Budget and debt help in Vaud
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Free budget and debt advice in Vaud, what to do when you receive a payment order (commandement de payer), and early warning signs.
Key facts
- First call: "Parlons Cash", the free cantonal debt-prevention line: 0840 43 21 00, free and anonymous. Monday and Wednesday 8:30 to 17:00, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 to 13:00 (not on public holidays).
- Specialists come from Caritas Vaud, CSP Vaud (Centre social protestant) and, for Lausanne residents, UnAFin. They can refer you to longer free support.
- Payment order: if you dispute the debt, you have 10 days from the day it is handed to you to file an objection (opposition). If you accept it, you have 20 days to pay.
- Debt-register extract for yourself: CHF 18, online or by post, from the debt enforcement office of your home district.
- Do not ignore letters. Asking early is the best protection.
1. Free official budget and debt counselling
Parlons Cash (Canton of Vaud programme). Run since 2007 as the canton's programme to prevent over-indebtedness and financed by the canton. The phone line gives practical advice on your budget and debts and, if needed, refers you on. Offers listed by the programme:
| Service | What | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Parlons Cash line | Free, anonymous advice by phone | 0840 43 21 00 |
| Caritas Vaud "Tout compte fait" | Free weekly coaching for several months: papers, bills, stable budget | +41 79 342 23 99 |
| FRC budget advice | One individual 2 to 3 hour budget meeting | listed on parlons-cash.ch |
| Caritas Vaud courses | Free courses on budget, avoiding debts and poursuites, taxes, health insurance | +41 21 622 06 39 |
CSP Vaud "Questions d'argent". CSP asks you to call Parlons Cash first. If you are referred to CSP, its social workers offer budget advice and debt support (assessment, solutions, negotiation, follow-up) by appointment in Lausanne, Payerne and Yverdon-les-Bains.
Also useful:
- Grants, loans and emergency student funds: Student financial aid.
- Free legal advice on money and debt questions: Free legal advice for students.
- Cheaper health insurance: LAMal premium reduction in Vaud.
2. Debt enforcement (poursuites) basics
Vaud has 10 debt enforcement offices, one per district.
Payment order (commandement de payer). Issued by the office on the creditor's request. The office does not check whether the claim is justified. It is handed to you by a postal worker or police officer.
- You dispute the debt: file an objection within 10 days of receiving the order. Either tell the person delivering it (they note it on the document), or write to the office that issued it, saying clearly which poursuite you object to. The postmark counts for the deadline. You do not have to give reasons.
- Effect: the objection suspends the procedure. The creditor must then get the objection lifted.
- You accept the debt: pay the total within 20 days. Otherwise the creditor can continue (seizure of wages or assets).
- Collection agencies: Parlons Cash explains that some fees they add are not owed, and advises not to sign a payment arrangement with them. You can file a total or partial objection on the back of the payment order.
After paying: a poursuite paid at the office still appears on extracts for 5 years, marked as paid. Only a cancellation letter from the creditor removes it.
Debt-register extract (extrait du registre des poursuites). You can order your own at any time with ID, online or by post, from the office of your home district. Price: CHF 17 at the counter, CHF 18 sent by post or e-mail, CHF 22 by registered mail (OELP art. 12a). Ordered before 14:00, it is sent the same day. Third parties can see a poursuite for five years after the procedure ends. For a poursuite you objected to, you can ask the office not to disclose it to third parties once three months have passed since the order was served; the creditor then has 20 days to prove it has started proceedings to lift your objection (LP art. 8a).
Fines that are not paid can also end in debt enforcement: see Fines and tickets in Vaud.
3. Warning signs
- Unpaid LAMal premiums. Insurers must start debt enforcement for unpaid premiums and co-payments. The canton's health insurance office (OVAM) has a page on these disputes. Since 1 January 2024, parents alone owe the premiums and cost-sharing of a child until the end of the month the child turns 18; any poursuite against you for them, even after 18, is void (LAMal art. 61a and 64). If you struggle to pay, apply for a premium reduction early.
- Bills piling up or reminders from unknown companies (often collection agencies): call Parlons Cash.
- Leasing and consumer credit: under the federal Consumer Credit Act you can withdraw in writing within 14 days, and lenders and leasing companies must check that you can repay without touching the part of your income protected from seizure (LCC art. 16, 28, 29). Official Vaud guidance specific to leasing and consumer credit for young people: To verify. Ask Parlons Cash before signing.
- Paying bills on time: see Swiss QR-bill and eBill.