A Norwegian consumer was offered a trial package of dietary supplements, and there was no binding period. However, when the customer terminated the agreement, he received a debt collection notice for almost 2,000 kroner. It proves the importance of reporting scams in Norway.
Scams pose a serious threat to personal security and financial health, not just for individuals but for the economy as-a-whole. Therefore, it is important to report scams of any kind.
Forbruker Europa has received several inquiries about the health food company Norwegian Lab, where consumers say they feel they have been tricked into a subscription trap.
On Trust Pilot, a customer in Sweden wrote:
Fraudulent Norwegian lab company
“I subscribed to their product in February, but after receiving it, I found it subpar and promptly canceled in March. Despite this, they sent me another box in June with a 50% discount. To avoid the hassle of back-and-forth emails, I reluctantly paid the reduced price.
Fast forward to November, and I was shocked to receive yet another box, this time with a staggering SEK 1996 invoice. I immediately disputed it, as I had never resubscribed. The company ignored my emails completely. When I escalated the dispute to their invoice provider, Riverty, they outright lied, claiming I had resubscribed.
Their claim is blatantly false. If I had truly resubscribed, why would they give me a repeated discount, which is only offered for first orders? It’s obvious they are making things up to extort money. The customer service is atrocious—arrogant, unresponsive, and shamelessly trying to milk their customers.”
Date of experience: December 06, 2024
Forbruker Europa has been in contact with several people who experience that they are offered a trial package of dietary supplements, and there is no binding period after this.
They also say that money claims are quickly sent as debt collection notices. Many people are stressed and worried by this.
“You should not pay, and do not be intimidated by the debt collection claim,” says Linn Hogner Jahr in Forbruker Europa.
She says that if you have not been informed that it is a subscription agreement, you are not bound by this.
“If you have received such a claim, you should send the company an email and write that you disagree with the demand and why. Feel free to attach a picture of the advertisement,” she says.
If you have already paid such a demand and are unsure whether it was correct, you can contact Forbruker Europa for help.
Non-serious telemarketers
The telemarketer who contacted the Norwegian customer, mentioned at the beginning of this article, started the conversation by saying that the customer was in the latest draw for a gift card from his preferred grocery chain. Was it Rema 1000, Norgesgruppen or Coop? A forgivable, but off-putting introduction. Probably, Norwegian Lab does not have an agreement with any of these chains, but we have not investigated this.
The customer has, however, later received several telephone calls from sellers from the same company, communicating the very same message.
The customer has sent several complaints to the company as well as to their accountants (Riverty) and debt collector (Gouda). He has even involved his own insurance company. It should have been a straightforward case, but dispute has continued for weeks. The order was placed on December 2024 and terminated on January 2025.
As we’re publishing this story, the case has not yet been solved. The claim has not been settled either.
If you have been unfortunate to order a sample package from Norwegian Lab, don’t be scared off by the debt collection claim if you have canceled further deliveries. Avoid so-called welcome offers from Norwegian Lab. How can you believe in the nutrition value in products from a company with such a sales philosophy?
It is, however, important to report a case. Save all emails, text messages, social media messages, and any notes from phone conversations related to the scam. Document who you communicated with, the date/time of communications, and what was discussed. Keep records of any related financial transactions, including bank statements, receipts, credit card statements, and proof of payments. If applicable, document the account numbers, transaction IDs, and the amount transferred.
If the scam involved a website, take screenshots of the site, noting the URL and any company contact information listed. Record the dates and times when you accessed the site.
The Importance of Reporting Scams in Norway, reported by Tor Kjolberg