Small Claims Track Journey (up to £10,000)
The streamlined process for resolving straightforward civil disputes worth up to £10,000 in the County Court small claims track — designed to be used without a solicitor.
Who Uses This Journey
Members of the public and small businesses seeking to recover money owed, enforce consumer rights, or claim compensation for damage or loss up to £10,000 (£1,000 for personal injury; £25,000 for some housing disrepair claims).
Stage-by-Stage Timeline
Pre-Action: Try to Resolve Directly
Before going to court, write or call the other party setting out your complaint, the amount you want, and why. For consumer disputes, try the trader's complaints process first. Courts expect parties to have genuinely attempted resolution.
- Going straight to court without contacting the other side first
- Not keeping records of attempted resolution
Letter Before Claim
Send a formal letter setting out: what happened, why the other party is responsible, the amount you want, and a deadline (usually 14 days for simple cases, 30 days for debt claims under the PAP). State clearly that you will issue court proceedings if not resolved.
- Not keeping proof of sending (use recorded post or read receipt)
- Setting unrealistically short deadlines
- Not quantifying the exact amount claimed
Issue Claim Online
If the other party doesn't pay or respond, issue your claim at moneyclaims.service.gov.uk. Enter details of both parties, the amount (including interest at 8% under the Late Payment Act if a business-to-business debt), and brief particulars of claim.
- Defendant's full name and address
- Clear summary of facts and amount claimed
- Interest calculation
- Misspelling the defendant's name — must match legal entity exactly
- Not adding interest to the claim amount
- Using old paper N1 instead of online service
Defendant Responds (14–28 days)
The defendant is served by the court and has 14 days to respond (28 days if they file an Acknowledgement of Service). They may admit, defend, or ignore the claim. If no response, apply for default judgment using the online portal.
- Full admission — apply for judgment immediately
- Part admission — court orders on admitted sum; hearing on disputed sum
- Defence filed — case allocated to small claims
- No response — default judgment
- Forgetting to apply for default judgment after 28 days of no response
- Accepting a low offer without considering that you may win in full at a hearing
Directions Questionnaire (N180)
Once a Defence is filed, both parties complete Form N180. State whether you agree to mediation (strongly encouraged), propose a hearing date/time, and list witnesses and evidence. The court uses this to allocate the case and set a directions timetable.
- Refusing mediation — courts can award costs against a party who unreasonably refuses
- Not listing all witnesses you intend to call
Mediation Referral
The court may automatically refer small claims cases to the Small Claims Mediation Service (SCMS) — a free telephone mediation offered by HMCTS. The mediator helps parties reach a voluntary agreement. Mediation resolves approximately 70% of cases referred.
- Settlement reached — recorded in a binding settlement agreement
- No settlement — proceed to hearing
- Not preparing for mediation — know your ideal outcome and minimum acceptable offer
- Not having authority to settle at the mediation appointment
Prepare for Hearing
Prepare a concise bundle of documents: your letter before claim, any contracts, receipts, photos, correspondence, and your witness statement. Small claims hearings are informal — no strict rules of evidence — but you must be able to explain your case clearly. Send copies to the court and the defendant at least 14 days before the hearing.
- All contracts, invoices, or agreements
- Photos of any damage
- Receipts, quotes for repair
- Correspondence with the defendant
- Witness statement (if using witnesses)
- Bringing new evidence on the day — courts may refuse to admit it
- Not serving documents on the defendant — they must have copies
Hearing and Judgment
The hearing is before a district judge, usually in a small room with the parties and the judge only. The judge reads the papers, asks questions, and hears both sides' accounts. Judgment is usually given the same day. The judge decides who wins and orders costs (usually only court fees and fixed costs).
- Judgment for claimant — with interest and court fees
- Judgment for defendant — claim dismissed
- Part judgment — some elements succeed
- Being disrespectful or aggressive in court
- Not bringing spare copies of everything
- Trying to submit new documents at the hearing