The Living Dead: A Disturbing Glitch in Sweden's Bureaucracy
In a chilling twist of fate, Jonathan Ravelin faced the unthinkable: he was declared dead by the Swedish Tax Agency due to a fraudulent form submission bearing a fake doctor's signature. Initially, he thought his BankID application on his phone was malfunctioning, but soon discovered it was a bureaucratic nightmare that left him unable to access his finances or even buy groceries for his family.
"When I tried to log into my bank, it said I was dead," Ravelin recounted to the TT newswire. His ordeal lasted for weeks, with official paperwork taking a staggering six weeks to correct his status after the Tax Agency acknowledged their mistake. During this time, Ravelin and his partner had to rely on loans just to put food on the table for their children.
Adding insult to injury, his partner began receiving letters declaring her the sole guardian of their children, who stood to inherit from Ravelin. His predicament arose from a serious lack of vetting by the Tax Agency, as Ravelin explained, "It’s someone who doesn’t wish you well. It’s not particularly fun."
Fueled by frustration, Ravelin has filed a lawsuit against the Swedish state, seeking 20,000 kronor [$1,850] in damages. With the legal support of attorney Elsa Haggård from the Centre for Justice, Ravelin argues that the Tax Agency should have conducted more thorough checks before declaring someone deceased.
"I hope they realize that something needs to change," Ravelin told SVT. He pointed out that once an individual is declared dead, there’s no automatic follow-up to reassure other authorities of their living status; instead, it's up to the person to initiate the process of proving their existence.
The lawsuit, filed in Stockholm District Court, could have broader implications. Haggård characterized the situation as unacceptable, highlighting that the Tax Agency must implement stricter procedures when handling sensitive personal information. This incident is not isolated; Ravelin's case represents a disturbing trend—27 individuals were incorrectly registered as dead by the Tax Agency this year alone, a stark increase from 16 the previous year. While some cases stem from human error, others result from deceitful submissions of falsified documents.
In Olofström, Blekinge, where Ravelin resides, the issue of the 'living dead' has reached alarming proportions. Between 2020 and 2023, four local residents were falsely declared dead, all have been linked to fraudulent forms filed with the Tax Agency. One victim from 2020, who luckily managed to save his insulin, described his harrowing experience of being unable to collect critical diabetes medication, emphasizing the trauma it inflicted.
The ripple effects of such bureaucratic mishaps are vast, impacting not just finances but also health and well-being. Jonathan Ravelin's case raises significant questions about the integrity of the systems that govern vital personal data. As he continues to fight for justice, there's hope that legislative changes will be enacted to prevent such bureaucratic errors from recurring in the future, protecting the living from being unjustly declared dead.
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