Betreibung

Also called: debt collection

A Betreibung (debt collection) is the Swiss procedure for enforcing payment of a debt (SchKG, Art. 38). When a creditor files a request, the debt collection office issues a Zahlungsbefehl (payment order) to the debtor (SchKG, Art. 69). The name is then entered in the debt collection register (ch.ch).

The debtor can object within 10 days of receiving it, with a Rechtsvorschlag (objection), and needs to give no reason (SchKG, Art. 74 and 75). Without an objection, the creditor can ask for the Betreibung to continue (SchKG, Art. 88).

What it means for your loan

A lender may ask for your debt collection extract before it lends (KKG, Art. 31). If you receive a payment order, don’t let the 10 days pass without deciding. The guide on debt help explains each step.

Explained in full

  • Debt help in Switzerland

    Every canton has debt advice offices, and the hotline 0800 708 708 is free. What to do first, how debt collection works, and the ways out of debt.

More on this

Sources

  1. Federal Act on Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy (DEBA), SR 281.1, as in force on 1 January 2026, Art. 69, 74, 75, 93, 149, 191 and 333 to 335Swiss Confederation, Fedlex, read on
  2. Debt enforcement: summons for payment, objection, distraintch.ch, a service of the Confederation, cantons and communes, read on
  3. Bundesgesetz über den Konsumkredit (KKG), SR 221.214.1, as in force on 1 September 2023, Art. 18, 22, 24, 25, 28 and 32Swiss Confederation, Fedlex, read on

All terms in the glossary

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