Customers may not have to pay Klarna? Court ruling waives collection fees - complete guide

It sounds almost too good to be true: customers may not have to pay Klarna. Yet that's exactly what a recent court ruling means in practice for thousands of people in the Netherlands who once faced collection fees from the Swedish payment service. The District Court of Central Netherlands ruled that Klarna was not transparent about its business model and, in effect, provided consumer credit without complying with legal rules.

Why customers don't have to pay Klarna according to the court

The crux of the case lies in how Klarna makes money from buy now, pay later. As long as a payment service remains free, there's no issue. But as soon as fees are charged – such as collection costs – the European court considers that to be paid credit. And then strict rules apply: a mandatory creditworthiness check, clear information about costs, and the warning 'borrowing money costs money'.

Klarna did not comply with this. The court found that the company could not prove that the collection fees were only cost-covering and were not part of its profit model. Because consumer protection under the law applies to a consumer credit agreement, the court ruled that the customer did not have to pay the claimed interest and collection fees.

These costs you can claim back (and these you cannot)

Let's be clear: you still have to pay the original purchase amount. That's beyond question. But all the extra fees Klarna charged because you were late? In many cases, you can ignore them or claim them back. Here's what you need to know:

• Collection fees – Klarna can no longer charge these as long as the company doesn't comply with credit rules. Already paid them? Then you can ask for a refund.
• Interest – Interest on overdue payments also falls under the same ruling. Do not pay.
• Reminder fees – The first reminder is free, but after that Klarna often adds charges. These have also become legally shaky.
• The original amount – This remains owed. The ruling only applies to penalties and extra costs.

An important note: the ruling officially applies only to the Central Netherlands region. Other courts may decide differently. Nevertheless, this ruling carries authority, and it is expected that other judges will take it into account.

How to use this ruling in your situation

Have you left a Klarna review about excessive fees? Or are you facing a payment arrears yourself? This is your customers may not have to pay Klarna guide for practical use:

Step 1 is to check whether your situation falls under the ruling. It concerns cases where Klarna charged collection fees or interest on buy now, pay later transactions. Step 2: refuse to pay these fees. You can tell Klarna that you are referring to the ruling of the District Court of Central Netherlands. Step 3: have you already paid? Then file a formal complaint with Klarna to get the money back. Debt counsellors advise assessing per case whether disputing is worthwhile – with high fees or a 100% arrangement, it's quickly worth the effort.

Meanwhile, Klarna is trying to defend itself. The company argues that it does not earn money from collection fees and that these costs actually lose the company money. The figures speak for themselves: Klarna says that for every €100 in late payment fees, it spends about €126 on collections and credit losses. But the court was not convinced, and the financial complaints institute also ruled that Klarna seriously violated the rules.

What does this mean for new purchases with Klarna?

Klarna has since obtained a licence for debt collection activities in the Netherlands. That sounds like the company is now playing by the rules. Yet the story is not over. The key question – whether buy now, pay later should be seen as credit – remains unresolved.

From November 2026, stricter European rules for Buy Now, Pay Later services will come into force. Credit checks and age verification will then become mandatory. Until then, we are in a grey area. A consumer watchdog, for example, warns about the new Klarna debit card, which also allows you to pay later in physical shops. They consider this undesirable because it lowers the barrier to debt even further.

One thing is clear: the days when Klarna could charge high collection fees with impunity are over. This ruling gives consumers a powerful tool. And anyone wanting to know how to use customers may not have to pay Klarna in practice? The answer is simple: refuse the extra costs, refer to the ruling, and only pay what you owe for the purchase itself.

Keep in mind, however, that Klarna can report payment arrears to credit bureaus. For now, this has no effect on your credit rating, but it's something to watch. My advice: pay on time if you can, but don't be intimidated by unfair charges.