Payment order

In Swiss debt enforcement, the payment order is the official document by which the debt enforcement office notifies the debtor that a creditor has initiated proceedings. It states the claimed amount, the creditor and the asserted basis of the claim. The debtor may pay, ignore it at their risk, or file an objection within the prescribed short period. The office does not examine the merits at this stage. If no objection is made, the creditor may continue enforcement through seizure, bankruptcy or pledge realisation, depending on the case.