so that the controller knows which payment default entry the payment pertains to.

For more information, please visit the controllers’ websites or contact a controller to receive further instructions.

When a debt expires permanently, the payment default entry is removed on the request of the debtor or the creditor. This information is not automatically transmitted to the credit information register.

Most typical payment default entries and their validity

• YVK, default judgment in a debt matter. Period of validity: three (3) years.
• SVK, judgment issued in a debt matter. Period of validity: three (3) years.
• UMV, lack of means or other impediment established in enforcement proceedings. Period of validity: three (3) years.
• UMS, lack of means or other impediment established in enforcement proceedings in cases where the debtor is not found to have assets to cover the debt in limited enforcement. Period of validity: three (3) years. This information is removed from the register immediately when the debt is paid off and information on the payment is submitted to the controller.
• UMP, a payment default entry made due to enforcement action in cases where the debtor’s pay, pension or other recurring income has been garnished or a payment schedule set up instead of garnishment has been in force for a minimum of 18 months over the past two years (lengthy enforcement). Period of validity: three (3) years. The entry is removed once the enforcement authorities, on the request of the debtor, notify the controller that lengthy enforcement has ended.
• OLK, a self-imposed credit ban, not a payment default. Period of validity: two (2) years.

Self-imposed credit ban

You can impose a credit ban on yourself to make it more difficult to take out new loans. A self-imposed credit ban helps you stop a debt cycle. It also prevents others from taking out loans using your identity and in your name if you suspect that your personal data has been misplaced.

The self-imposed credit ban is subject to a fee (EUR 15–20), and it is effective for two years. You can also remove it before its effectiveness ends. Please note that the self-imposed credit ban should be reported to the credit data files of Suomen Asiakastieto Oy and Bisnode Finland Oy.

You can also prohibit the disclosure of your data by notifying the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (formerly the Local Register Offices). It is possible to add a ban on direct marketing, a ban on the disclosure of contact information, and a ban on updating customer registers to your record. For more information on the bans mentioned above, contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

Self-imposed credit ban, Bisnode (subject to a fee)

Self-imposed credit ban, Asiakastieto (subject to a fee)

(suomi.fi)

You can prohibit the disclosure of your data on the Digital and Population Data Services Agency website.