Glossary
Debt enforcement (Betreibung / poursuite)
Poursuite (FR) · Betreibung (DE) · Esecuzione (IT)
Updated on 28 July 2026
Definition
A debt enforcement proceeding is the official Swiss procedure by which a creditor claims payment of a money debt with the help of the State. It is recorded in the debt enforcement register and disclosed to third parties for 5 years after the proceeding closes.
Debt enforcement is an administrative procedure, not a judgment: anyone can start one against anyone, without proving the debt exists. This causes constant misunderstanding — an entry in your name does not mean a court ruled against you, nor even that you actually owe the money.
The procedure starts with a request filed by the creditor, followed by service of a payment order. From then on everything depends on your reaction: file an objection within 10 days and the proceeding stops, leaving the creditor to go to court. Stay silent and they can request attachment of your assets or wages.
The longest-lasting effect lies elsewhere: the register entry. Letting agencies and employers routinely ask for an extract, and a visible entry is often enough to have a rental application set aside — even when the debt was paid long ago.
Key points
- Starting a proceeding requires no proof that the debt exists.
- The entry stays disclosed for 5 years after closure (art. 8a para. 4).
- Paying ends the proceeding but does not erase the entry.
Legal basis : Federal Act on Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy (DEBA/SchKG, SR 281.1)