How much does it cost to go to small claims court?

The court fee depends on the amount you're claiming. For claims up to £300, the fee is £35. For £300.01–£500, it's £50. For £500.01–£1,000, it's £70. For £1,000.01–£1,500, it's £80. For £1,500.01–£3,000, it's £115. For £3,000.01–£5,000, it's £205. For £5,000.01–£10,000, it's £455. If you win, the court fee is added to your award and paid by the defendant.

What is the small claims limit?

The small claims track in England and Wales handles claims up to £10,000. Claims between £10,000 and £25,000 go to the 'fast track' which has different rules and higher costs. Personal injury claims over £1,000 and housing disrepair claims over £1,000 are not allocated to the small claims track even if under £10,000. In Scotland, the Simple Procedure handles claims up to £5,000. In Northern Ireland, the small claims limit is £3,000.

Can I claim without a solicitor?

Yes — the small claims track is specifically designed for people to represent themselves without a solicitor. The process is deliberately informal and straightforward. Even if you hire a solicitor, you generally cannot recover their costs from the other side in small claims (unlike higher court tracks). The judge will explain the process and ask questions to help both sides present their case.

How long does small claims court take?

From filing to judgment, the process typically takes 2–6 months. After you file, the defendant has 14 days to respond. If they admit the claim, you can get judgment quickly. If they defend it, the court will set a hearing date — usually 4–8 weeks later. Many claims settle before the hearing once the defendant realises you're serious. A hearing itself typically lasts 1–3 hours.

Money & Budgeting

Small Claims Court UK — Step-by-Step Guide to Money Claim Online

How to take someone to small claims court in England and Wales using Money Claim Online — costs, process, time limits, and what to expect at a hearing.

By PocketWise · 25 March 2026 · 5 min read

If someone owes you money and won’t pay, you can take them to small claims court. The process is designed for individuals — you don’t need a solicitor. Here’s exactly how it works.

When to Use Small Claims Court

Situation	Suitable for small claims?
Faulty goods (shop won’t refund)	Yes
Bad service (tradesperson did poor work)	Yes
Someone owes you money (loan, unpaid invoice)	Yes
Landlord won’t return deposit	Yes (but try TDS/DPS dispute first)
Holiday company won’t compensate	Yes
Flight delay compensation (airline refuses)	Yes
Car accident damage (other driver at fault)	Yes
eBay/marketplace seller sent wrong or fake item	Yes
Neighbour damaged your property	Yes
Wedding vendor let you down	Yes

Small Claims Limits

Country	Small claims limit
England and Wales	£10,000
Scotland (Simple Procedure)	£5,000
Northern Ireland	£3,000

Court Fees (England and Wales)

Claim amount	Court fee (online)	Court fee (paper)
Up to £300	£35	£55
£300.01–£500	£50	£70
£500.01–£1,000	£70	£80
£1,000.01–£1,500	£80	£90
£1,500.01–£3,000	£115	£125
£3,000.01–£5,000	£205	£215
£5,000.01–£10,000	£455	£455

Filing online is cheaper — use Money Claim Online (MCOL) at moneyclaims.service.gov.uk.

If you win, the court fee is added to your judgment — the defendant pays it.

Before You Claim — Required Steps

Step	What to do	Why
1	Write a formal complaint to the other party	Shows you tried to resolve it
2	Give them a reasonable deadline (14 days)	Standard practice
3	Send a Letter Before Action (LBA)	Essential — courts expect this
4	State your claim amount and deadline (14 days)	Final chance to settle
5	If no response or refusal, proceed with court claim	You’ve done everything required

Letter Before Action — What to Include

Element	Detail
Your name and address	Full details
Their name and address	As accurate as possible
What happened	Brief factual summary
What you’re owed	The specific amount and how you calculated it
Legal basis	Consumer Rights Act 2015, breach of contract, negligence, etc.
Deadline	14 days to respond
Consequence	“If I do not receive payment/resolution by [date], I will issue a claim in the County Court without further notice”

Step-by-Step: Filing a Claim Online

Step	Action
1	Go to moneyclaims.service.gov.uk
2	Create an account (you’ll need an email address)
3	Enter the defendant’s name and address
4	Describe your claim (brief, factual — what happened, what you’re owed, why)
5	Enter the claim amount
6	Add interest if applicable (8% statutory interest for most claims)
7	Pay the court fee by debit/credit card
8	The court serves the claim on the defendant

What Happens Next

Stage	Timing	What happens
Claim served	Within days of filing	Defendant receives the claim by post
Defendant response	14 days (or 28 if they request extension)	Admit, part-admit, defend, or ignore
If admitted	Weeks	Judgment entered — defendant must pay
If defended	4–8 weeks	Court allocates to small claims track and sets directions
Directions	Court sets deadline	Both sides provide evidence (documents, photos, witness statements)
Mediation offer	Before hearing	Free telephone mediation offered by the court
Hearing	2–6 months after filing	In-person or telephone hearing, usually 1–3 hours
Judgment	On the day or shortly after	Judge decides amount owed (if any)

If the Defendant Doesn’t Respond

Action	What to do
No response after 14 days	Apply for “Default Judgment” online
Court enters judgment	Defendant must pay the full amount plus court fee
They still don’t pay?	Apply for enforcement (see below)

At the Hearing — What to Expect

Element	Detail
Location	County Court (in person) or telephone
Who’s there	You, the defendant, a District Judge
Formality	Informal — no wigs, no gowns, called by first name
Solicitors	Both sides can bring one, but you don’t need to
Evidence	Bring all documents, photos, receipts, contracts, emails
Duration	Typically 1–3 hours
Judge’s role	Asks questions, examines evidence, makes a decision
Costs	Generally NO costs awarded against the loser (unlike higher courts)

Tips for the Hearing

Tip	Why
Organise documents in date order	Makes it easy for the judge to follow
Bring 3 copies of everything	One for you, one for the judge, one for the defendant
Be factual, not emotional	Judges respond to evidence, not frustration
Stick to the key points	Don’t go off on tangents
Be polite and respectful	Even to the defendant
Let the judge lead	They’ll ask the questions they need answered

If You Win — Getting Your Money

Method	How it works	Cost
Voluntary payment	Defendant pays within 14 days of judgment	Free
Warrant of Control (bailiffs)	Court sends bailiffs to collect or seize goods	£77 (under £5,000)
Attachment of Earnings Order	Money deducted from defendant’s wages	£110
Third Party Debt Order	Freezes defendant’s bank account	£110
Charging Order	Places a charge on defendant’s property (like a mortgage)	£110
Order to attend court	Defendant ordered to disclose their finances	£55

What You Can Claim

Element	Claimable?
The amount owed (goods, services, money)	Yes
Court fee	Yes — added to judgment
Statutory interest (8% per year on debts)	Yes
Travel to court hearing	Yes (reasonable amount)
Loss of earnings for attending hearing	Yes (limited)
Solicitor fees	Generally no — small claims track doesn’t usually award these
Emotional distress	Generally no — unless part of a personal injury claim

Time Limits for Claims

Claim type	Time limit
Breach of contract (England/Wales)	6 years
Breach of contract (Scotland)	5 years
Personal injury	3 years
Faulty goods	6 years from purchase
Debt recovery	6 years (England/Wales), 5 years (Scotland)
Professional negligence	6 years from the act (or 3 years from discovery)

Useful Links

Sources

MoneyHelper — Everyday money