Applying for and granting of payment time

Watch the video on how to apply for a payment time here.

You can only apply for payment time after you have received a notice or a demand for payment from Legal Register Centre or when you see the matter in the e-service.

How to apply for a payment time:

1. You can only apply for payment time after you have received a notice or a demand for payment from Legal Register Centre or when you see the matter in the e-service .
2. After you have received a notice or demand, the easiest way to apply for a payment time is via our e-service .
3. Submit the payment time application and carefully fill in all parts of the application. An incomplete application may be grounds for a rejection.
4. We process payment time applications as quickly as possible in the order they arrive. The processing time for applications is usually two to four weeks. We will process each application on a case-by-case basis.
5. We will send the payment time decision and bank transfer forms to you primarily via the suomi.fi messaging service if you have activated it. Otherwise, we will send them by mail.

You can also use an electronic form or informal written application.

Apply using an electronic form:

• Application for payment time [pdf, 1.7 MB]
  

• Application for payment time for a conversion sentence matter [pdf, 1.7 MB]
  

You can also use an informal written application.

Include in your application:

• the matter for which you are applying for payment time
• grounds for your request to have more time to pay
• an explanation of your ability to pay and your proposal for a payment plan
• your contact details and signature

The Act on the Execution of a Fine has been altered so that starting from 1.1.2019 Legal Register Centre can grant payment time also for a converted sentence matter. Include in your application:

• the matter for which you are applying for payment time
• specified information of the conversion sentence matter (reference number or the date of the ruling and the court)
• grounds for your request to have more time to pay
• an explanation of your ability to pay and your proposal for a payment plan
• account number for the refunding of possible instalments
• your contact details and signature

Partial payments made to a conversion sentence matter will be refunded to the payer if Legal Register Centre does not grant payment time or if the payment plan is not followed. Partial payments made without a payment plan will be refunded to the payer.

If necessary, Legal Register Centre may ask you or the enforcement officer for further information. You do not have to enclose your income, tax or medical certificates.

Send the application to:

Legal Register Centre Requests for payment time P.O. Box 157, 13101 Hämeenlinna

Grounds for granting payment time

When a debtor, due to illness, unemployment, military service or some equivalent reason, is unable to make a payment by the given date, he or she can be granted payment time for the whole amount or part of it for a year at the most. For very weighty reasons, time for payment can be granted for a longer time. For a conversion sentence matter, up to six months payment time can be granted.

Time for payment of damages which two or more parties are jointly liable to pay can only be granted for the total amount, not a per person share. If only one party is applying for payment time, he or she will be liable for the whole amount of debt.

Payment plan

You can be granted payment time for no more than a year without part payments. You can be granted more than a year’s payment time if you make your part payments according to the payment plan included in the payment time decision. Otherwise the agreement becomes void and we will move your case to enforced collection.

For a payment plan of a conversion sentence matter you can propose one payment with 1-3 months payment time. Monthly payments are a precondition for a longer payment time of 4-6 months.

Rejection of an application

Time for payment is not granted if there is reason to assume that the debtor, despite being granted payment time, will not fulfil his or her obligation to pay in full. Besides, the debtor’s previous activity in attending to his or her matters of collection may be taken into account.

Decision on payment time

A decision on payment time is made in writing in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The matter will be settled as soon as possible, considering the urgency of the matter. You cannot be granted payment time as a matter of course. Each application is considered separately. The decision on payment time will be sent to you by regular mail.