# Complaining as a consumer in Norway: the right channel, the right deadline

Seller said no? Here is how to complain as a consumer in Norway: the right complaint board for each issue, what it costs in 2026, and the deadlines you must keep.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/klage-som-forbruker-klagenemnder-norge
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-07-21T23:14:41.601+00:00
Modified: 2026-11-04T12:51:15.088157+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Complain to the company first If you skip a written complaint to the company, the case will be rejected by the complaint board (Consumer Complaints Act §§ 9 and 14).
- Fee since 1 July 2024 Mediation with Forbrukertilsynet costs 269 kr and Forbrukerklageutvalget 1 345 kr in 2026, but the sector boards are still free.
- FKU decision becomes a binding court ruling A decision from Forbrukerklageutvalget becomes a binding court ruling if no one goes to court within one month, and there is no lower amount limit.

To complain as a consumer in Norway, the main rule is simple: complain in writing to the company first, then go to the right complaint board. Some doors are free, others cost a small fee. Here you see which door applies, what it costs, and which deadline you must keep.

## Complaining as a consumer: complain to the company first

The first step is always a written complaint to the company itself. If you skip this, the case will be rejected by the complaint board (Consumer Complaints Act §§ 9 and 14). At the same time, check [what rights you have (reklamasjon and angrerett)](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/forbrukerrettigheter-angrerett-reklamasjon) before you send the claim.

The complaint system has three steps, and they are taken in order:

- **1. Complain to the company.** Send an email or letter with a clear demand — repair, price reduction, cancellation, or compensation — and a response deadline. Forbrukerrådet provides free guidance and has ready-made complaint letter templates; they recommend a deadline of around 14 days.
- **2. Mediation or the right complaint board.** If you get no, you send the case further to mediation with Forbrukertilsynet or to the complaint board that covers your issue.
- **3. forliksrådet or court.** If the board does not resolve the matter, the case can go further to forliksrådet or the court.

Complaining as a consumer is designed so you can do it yourself, without a lawyer.

## What does it cost to complain?

It depends on which door you use. The sector boards are free, while the general goods and craftsman services route costs a small fee.

Since **1 July 2024**, Forbrukertilsynet and Forbrukerklageutvalget (FKU) charge a case handling fee. In 2026, **mediation with Forbrukertilsynet costs 269 kroner** (0.2 R) and **Forbrukerklageutvalget costs 1 345 kroner** (1 R, that is one court fee). You must have tried mediation first; the case cannot go straight to Forbrukerklageutvalget (Consumer Complaints Act § 13). You pay the fee **even if the case is rejected or you lose** — it is not refunded. If you win at FKU, you can demand the fee back from the other party.

Many guides still write "free mediation". That is not correct after 1 July 2024.

By comparison, [forliksrådet costs 2 071 kroner](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/forliksradet-og-smakrav-norge) (1.54 R) in 2026. If there is a free sector board for your issue, it is almost always the cheapest route.

## Which complaint board applies to your issue?

There is a separate complaint board for most industries, and almost all of them are free for you. The table shows the right door for each issue (figures apply to 2026):

| Type of issue | Right complaint body | Does it cost? | Binding for the company? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Goods and craftsman services | Mediation with Forbrukertilsynet, then Forbrukerklageutvalget | 269 kr / 1 345 kr | FKU decision becomes a binding court ruling |
| Bank, insurance and debt collection | Finansklagenemnda | Free | Advisory, followed in over 95% of cases |
| Electricity and network charges | Elklagenemnda | Free | Advisory |
| Mobile, internet and TV | Brukerklagenemnda | Free | Advisory |
| Package holiday | Pakkereisenemnda | Free | Advisory |
| Flight, train and bus | Transportklagenemnda | Free | Advisory |
| Private parking | Parkeringsklagenemnda | Free | Binding court ruling after 4 weeks |
| Purchase from another EEA country | Forbruker Europa | Free | Mediation, voluntary |

Brukerklagenemnda stands here for Brukerklagenemnda for Electronic Communications. For disputes with a landlord there is Husleietvistutvalget, and for the purchase of a new home there is Boligtvistnemnda — separate bodies with the same logic. All boards require that you have complained to the company first.

If you are affected by fraud and want [money back from the bank](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/svindel-penger-tilbake-banken-norge), Finansklagenemnda is the right door. If the case is about [delayed or cancelled flight](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/flypassasjerrettigheter-forsinket-fly-norge), it goes to Transportklagenemnda. Note that Transportklagenemnda covers flights, trains and buses — but **not taxis**. On SamfunnPrep we collect such overviews of rights in everyday life.

## Is the decision binding?

Two bodies give decisions that become a binding court ruling: Forbrukerklageutvalget and Parkeringsklagenemnda. The other boards give advisory opinions.

A decision from **Forbrukerklageutvalget** becomes a **binding court ruling** if no one brings the case to court within **one month** (Consumer Complaints Act §§ 17 and 22). Then the claim can be enforced through the bailiff's office, like a normal ruling. A decision from **Parkeringsklagenemnda** becomes binding in the same way after **four weeks**.

There is **no lower amount limit** at Forbrukerklageutvalget. The government proposed a limit of 5 000 kroner in 2023, but dropped it — even small cases are taken.

