You can apply to a county court to claim money you’re owed by a person or business.
\n\nThis is known as making a court claim. It often used to be known as taking someone to a ‘small claims court’. You can apply online or by post.
\n\nThis guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
\nYou may not have to attend a court hearing after you make your claim if:
\n\nThe court may organise free mediation for you, depending on the amount you’re claiming.
\n\nYou can get help and advice about making a claim for money from:
\n\nThere’s a different process to make a court claim in Scotland and to make a court claim in Northern Ireland.
\nYou may be able to claim interest on the money you’re owed.
\n\nThe amount of interest you can claim is based on how long you’ve been owed money. Interest can continue to build up until your claim is paid, settled or decided by the court.
\n\nIf you want to claim interest, you must include it in your claim.
\n\nThe person or business you’re claiming money from (the ‘defendant’) can agree to pay the interest:
\n\nIf you and the defendant cannot agree, the court will decide whether interest should be awarded. The court’s decision depends on things like:
\n\nIf you’re making a claim online, interest will be calculated for you.
\n\nYou’ll usually need to work out the interest yourself if you’re making a claim by post.
\n\nYou must make a claim by post if you do not know the exact amount - you cannot make a claim online.
\n\nYou’ll need to estimate the amount you’re claiming or leave the ‘amount claimed’ blank.
\n\nThe court will decide how much you’re owed and any interest that applies to your claim.
\n\nThe online service can only calculate interest at one rate.
\n\nIf you’re claiming different interest rates for different periods, you’ll need to work out the interest yourself and make your claim by post.
\n\nThe rate is usually 8%.
\n\nIf you’re a business making a claim against another business, there’s a different way to charge interest on a late commercial payment.
\nTo calculate the rate:
\n\nWork out the yearly interest: take the amount you’re claiming and multiply it by 0.08 (which is 8%).
\nWork out the daily interest: divide your yearly interest from step 1 by 365 (the number of days in a year).
\nWork out the total amount of interest: multiply the daily interest from step 2 by the number of days the debt has been overdue.
\nIf you were owed £1,000:
\n\nYou must pay a fee when you make your claim. The fee amount depends on how much you’re claiming.
\n\nYou may need to pay other fees later, for example if there’s a court hearing or you need a judgment enforced.
\n\nYou can usually:
\n\nThe fee is based on the amount you’re claiming, including any interest.
\n\nIf you’re estimating the amount you’re claiming, you’ll need to pay the fee for that amount.
\n\nFor example, if you estimate you’re claiming between £3,000.01 and £5,000, you’d have to pay £205.
\n\nIf you leave the ‘amount claimed’ blank, the fee is £10,000.
\n| Claim amount | \nFees | \n
|---|---|
| Up to £300 | \n£35 | \n
| £300.01 to £500 | \n£50 | \n
| £500.01 to £1,000 | \n£70 | \n
| £1,000.01 to £1,500 | \n£80 | \n
| £1,500.01 to £3,000 | \n£115 | \n
| £3,000.01 to £5,000 | \n£205 | \n
| £5,000.01 to £10,000 | \n£455 | \n
| £10,000.01 to £200,000 | \n5% of the claim | \n
| More than £200,000 | \n£10,000 | \n
To calculate 5% of the value of the claim, take the amount you’re claiming and multiply it by 0.05. If necessary, round down the result to the nearest 1 pence.
\n\nThe fee will be calculated for you if you make your claim online.
\n\nYou can apply for help with fees online or by post.
\n\nApply for help with fees online before you make a court claim. You’ll get a ‘help with fees’ reference number - you’ll need this when you make your court claim.
\n\nIf you apply for help with fees by post, you’ll need to make your court claim by post too. Apply for both at the same time.
\n\nFill in form EX160 for help with fees.
\nFill in form N1 to make a court claim for money.
\nReturn both forms to the Civil National Business Centre.
\n\nCivil National Business Centre
St Katharine’s House
21-27 St Katharine’s Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH\n
Pay by credit or debit card if you’re making a claim online.
\n\nIf you use the paper claim form, pay by credit or debit card by sending a letter with your form asking to pay by card. Include your telephone number and a suitable time for the court to call you and take the payment.
\n\nYou can also pay by postal order or cheque (payable to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’) if you use the paper claim form.
