How to make a claim
You can apply to a county court to claim money you are 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'.
A mediation service could be quicker and cheaper than going to court. Mediation is when an impartial person helps both sides to work out an agreement.
Make a claim
You can make a claim online, unless:
- you do not know how much money you want to claim
- your claim is for more than £10,000 and you want to get help to pay the court fee
- your claim is for £100,000 or over
Claim by post if you cannot claim online.
Claim online
You will be asked for the name, address and email address of the person you are claiming against.
You will also need either:
- a debit or credit card to pay the court fee
- your 'help with fees' reference number if you have 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.
Claim by post
To 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 are applying for help with fees send the paper form with either:
- the 'help with fees' reference number you will get when you apply for the help online
- your completed 'help with fees' application form, if you are applying for help by post
Civil National Business Centre
St Katharine's House
21-27 St Katharine's Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH
Help claiming by post
Contact the Civil National Business Centre.
Civil National Business Centre
Telephone: 0300 123 1372
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
What happens next
You might have to go to a court hearing if the other people or business (the 'defendant') denies owing the money and you disagree with their response.
You can get the court to order them to pay if they:
- do not respond to your claim
- admit they owe you but do not pay
If they still do not pay, you can ask the court to go to take further steps to collect the money - for example, by using bailiffs.