ADVICE AND SOLUTIONS
Small Claims Assistance
What is a small claim?
In the UK, a small claim is a type of court case used to resolve minor civil disputes, usually involving claims for money. It’s designed to be a simpler, quicker, and cheaper alternative to more complex court cases.
Key features of a small claim in the UK:
Feature Details
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Jurisdiction-England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems)
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Typical Uses Disputes over unpaid bills, faulty goods/services, rent arrears, refunds, etc.
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Claim Limit Usually for amounts up to £10,000
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Court Dealt with in the County Court
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Procedure Designed to be informal—you often don’t need a lawyer
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Costs Lower court fees; parties usually bear their own legal costs
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Time Cases are usually resolved more quickly than standard civil cases
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Online option You can submit many claims via the Money Claim Online service
Examples of common small claims:
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A customer sues a trades person for £2,000 over unfinished work
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A landlord claims £800 from a tenant for damage to property
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A buyer sues a business for £500 after receiving a faulty product