\n","slug":"fees","title":"Fees"},{"body":"You can make your claim online, unless:
\n\nClaim by post if you cannot claim online.
\n\nYou cannot make a claim if you’re told that someone is temporarily protected from creditors through the ‘Breathing Space’ scheme. Find out what to do when someone is using the ‘Breathing Space’ scheme.
\nYou may need to get legal advice if your claim is complex.
\n\nYou’ll be asked for the name, address and email address of the person you’re claiming against.
\n\nYou’ll also need either:
\n\nIf you still need to apply for help with fees, you can do this while you make your money claim online.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re having technical issues or need guidance about how to claim, use the contact options in the online service.
\n\nWe Are Group
\nsupport@wearegroup.com
\nTelephone: 03300 160 051
\nMonday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
\nClosed on bank holidays
\nText FORM to 60777 and someone will call you back
\nFind out about call charges
To claim by post, download and fill in paper claim form N1.
\n\nPaper claim form N1 is also available in Welsh.
\nSend the paper form to the Civil National Business Centre with a cheque or postal order for your court fee. If you’re applying for help with fees send the paper form with either:
\n\n\nCivil National Business Centre
St Katharine’s House
21-27 St Katharine’s Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH\n
Contact the Civil National Business Centre if you need help claiming by post. If you have a disability or health condition, you can ask for a reasonable adjustment.
\n\nCivil National Business Centre
\nTelephone: 0300 123 1056
\nMonday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
\nWelsh language: 0300 303 5174
\nMonday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
\nFind out about call charges
You can also request a reasonable adjustment for applying by post by emailing:
\n\n\n\n","slug":"make-claim","title":"Make a claim"},{"body":"Your claim, including your name and address, will be sent to the person or business owing you money (the ‘defendant’).
\n\nThey must respond to your claim. You’ll be sent a letter or email telling you the date they need to respond by.
\n\nTell the defendant when you’ve received their payment.
\n\nHow you do this depends on how you made the claim.
\n\nYou can update your claim online, by phone or email. The contact details you use depend on which service you used to make the claim.
\n\nIf you made your claim using the Civil Money Claims service, you can update it:
\n\nCivil Money Claims
\nTelephone: 0300 123 7050
\nMonday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
\nFind out about call charges
If you made your claim using the Money Claim Online service, you can update it:
\n\nMoney Claim Online
\ncaseprogression.cnbc@justice.gov.uk
\nTelephone: 0300 123 1056
\nMonday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
\nFind out about call charges
If you made your claim before 8 October 2024 and it’s for between £10,000 and £25,000, you can update it online using the Money Claim Online service or by calling Money Claim Online.
\nContact the court where you sent your claim.
\n\nYou can ask the court to order the defendant to pay. You need to:
\n\nYou might have to go to a court hearing if:
\n\nThe court may send you a questionnaire asking for more information on the case.
\n\nFill in the questionnaire and return it to the court. You’ll have to pay an extra court fee.
\n\nYou may be offered or told you have to attend mediation after you’ve made a claim. This is often quicker than going to court.
\n","slug":"after-you-make-your-claim","title":"After you make your claim"},{"body":"If the person or business owing you money (the ‘defendant’) disagrees with your claim, you can use a mediator to help you reach an agreement.
\n\nA mediator is an impartial professional who will speak to both you and the defendant separately. They’ll usually contact you by phone, so you do not need to meet or speak directly to the defendant.
\n\nMediation is usually free and can often mean you do not have to go to court.
\n\nYou will not have to wait longer for a court hearing if you go to mediation first and do not reach an agreement.
\n\nMediation is confidential and you cannot mention what happened during the appointment if you go to court.
\n\nYou’ll be told you must attend mediation organised by the court. You’ll be given a date and time for your telephone appointment.
\n\nThis service is free.
\n\nThe court may offer to organise mediation. If both sides agree to it, you’ll get a date and time for your telephone appointment.
\n\nIf the court does not offer mediation, you can use an independent mediator for a claim of any amount.
\n\nThere’s a fixed fee for this service.
\n\nA mediator from HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will speak to you separately by phone to help you to explore options, negotiate and agree a settlement. The appointment will last up to one hour.
\n\nYou can have someone with you during your mediation appointment, for example, a trusted friend, a relative, or a solicitor.
