Changes to small claims fees 1 Oct 07

Court fees are changing from next week (Mon 1 Oct) to a new charging structure that will make County Court and High Court fees the same.

If you are going to start a bank charges, or other civil claim, in the County Court some of the fees for small claims (those under £5,000) will be different. Although there is no guarantee that claims under this amount will stay as a small claim the vast majority of civil claims use this route.

Here is a quick summary to show how it’ll affect you.

You still get all the fees back if you win.

Starting fee

This is what you will pay when you first submit your case.

Currently it is between £30 and £120 for claims made through MoneyClaimOnline and in your local court.

New costs for small claims claims will be reduced to:

• Claims under £300: £25 online, £30 in person
• £300.01 - £500: £35 online, £45 in person
• £500.01 - £1,000: £60 online: £65 in person
• £1,000.01 - £1,500: £70 online, £75 in person
• £1,500.01 - £3,000: £80 online, £85 in person
• £3,000.01 - £5,000: £100 online, £108 in person

Allocation fee

You pay this fee if the defendant (e.g. the bank) decides to defend your claim.

Currently this is free for claims under £1,500 and £100 for claims over £1,500

New costs will be amended to:

• Still free for claims under £1,500
• £35 for small claims cases over £1,500
• £200 for fast track and multi track cases over £1,500 – most shouldn’t need this, so for info only

Hearing fee

This is a new fee, again paid if a court date is allocated as the case has not been settled out of court. The charges are as follows:

• Claims under £300: £25
• £300.01 - £500: £50
• £500.01 - £1,000: £75
• £1,000.01 - £1,500: £100
• £1,500.01 - £3,000: £150
• £3,000.01 - £5,000: £300

The new hearing fee may make the process look more expensive, and indeed it will be if you lose. On the other hand if you win, it increases the costs the person you're suing must pay. In cases like bank charges, this thus has the benefit that it adds pressure for the other party to settle out of court.

Martin

<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->