Lien

A lien is a legal right held by a creditor to demand repayment of a debt and to claim property from the debtor if the debt cannot be settled.

Liens serve as guarantees to lenders and investors, insuring that all or part of the capital lent out will be repaid.

In Switzerland, borrowers are given the opportunity to settle unpaid debts which once these have been entered into a debt collection register.

Swiss law gives lenders a legal lien to claim assets held by delinquent borrowers who fail to settle debt - or to have debt repayments deducted directly from the borrower's salary.

More on this topic:
Personal loan comparison