The other boards, such as Finansklagenemnda, Elklagenemnda and Transportklagenemnda, give **advisory** opinions. Companies follow them anyway almost always — Finansklagenemnda reports over 95 percent.

## How long does it take?

Count on several months. Mediation with Forbrukertilsynet often takes several months, while Forbrukerklageutvalget uses around 11–13 months. Parkeringsklagenemnda normally uses about four months.

The deadlines in your case run meanwhile. The reklamasjon deadline is **two years** generally and **five years** for goods that are supposed to last significantly longer. Therefore send the reklamasjon to the seller in time, even if the board case drags out.

## Did you buy from an online shop abroad?

If you bought from a seller in another EU/EEA country, you complain to **Forbruker Europa** (ECC Norway). It is free.

Forbruker Europa provides advice and tries to mediate in cross-border cases. They handle the complaint in Norwegian, and a case normally takes up to **90 days**. Mediation is voluntary for both parties, but Forbruker Europa helps you find the right body if the seller does not want to cooperate.

The EU's old ODR platform is **shut down** — it closed on 20 July 2025. Older Norwegian articles still link to it. Do not use it; use Forbruker Europa.

## Complaint about public decisions is a different route

Complaint about a **public** decision — from NAV, UDI or the municipality — follows a different route. It goes under the Public Administration Act, not through these consumer boards.

Many of these rules are part of the civic knowledge on the civic knowledge test. On SamfunnPrep you can practice for free, and [the tools on SamfunnPrep](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) help you navigate your rights in Norway.

## FAQ

### What do I do when the seller says no?

Send a written complaint to the company with a clear demand and a response deadline. If you still get no, you send the case further to mediation with Forbrukertilsynet or to the right complaint board. You must have complained to the company first, otherwise the case is rejected.

### Does it cost anything to complain?

Getting advice from Forbrukerrådet is free, and sector boards such as Finansklagenemnda, Elklagenemnda, Brukerklagenemnda, Parkeringsklagenemnda and Transportklagenemnda are free. Mediation with Forbrukertilsynet costs 269 kroner and Forbrukerklageutvalget 1 345 kroner in 2026. forliksrådet costs 2 071 kroner by comparison.

### Do I need a lawyer to complain?

No. Both the mediation and the boards are designed for you to manage yourself, without a lawyer.

### Is the decision from the complaint board binding?

Forbrukerklageutvalget and Parkeringsklagenemnda give decisions that become a binding court ruling if no one goes to court within the deadline of one month and four weeks respectively. Finansklagenemnda, Transportklagenemnda and Elklagenemnda give advisory opinions, but companies follow them almost always (Finansklagenemnda over 95 percent).

### I bought something from an online shop in another EEA country — where do I complain?

To Forbruker Europa (ECC Norway), which is free. The EU's old ODR platform was shut down on 20 July 2025 — do not use it.

## Sources

- [Betalingsvilkår (saksbehandlingsgebyr for mekling og Forbrukerklageutvalget)](https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/betaling)
- [Fra 1. juli 2024 koster det penger å få saker behandlet hos Forbrukertilsynet og Forbrukerklageutvalget](https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/fra-1-juli-vil-det-koste-penger-a-fa-saker-behandlet-hos-forbrukertilsynet-og-forbrukerklagerutvalget)
- [Behandling i Forbrukerklageutvalget](https://www.forbrukertilsynet.no/forbrukerklageutvalget/behandling-forbrukerklageutvalget)
- [Lov om behandling av forbrukerklager (forbrukerklageloven), LOV-2020-06-23-98 (§§ 9, 13, 14, 17, 22)](https://lovdata.no/lov/2020-06-23-98)
- [Rettsgebyr og kostnader (rettsgebyr 2026 = 1 345 kr; forliksrådet 1,54 R = 2 071 kr)](https://www.domstol.no/no/rettsgebyr-og-kostnader/)
- [Finansklagenemnda – forside (bank, forsikring, inkasso; gratis)](https://www.finkn.no/)
- [Elklagenemnda – vanlige spørsmål (gratis; klag til selskapet først)](https://www.elklagenemnda.no/vanlige-sporsmal)
- [Brukerklagenemnda for elektronisk kommunikasjon (BKN)](https://nkom.no/ekom-markedet/tvister-og-klager/brukerklagenemnda-for-elektronisk-kommunikasjon)
- [Parkeringsklagenemnda – info til klager (gratis; vedtak = rettskraftig dom etter 4 uker)](https://pklagenemnda.no/info-til-klager)
- [Her klager du / klageguide](https://www.forbrukerradet.no/her-klager-du/)
- [Slik jobber Forbruker Europa (grensekryssende EU/EØS-klager, gratis)](https://www.forbrukereuropa.no/info/slik-jobber-vi/)
- [Consumer Redress in the EU – site relocation (ODR-plattformen lagt ned 20.07.2025)](https://consumer-redress.ec.europa.eu/site-relocation_en)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Complaining as a consumer in Norway: the right channel, the right deadline", SamfunnPrep, 2026-07-21T23:14:41.601+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/klage-som-forbruker-klagenemnder-norge