London Small Claims Court Online: 7 Proven Steps to Win Your UK County Court Claim (2026 Guide)

The London small claims court is where most everyday money disputes in the capital end up. A builder who walked off the job, a landlord sitting on your deposit, a client who stopped answering emails after you sent the invoice: all of these can be settled through a county court claim, and in most cases you never need a solicitor.

Here is something that surprises a lot of people. There is no actual building called the small claims court. It is a simpler track inside the County Court, built so ordinary people can bring or defend a claim on their own. For claims worth up to £10,000, the rules are relaxed, the costs are capped, and the whole thing can be started from your laptop through the Money Claim Online service or the newer make a court claim for money service on GOV.UK.

That said, the process has a few traps. Skip the letter before action and a judge may hold it against you. Miss the hearing fee deadline and your claim gets struck out. Win without checking whether the other side can pay and you might end up with a judgment that is worth nothing.

This guide walks you through the full small claims process online for anyone living or doing business in London. You will see what to do before you file, how the online system works, what the 2026 court fees look like, how mandatory mediation fits in, what happens at a London hearing centre, and how to actually get your money once you win. Everything here applies to England and Wales.

What Is the London Small Claims Court?

The London small claims court is simply the small claims track of the County Court, run through the hearing centres spread across Greater London. When a defended claim is worth £10,000 or less, a judge will normally allocate it to this track. The hearings are informal, the paperwork is lighter, and the costs you can be ordered to pay the other side are tightly limited.

That last point matters more than most people realise. On the fast track or multi-track, losing can mean paying the other side’s legal bills. On the small claims track, you are mostly risking your own court fees and a few small fixed sums. That is why it works well for people representing themselves.

Small Claims Track Limits

The headline limit is £10,000, but a few claim types have lower ceilings:

• Personal injury: the injury part must be no more than £1,500, or £5,000 for most road traffic accident claims.
• Housing disrepair: for tenants, the repairs must be estimated at £1,000 or less, with any other damages also at £1,000 or less.
• Harassment and unlawful eviction: these claims are kept off the small claims track altogether.

Above £10,000, your claim goes onto the fast track or intermediate track, where the costs risk is higher and you should think seriously about legal advice.

What Kinds of Disputes Fit

Typical small claims in London include:

1. Unpaid invoices for freelance or trade work
2. Tenancy deposits that were not returned or protected
3. Faulty goods or poor service where the trader refuses a refund
4. Money lent to a friend, family member or ex-partner
5. Damage to property, such as a neighbour’s contractor damaging your fence

The rules covered here apply to England and Wales only. Scotland uses simple procedure in the sheriff court, and Northern Ireland has its own small claims process with a £5,000 limit.

Is a County Court Claim the Right Move?

Filing a county court claim should not be your first step. Courts expect you to have tried other routes, and judges can penalise people who rushed in. Before you pay a fee, ask yourself three honest questions.

Can the Other Side Actually Pay?

A judgment is a piece of paper. If the defendant has no money, no job and no assets, you can win and still collect nothing. Check that a business is still trading on Companies House, search the insolvency register, and consider a paid search of the register of judgments to see if they already owe other people.

Have You Tried Cheaper Options?

Depending on the dispute, these can be faster than court:

• Section 75 or chargeback if you paid by credit or debit card
• An ombudsman scheme if the trader belongs to one
• A tenancy deposit scheme dispute service for deposits
• Free Citizens Advice support for consumer complaints

Are You Within the Time Limit?

For most contract and debt claims, you have six years from when the problem arose. Do not leave it until year five, though. Evidence fades, emails get deleted, and people move house. The sooner you act, the stronger your case usually is.

Before You File: The Letter Before Action

Every small claims process online should start offline, with a formal letter before action (also called a letter before claim). The Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct expects both sides to swap key information and try to settle before anyone goes to court. If you skip this, the judge can take it into account when deciding costs, even if you win.