\n\nContact the small claims mediation service before your appointment if:
\n\nInclude your claim number when you contact the small claims mediation service, if you have one.
\n\nSmall claims mediation service
\nscmreferrals@justice.gov.uk
\nTelephone: 0300 123 4593
\nMonday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
\nFind out about call charges
If you do not attend your mediation appointment, you’ll usually need to go to a court hearing instead.
\n\nYou can continue to try to reach an agreement with the other side up to the date of the hearing (for example, through independent mediation). If you can reach an agreement, you will not need to attend the court hearing.
\n\nIf you’ve been told you must attend mediation, the judge can sanction you if you do not attend or make an effort to reach an agreement. Sanctions can include your case being dismissed (‘struck out’) or having to pay all court costs even if you win.
\n\nIf you tell the court why you did not attend your mediation appointment, the judge will take your reasons into account when deciding on your sanctions. You can tell the court why you did not attend:
\n\nIf you want your reasons for not attending your appointment to be private, contact the court your hearing will be in. You may be told to fill in a N244 form to request that the information is kept private. You may need to pay a fee.
\n\nYou’ll make a verbal agreement at the mediation appointment. This is legally binding which means that you must follow it. You’ll be given the terms of the agreement in a document – this is called a settlement agreement.
\n\nIf either side breaks the terms, then the other side can ask for a judgment or hearing.
\n\nYou’ll have to attend a court hearing.
\n","slug":"mediation","title":"Resolve your claim through mediation"},{"body":"If there’s a hearing, you can:
\n\nYour hearing can be held in the judge’s room or a courtroom in a county court if your claim is for less than £10,000. There might be a more formal hearing if you’re claiming for more.
\n\nYou’ll get a decision on the day of the hearing. The court will also send you a copy of the decision by post.
\n\nIf you win your case, the court will order the person or business who owes you money (the ‘debtor’) to pay you. There are ways the court can collect your payment if they ignore the court order.
\n\nYou can appeal the decision if you think the judge made a mistake during the hearing. You must do this within 21 days of getting the decision.
\n\nFind out which court or tribunal to appeal to.
\n\nContact Citizens Advice to get free advice on appealing.
\nYou can ask the court to collect payment from the person or business who owes you money (the ‘debtor’) if they do not pay you after receiving the court order.
\n\nYou must pay a court fee when you ask the court to collect the payment.
\n\nAsk the court to order the debtor to attend court to provide evidence of their income or spending, for example bills and statements.
\n\nIf the money is owed by a business, you can ask for an officer from the company to attend court and give details of its accounts.
\n\nYou can then decide if you want the court to take further action to collect your payment.
\n\nYou cannot enforce a judgment if you’re told that the person who owes you money has got a ‘Breathing Space’ and is temporarily protected from their creditors. Find out about your responsibilities and what you need to tell the court during a ‘Breathing Space’.
\nYou can ask the court to send bailiffs to collect the money. This is called a ‘warrant of control’.
\n\nThe bailiff will ask for payment within 7 days. If the debt is not paid, the bailiff will visit the debtor’s home or business to see if anything can be sold to pay the debt.
\n\nYou can apply to either a county court or the High Court if you’re owed between £600 and £5,000.
\n\nYou may need legal advice if you apply at the High Court.
\n\nHow you apply to the court depends on how you made your claim.
\n\nIf your reference number has ‘MC’ in it, download and fill in either:
\n\nOtherwise, enforce a judgment using Money Claim Online.
\n\nDownload and fill in either:
\n\nYou can ask the court to take money from the debtor’s wages to pay the debt. This is called an ‘attachment of earnings’.
\n\nThe court will do this by sending an order to the debtor’s employer.
\n\nDownload and fill in a request for an attachment of earnings order form N337.
\n\nYou can ask the court to freeze money in the debtor’s bank, building society or business account. This is called a ‘third-party debt order’.
\n\nThe court will decide if money from the account can be used to pay the debt.
\n\nDownload and fill in a request for a third party debt order form N349.
\n\nYou can ask the court to charge the debtor’s land or property. This is called a ‘charging order’.
\n\nIf the land or property is sold, the debtor must pay this charge before they get their money.
\n\nDownload and fill in a request for a charging order form N379.
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