Small Claims - Difference between Money Claim Online (MCOL) and Money Claims Service

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

I have an ongoing dispute with a tradesman.  He has started legal proceedings and I have received an "A money claim has been made against you" email.  I'm trying to find out more about the Money Claims Service, the procedures, etc. so that I know how it works, what to expect, whether he has followed protocol, and so on.  But from what I can gather Money Claim Online (MCOL) and Money Claims Service are two different routes.  For example, this page:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/money-claim-online-user-guide/money-claim-online-mcol-user-guide

is about MCOL but gives links to the new Money Claims Service.  I feel like I'm chasing my tail at the first hurdle and wondered if anyone would be kind enough to explain if they are the same or different.  I want to do my due diligence but am finding myself reading things about MCOL and wondering if they even apply to me.  

Any help most welcomed.

Thank you

Tunstallstoven

The tail chasing continues this morning...  

Seems the Money Claims Service (MCS) starts here and uses phone number 0300 123 7050:
https://www.moneyclaims.service.gov.uk/eligibility

Whereas Money Claim Online (MCOL) starts here and uses phone number 0300 123 1057:
https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

Total guess, but I'm thinking perhaps MCOL was the original online platform for claims up to £100,000.  And MCS is a newer version for smaller claims up to £10,000?  Perhaps so these smaller claims can be dealt with separately and in an "easier" format?  Is that right? 

The relevance?  Take just one example - Particulars of Claim.  There's lots of info and guides for MCOL about this, but not so for MCS.  So I don't even know whether he has given us the Particulars of Claim yet, and if not when he will/should.  In turn, this is making it difficult to know how to respond.  It's all so confusing!  If anyone could spare a moment to confirm whether I've understood the formats correctly, whether I should be ignoring guides for MCOL, and better still where I can find info and guides for MCS, that would be a humongous help.    

Many thanks

Manxman_in_exile

I was looking at this myself the other day and I found it rather confusing.  but there's no urgency for me to sort anything out.

Why don't you just call the two numbers you've found and see if they can help you?

Tunstallstoven

Totally agree that it is confusing.  Seems an odd decision to have two separate systems and call them Money Claims Service and Money Claim Online.  I wonder how much someone was paid to come up with those names!  

For anyone reading this in the future, these videos are really helpful in explaining what's what and the differences:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdmzo-HdVIg 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ66__n0nLg

I've still got a tonne of questions so definitely will call them on Monday as suggested.  

Cheers

Tunstallstoven

I called 0300 123 7050 as I said I would and so here's an update for anyone who might find this in the future...

The way she explained it, the above videos are pretty much bang on.  The only thing which is a little difference is that in the Money Claims Service, you are given 19 days to respond rather than 14 (and so 33 days in all if you apply for the Acknowledge of Service, not 28).  The Money Claims Service is still in testing (beta) and so there's only so much that happens in that system.  

As a defendant, when you receive the money claim email that is the claimant's case and apparently does include the Particulars of Claim.  So next step is deciding the response....

robatwork

Couldn't be bothered to watch 20 minutes of video (which may get taken down at some point in future) but if someone can sum up in 2 paragraphs that would certainly help future googlers. I did, however, discover how different some people can look with that woolly anachronism atop one's bonce. 

Jenni_D

Even with MCOL you get 14+5 days for the AoS, thus 28+5 days to file a defence. (The 5 days is for service of the claim, as the claim is sent by post to the defendant ... a name/address is verifiable data in respect of a defendant; an email address is not - unless the defendant acknowledges it as such).

Tunstallstoven

Jenni_D said:

Even with MCOL you get 14+5 days for the AoS, thus 28+5 days to file a defence. (The 5 days is for service of the claim, as the claim is sent by post to the defendant ... a name/address is verifiable data in respect of a defendant; an email address is not - unless the defendant acknowledges it as such).

Sorry for the misinformation, didn't realise that.  And thanks for putting the record straight

robatwork said:

Couldn't be bothered to watch 20 minutes of video (which may get taken down at some point in future) but if someone can sum up in 2 paragraphs that would certainly help future googlers. I did, however, discover how different some people can look with that woolly anachronism atop one's bonce. 

Not sure I'd be able to summarise it to be honest as there's a fair bit of info in the videos.  RE being taken down....  o you mean the videos taken off YT?  Or the links taken of this forum?  Was I wrong to post links here (don't want to infringe the rights of a barrister!!)

robatwork

Tunstallstoven said:

Jenni_D said:

Even with MCOL you get 14+5 days for the AoS, thus 28+5 days to file a defence. (The 5 days is for service of the claim, as the claim is sent by post to the defendant ... a name/address is verifiable data in respect of a defendant; an email address is not - unless the defendant acknowledges it as such).

Sorry for the misinformation, didn't realise that.  And thanks for putting the record straight

robatwork said:

Couldn't be bothered to watch 20 minutes of video (which may get taken down at some point in future) but if someone can sum up in 2 paragraphs that would certainly help future googlers. I did, however, discover how different some people can look with that woolly anachronism atop one's bonce. 

Not sure I'd be able to summarise it to be honest as there's a fair bit of info in the videos.  RE being taken down....  o you mean the videos taken off YT?  Or the links taken of this forum?  Was I wrong to post links here (don't want to infringe the rights of a barrister!!)

I meant the YT links as countless times I've clicked one a few years old and it leads only to room 404. But you are free to post links here, shiny barristers are very welcome.