The Varsinais-Suomi welfare region in Finland has paused all payment reminder letters. The decision comes after widespread criticism of its billing practices.
Many residents received unexpected collection notices for services they don't recall being billed for originally. Some bills have been substantial, including one Turku resident charged a large sum for his mother's care home services.
The payment reminders began in summer 2025 and have raised concerns about their validity. The welfare region has sent reminders to approximately 40,000 customers with overdue invoices from 2023 through 2025.
Chief Financial Officer Ville Rajahalme said the volume of reminders is exceptionally high. "We've received considerable customer feedback," he stated. "We want absolute certainty that bills were correctly issued during the technically challenging early years of the welfare region's operation."
The region will reimburse customers who received incorrect bills as quickly as possible. Customers who already got payment reminders should follow the instructions in their letters.
About 148,000 unpaid invoices remain outstanding with a total value of €14.3 million. The reminders combine all overdue bills from 2023 onward, which can create large single payments that surprise customers.
Rajahalme acknowledged the financial strain this causes. "We understand that paying long-overdue bills can create financial problems," he said. "We recommend contacting us about payment arrangements."
Customers can get up to 12 months to pay. Exceptionally large amounts may qualify for 36-month payment plans.
The billing issues highlight ongoing challenges in Finland's recently reformed social and healthcare system. Regional welfare authorities took over these services from municipalities in a major reorganization that has faced technical and administrative difficulties.