This is how you apply for KO support

Ansöka om KO-biträde - Engelska

The Consumer Ombudsman, KO, can sometimes help consumers to solve a dispute with a company. KO then represents the consumer in court or in relation to the Enforcement Authority. This help is called KO support and is regulated by a specific law.

Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.

Even though KO support is regulated by law, only a small number of applications are approved.

KO may only decide to assist an individual consumer under certain conditions:

  • The dispute is considered important for how the law is applied within a particular area.

  • The dispute affects a large number of consumers.

When KO assists an individual consumer in a dispute, the state covers the consumer’s legal costs. KO determines whether a dispute is suitable for KO support after an application from the consumer.

You can submit your application by email or regular mail.

Checklist for applying for KO support

  • The applicant’s name, address, telephone number, and email.

  • The trader’s name, address, and telephone number.

  • A detailed description of the dispute, including its background and the positions of both the consumer and the trader.

  • Information about any evidence and previous correspondence between the parties.

  • Information on whether the dispute has been reviewed by the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN) or a district court (in that case, include the case or reference number).

  • Copies of documents that may be relevant to KO’s assessment.

Send your application by post

Send your application to us and write “Application for KO support” as the heading:

Consumer Ombudsman
Box 48
651 02 Karlstad
Sweden

Submit your application by email

Send your application to konsumentverket@konsumentverket.se and write “Application for KO support” as the subject line.

Your application becomes a public document

The Swedish Consumer Agency is a government authority. All documents submitted to the Agency/KO are public records and may be requested and read by the public.

KO’s decisions cannot be appealed

A decision that KO will not participate in a dispute cannot be appealed.

A decision by KO not to assist a consumer does not mean that the consumer is wrong in the dispute itself. It simply means that KO will not represent the consumer in the matter, and the consumer must seek other representation, for example a lawyer.

Processing of personal data

If you provide your name, address, email address, or telephone number when submitting a complaint, we store the information in order to respond to your case. Please do not provide more personal information than necessary.

The Swedish Consumer Agency’s processing of personal data
(in Swedish)

Proofread: 4 June 2026