Payment problems

Information about schemes which apply when you have trouble paying your bill.

You can defer repayment of your bill up to 36 times

You can defer repayment of your bill 36 times in total during the period over which you will be repaying your loan. You do not have to explain why.
But please remember this:

direct debits - you are responsible for cancelling your direct debit payment in online banking

Having trouble paying your bill?

If you are having trouble paying your bill, we have several schemes that could help you. You can defer repayment of your bill up to 36 times. You can have your interest deleted if you are on a low income.

Applying for repayment deferral

The first thing you should do when you are unable to pay a bill is to apply for repayment deferral. You can defer your bill 36 times, i.e. the equivalent of 3 years, and there are no specific conditions that you need to comply with in order to defer payment.

You can both defer bills that you have already received and future bills. If you defer future bills, we will not send you a bill.

If the payment deadline has passed, you could also be granted deferral of your payments, but it is best to apply before the deadline. because then you will not have to pay any extra fees.

What happens when you defer repayments

When you are granted repayment deferral, the repayment period will be extended accordingly, and interest will be added for the months for which you do not pay.

Any interest on overdue payments and reminder fees that are added to your loan will not be deleted, even if you defer repayment of your bill, but will be added to the next bill you are due to pay.

You will receive several more repayment deferrals if your interest is deleted

If your circumstances are such that you have a low income, the interest on your loan can be deleted. During the months when your interest is deleted, you can defer repayment without using your quota of 36 payment deferrals. See which circumstances entitle you to the deletion of interest.

Additional repayment deferrals in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can defer repayments, without using your quota of 36 repayment deferrals. This exception applies to the bills with a payment deadline in the period 1 March 2020 and up to and including 31 December 2021

Apply for repayment deferral

Failure to pay your bill costs a lot

You must pay the instalments that normally include the interest and instalments due on your student loan each month. If you fail to pay a bill, and do not apply for repayment deferral either, this could quickly become very expensive. Lånekassen’s reminder fees are higher than elsewhere, and if your loan is terminated you will have to pay interest on overdue payments for the whole loan.

We will send you a reminder by e-mail 4 days after you should have paid your bill in order to remind you to pay.

If you pay by direct debit, you must check to see if the maximum amount is high enough, and that you have enough money in your account.

You should pay as quickly as possible, or apply for repayment deferral.

Reminders will be sent out with your next bill. In addition to the original instalment and the instalment for the next month, you will have to pay a reminder fee of NOK 280.

Interest on overdue payments will also be added to the amount that is overdue, with effect from the payment deadline date.

You should apply for repayment deferral if you are unable to pay.

This is a notice of termination. Reminders will be sent out with your next bill. You must pay 3 instalments, one reminder fee of NOK 280 and a further reminder fee of NOK 490.

Interest on overdue payments will also be added to the amount that is overdue.

You should apply for repayment deferral if you are unable to pay.

This warning will be sent in the post and your bill will now consist of four instalments, the fees from your previous bill and accrued interest on overdue payments.

These decisions concern termination of your whole loan and it being transferred to the Norwegian National Collection Agency.

Once your loan has been terminated, you cannot receive further grants and loans until you have sorted things out.

You can sort things out by paying the overdue amount or applying for repayment deferral.

If you do not pay or apply for repayment deferral by the deadline indicated in our last letter, your loan will be terminated.

Once your loan has been transferred to the Norwegian National Collection Agency, interest on overdue payments will be added to the full debt. Your debt will increase quickly, and it is important that you try to sort it out before it becomes so much that you are unable to handle it. You can do this by making payments to bring your account up to date or by applying for repayment deferral.

You risk compulsory collection of your loan by the Norwegian National Collection Agency, e.g. by making deductions in your wages.

You cannot receive further loans and grants from Lånekassen once your loan has been transferred to the Norwegian National Collection Agency, but you can apply for payment deferral and other payment relief schemes if you are entitled to such.

Are you experiencing problems with direct debits or e-invoices?

There may be various reasons why bills are not paid by online banking:

you have not set a maximum amount for your direct debit
you have changed bank and pay by direct debit
you do not have enough money in your account on the date the bill is due to be paid

Read more about direct debits and e-invoices

Low income and illness, AAP, unemployed

or other special circumstances may entitle you to the deletion of interest.

Disabled

If you receive disability benefit, you may be entitled to have your debt deleted.

Students

If you are a student while you are paying off your loan, you may be entitled to the deletion of interest.

Norwegian National Collection Agency

What does it means when your loan has been terminated and transferred to the Norwegian National Collection Agency (SI)?

Relevant rules