If you are owed money by an individual or a business and have tried to resolve the matter but are not making progress, you can make a claim through the County Court. It often referred to as taking someone to a ‘small claims court’
You should send a letter before action (LBA) to inform the other party of your intention to take legal action against them. It’s also known as a letter before claim or pre-action letter.
A letter before action should include:
- Your name and address
- The recipient’s name and address
- A summary of the facts
- The legal basis for the claim
- A statement of what you’re seeking (damages, compensation, etc.)
- A reasonable time limit for a response
- A statement that you will initiate court proceedings if you don’t receive a response
You can apply to a county court to claim money you’re owed by a person or business.
This is known as making a court claim. It often used to be known as taking someone to a ‘small claims court’.
You can Make a money claim online
You’ll be asked for the name, address and email address of the person you’re claiming against.
You’ll also need either:
- a debit or credit card to pay the court fee
- your ‘help with fees’ reference number if you’ve already applied for help with fees online
If you still need to apply for help with fees, you can do this while you make your money claim online.
Your claim, including your name and address, will be sent to the person or business owing you money (the ‘defendant’).
They must respond to your claim. You’ll be sent a letter or email telling you the date they need to respond by.
You can update your claim online or by phone
- online using the Money Claims Service
- by calling Civil Money Claims on 0300 123 7050
If you cannot claim online you can claim by post, download and fill in paper claim form N1.
Send 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:
- the ‘help with fees’ reference number you’ll get when you apply for help online
- your completed ‘help with fees’ application form, if you’re applying for help by post
Civil National Business Centre
St Katharine’s House
21-27 St Katharine’s Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH