A step-by-step guide to claiming compensation through a small claims court – what it costs, how it works and help to decide if it’s for you
Last updated on 21 October 2026
In this guide…
What you need to know about taking a company to court
Getting back money you’re owed using a small claims court
You can claim back money you’re owed by applying to a county court. This is typically known as taking someone to a ‘small claims court’.
Small claims can help you recover money or compensation when the law was broken. They should usually be a last resort. Try other options first, like filing a formal complaint or using mediation.
Before you take such action you should write what is called a ‘letter before action’ to the person you’re claiming from (the ‘defendant’). This is a formal letter that states your intention to start court proceedings if you don’t hear back.
Citizens Advice provides templates to help you include all the relevant information. If you don’t get a reply, or you’re not happy with the reply, then the advice in this guide will help you understand what to do next. The information applies to steps you’ll take in England and Wales. There are different court claim processes in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.
Working out how much to claim for
You can use the small claims court to recover money you’re owed. This can include faulty goods, poor workmanship, unpaid refunds, cancelled services, tenancy deposit disputes or minor car and travel compensation claims. These are usually for amounts is under £10,000.
You can usually add 8% interest each year to the amount owed. It is calculated daily from when the payment became overdue. The court has the final say.
How to make a claim
The simplest way is to make your claim online, but you need to know how much money you want to claim. You’ll need to claim by post if your claim is £100,000 or more, or if it’s more than £10,000 and you want help with your fees.
To apply online follow the claim process on GOV.UK – the website for the UK government. You’ll need to know the name, address and email of the person you’re claiming from. You’ll also need a debit or credit card for paying for the court fee.
Small claim court fees
Making a small court claim will cost you anywhere between £35 and £10,000, depending on the amount you’re claiming for. The table breaks down the costs according to the amount you’re claiming for.
| Amount you’re claiming for | Fee you’ll pay |
| Up to £300 | £35 |
| More than £300 to £500 | £50 |
| More than £500 to £1,000 | £70 |
| More than £1,000 to £1,500 | £80 |
| More than £1,500 to £3,000 | £115 |
| More than £3,000 to £5,000 | £205 |
| More than £5,000 to £10,000 | £455 |
| More than £10,000 to £200,000 | 5% of the claim |
| More than £200,000 | £10,000 |
The fee will be automatically calculated for you when you make your claim online based on the amount you say you’re claiming for. You need to know the amount you’re claiming for – even if it’s an estimate – to make a small claim application online.
Small claims are usually under £10,000. Claims over £10,000 will still be heard in a county court but are usually dealt with differently – with a more formal hearing.
Help paying for the fee
You can get help paying for your court fees if you’re on a low income or benefits, and have little or no savings. Take a look at GOV.UK for more information on how to get help with fees.
What happens after you make your claim
Your claim – including your name and address – will be sent by the courts to the person who owes you money with a deadline for them to respond.
If the defendant refuses to pay you back your money, or you get no response from them, you will need to ask the court to order them to pay. You will need to complete more forms to do this and you will be given information by the court about which form to complete.You may have to go to court if the defendant says they don’t owe you money, if they disagree with the fee you’re claiming for or if they offer a fee you’re not willing to accept. It can help if you try mediation first.
Having your claim heard in court
Your hearing will be held in a county court if your claim is less than £10,000, and you’ll get a decision on the day of your hearing. You can choose to represent yourself, pay a lawyer to represent you, take someone with you to advise or ask someone to speak on your behalf.
If you win your case, the defendant will be ordered by the court to pay you what is owed. This might also include fixed fees like your court costs but you will need to cover other costs.
If you don’t win your case and you think the judge made the wrong decision you have 21 days to appeal it.
Help finding a lawyer to represent you
You can get help from a lawyer but do explore free or lower cost legal support – like legal aid or legal expenses covered by your home insurance – to help with the costs. And read advice on using ‘no win, no fee’ legal firms.
Finding a lawyer with the right experience is important. A good starting point is to look for a solicitor who is a member of a recognised scheme or body, including:
Alternatives to making a court claim
Taking someone to a small claims court is often seen as a last resort. You should explore other easier, cheaper and faster alternatives first.
- Make a formal complaint to the company. If your problem doesn’t get resolved this way you can explore whether the company is a member of an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme who will look at your complaint and help you come to an agreement with the company.
- If you paid by debit card, you can ask for your money back using ‘chargeback’ which is a way for your card provider (including credit cards) to claim money from a retailer or traders bank. You have 120 days from the transaction processing date and will need evidence that there has been a breach of contract.
- If you paid by credit card, you can ask for your money back using Section 75 of the Credit Card Act if you paid for all (or some) of the cost for digital content costing more than £100 but no more than £30,000. Speak to your credit card company to do this.
- Using a mediation service before going to court can help negotiate a settlement. It can also be quicker and cheaper than going to court. It might also be viewed favourably by a judge if you’ve demonstrated your willingness to mediate first. Find out more about mediation services from the Civil Mediation Council.
Common questions and answers about small claims
Not necessarily. You will only need to attend a hearing if the defendant disputes the claim. For example, if they say they do not owe you money, disagree with the amount you are claiming or make an offer you are not willing to accept. If they do not respond at all, you can ask the court to order them to pay.
It depends on how much you are claiming. Fees start at £35 for claims up to £300 and rise to £455 for claims between £5,000 and £10,000. The fee is calculated automatically when you apply online. If you are on a low income or receiving benefits and have little or no savings, you may be able to get help with the fee.
Yes. You can usually add 8% yearly interest to the amount owed, calculated daily from when the payment became overdue. The court has the final say on whether this applies in your case.
Your claim – including your name and address – will be sent by the court to the person you are claiming from, along with a deadline for them to respond. If they refuse to pay or do not respond, you will need to ask the court to order them to pay and complete further forms to do so.
You have 21 days from the date of the hearing to appeal the decision if you believe the judge made the wrong call.
No. You can choose to represent yourself, take someone with you to advise or ask someone to speak on your behalf. If you do want legal support, look for a solicitor who is a member of a recognised body.
Yes. Small claims should be your last resort. Before filing, you should write a formal letter before action to the person you are claiming from and make a complaint directly to the company.
Get free advice from the consumer helpline
You can contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline if you need more help dealing with tricky retailers, businesses or traders. And if you decide to make a small court claim.
About Consumer Voice
Consumer Voice helps people get back money they may be owed when companies get it wrong. We explain your rights clearly, so you can understand whether you may be owed compensation, whether you can join a claim, and what steps to take next.
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