SMALL CLAIMS COURT:
Making a court claim for money was also called ‘taking someone to a small claims court’.
Does a person or a business owe you money? If so, you can apply to a county court to claim back money owed to you.
But, there will be a court fee to pay when you take someone to small claims court.
Check the other sections for a full list of the current court fees and to find out what happens after you make a court claim.
In most cases, using a civil mediation service will be quicker and less expensive. They use an impartial person ‘a mediator’ to help both parties find a solution or reach an agreement.
Note: The process to make an online court claim for money is different in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.
County Court Claim Online
You can make money claims online if the amount you are claiming is ‘specified’ – meaning a fixed amount. But, remember there will be a court fee to pay when you make the claim.
What happens if you are claiming an ‘unspecified’ amount of money? In this case you need to download small claims Form N1 from HMRC form finder. The same claim form applies if you prefer to use the paper version even for a claim of a fixed amount.
Fill in the paper for making a county court claim ‘Form N1’ and then send it to the County Court Money Claims Centre address.
County Court Money Claims Centre
PO Box 527
Salford
Greater Manchester
M5 0BY
The Next Step
The person or the business you are claiming from is the ‘defendant‘. What happens next depends on whether the defendant accepts your claim or not.
They might agree to your claim and pay up. But, if they deny or dispute the debt you may need to attend a court hearing. You can then ask the court to make an order for them to pay if:
- The defendant fails to respond to the claim.
- The defendant admits they owe the money but fails to settle the debt.
Note: What if they still refuse to pay up? The next step is asking the court to take further steps to recoup the money. In most cases they will use the legal power of bailiffs to collect a debt.
Get Help to Make an Online Court Claim
If you make a court claim online you can contact the Money Claim Online helpdesk for assistance.
Money Claim Online Helpdesk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0300 123 1057
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5pm
Check call charges to 0300 numbers.
If you make a court claim using a paper form you can contact the County Court Money Claims Centre for help.
County Court Money Claims Centre
Telephone: 0300 123 1372
Welsh language: 0300 303 5174
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
ALSO IN THIS SECTION
After Making a Court Claim
Information in the section explains the process to follow after you make a court claim. It also covers the procedure at a hearing – if there needs to be one.
Court Fees
There are charges for making a court claim for money. Even though the court fees and interest amounts vary you must pay it at the time you make the claim.
Enforcing a Judgment
A defendant’s refusal to pay a court order is the foremost reason for enforcing judgment. The help guide explains how to enforce a judgment to a person or a business that owes you money.
Making Money Claims Online
Money Claim Online is a secure Internet based service for claimants and defendants. MCOL is a convenient way to make a money claim online or respond to one via the Internet.