County Court Money Claims: How to Sue for Money Owed in the UK

A county court money claim is the formal legal process for recovering money owed to you in England and Wales. You (the "claimant") ask the court to order the other party (the "defendant") to pay you a specified amount.

For claims up to £100,000, you can use Money Claims Online (MCOL) at moneyclaims.service.gov.uk. This is a government service that allows you to issue, track, and manage your claim entirely online.

For claims over £100,000, or claims involving complex disputes, you issue a Part 7 claim form (N1) at the county court. This can also be done online through the Civil Money Claims service.

Court fees depend on the value of your claim. Online claims are cheaper than paper claims:

• Up to £300: £35 online / £50 paper
• £300.01 to £500: £50 online / £70 paper
• £500.01 to £1,000: £70 online / £80 paper
• £1,000.01 to £1,500: £80 online / £115 paper
• £1,500.01 to £3,000: £115 online / £170 paper
• £3,000.01 to £5,000: £205 online / £205 paper
• £5,000.01 to £10,000: £455 online / £455 paper
• £10,000.01 to £200,000: 5% of the claim value
• Over £200,000: £10,000

If you win, the court will usually order the defendant to reimburse your court fees as part of the judgment.

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for Help with Fees (fee remission) — check the GOV.UK website.

1. Send a Letter Before Action — give the defendant 30 days to respond (required under the Pre-Action Protocol).
2. Issue the claim — complete the claim form online or on paper. You will need the defendant's full name and address, the amount claimed, a brief description of why the money is owed, and payment of the court fee.
3. Service on the defendant — the court serves the claim on the defendant by post. The defendant then has 14 days to respond (or 28 days if they file an acknowledgment of service).
4. Defendant's response — the defendant can: (a) pay in full, (b) admit the claim and propose a payment plan, (c) file a defence disputing the claim, or (d) do nothing.
5. Default judgment — if the defendant does not respond within the deadline, you can request default judgment. The court enters judgment in your favour without a hearing.
6. Allocation — if the defendant files a defence, the court allocates the case to a track: small claims (up to £10,000), fast track (£10,000 to £25,000), or multi-track (over £25,000).
7. Hearing — if the case proceeds to a hearing, both sides present their evidence and the judge makes a decision.

Most debt claims under £10,000 are allocated to the small claims track. This is designed to be accessible to people without legal representation:

• Informal hearings — the judge runs the hearing in a less formal way and will help unrepresented parties understand the process.
• Limited costs — even if you lose, you will not usually be ordered to pay the other side's solicitor costs. The only costs that can be awarded are the court fee, witness expenses (up to £95/day), and up to £750 for an injunction.
• No formal disclosure — you do not need to exchange documents in the same way as larger claims, though you should send copies of key documents to the court and the defendant before the hearing.
• Paper determinations — for straightforward claims, the judge may decide the case on paper without a hearing (with both parties' consent).
• Free mediation — the Small Claims Mediation Service offers free telephone mediation for all small claims. It is worth trying, as many cases settle at this stage.

Getting a judgment does not automatically mean you get paid. If the defendant does not pay voluntarily, you will need to use one of the court's enforcement methods:

• Warrant of Control — a county court bailiff attends the defendant's premises to seize goods. Available for debts up to £5,000.
• Writ of Control (High Court) — for judgments over £600, you can transfer the debt to the High Court for enforcement by High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs). This is generally more effective than county court bailiffs.
• Attachment of Earnings Order — the court orders the defendant's employer to deduct money from their wages.
• Third Party Debt Order — freezes money in the defendant's bank account and transfers it to you.
• Charging Order — secures the debt against the defendant's property. Can be followed by an Order for Sale.

This guide provides general legal information about UK law and is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change, and individual circumstances vary significantly. For advice specific to your situation, you should consult a qualified solicitor.

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