What Your Letter Should Include

• Your full name and address
• A clear, short summary of what happened and when
• Exactly how much you are owed and how you worked it out
• Copies or a list of key documents (invoices, contracts, messages)
• A deadline to respond, usually 14 days for a simple debt
• A plain statement that you will start court proceedings if the matter is not resolved

If you are a business (including a sole trader) chasing a debt from an individual, the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims applies. That protocol asks for more: a 30-day response window, an information sheet and a reply form. Get this right, because defendants and judges notice when it is missed.

Keep a Paper Trail

Send the letter by email and recorded post, and save proof of both. Write down every phone call: the date, who you spoke to, and what was said. If the case reaches a London hearing centre, a tidy timeline makes your job far easier.

Try Mediation Early

You do not have to wait for the court to offer mediation. Suggesting it in your letter shows the judge you were reasonable. Refusing to consider any form of settlement without a good reason can count against a party later.

London Small Claims Court Online: 7 Steps to File Your Claim

You do not file at a specific London building. Online money claims are issued centrally through the Civil National Business Centre, and the case only moves to a local hearing centre if it is defended. So whether you live in Croydon or Camden, the online steps are the same.

There are two online routes. The newer GOV.UK service to make a court claim for money is the default for most people who know the amount they are claiming. The older Money Claim Online (MCOL) service still exists and covers some cases the newer service does not, such as a defendant without an address in England or Wales.

When You Cannot Claim Online

You will need the paper form N1 instead if:

• You do not know the exact amount you are claiming
• You are claiming on behalf of more than one person or organisation
• You are claiming against three or more people or organisations
• You are claiming against a government department

The 7 Steps

1. Gather your details. You need the defendant’s correct legal name and address. For a company, use the registered name from Companies House, not a trading name. An email address for them helps too.
2. Work out the claim value. Add the debt, any contractual interest, or statutory interest at 8% a year for most non-business debts. Businesses chasing late B2B payments may be able to use the late payment legislation instead.
3. Create your account and start the claim. The service walks you through who you are, who you are claiming against, and how much.
4. Write your particulars of claim. This is a short, factual statement of what happened and why the money is owed. Stick to dates, amounts and the agreement. Leave out emotion and side issues.
5. Sign the statement of truth. You are confirming the facts are true. A false statement can be treated as contempt of court, so take it seriously.
6. Pay the court fee or enter your Help with Fees reference number.
7. Submit and track the claim. The court serves the claim on the defendant, and you follow progress through your online account.

What Happens After You Submit

The defendant has 14 days from service to respond. They can pay in full, admit all or part of the claim, or file an acknowledgment of service to get another 14 days to prepare a defence. If they do nothing, you can ask for judgment in default, usually without a hearing. If they defend, the claim moves on to mediation.

Small Claims Court Fees in 2026

You pay two main court fees in a small claim. The issue fee is paid when you file, and the hearing fee is paid later, only if the case is defended and heads to a hearing. Both are based on the amount you claim, including interest. The figures below follow the HMCTS fee list updated on 13 July 2026, but fees change, so always confirm on the official civil court fees (EX50) guidance before paying.

Source: Money Guide, small claims court UK, citing EX50 (July 2026).

Getting Your Fees Back

If you win, you can usually ask for your issue and hearing fees to be added to the judgment. That is one reason the online process is attractive: the main upfront cost is recoverable if your case is solid.

Help With Fees

If you are on a low income or certain benefits and have little in savings, you may qualify for Help with Fees. You can apply online during the claim, or use form EX160 if you are filing on paper.

Do Not Miss the Hearing Fee Deadline

The court will give you a date to pay the hearing fee. Miss it and your claim is struck out automatically. If you settle before the deadline, you do not need to pay it at all.

When the Defendant Fights Back: Mediation and Hearings

A defended claim is where the London small claims court process really starts. Here is how it usually unfolds.

Compulsory Mediation for Claims Under £10,000

Since 2024, defended small claims worth £10,000 or less must go through free Small Claims Mediation run by HMCTS. It is not a courtroom event. A mediator calls each side separately by phone, in an appointment that lasts up to an hour, and passes offers back and forth.

A few things to know:

• Anything agreed becomes legally binding.
• Nothing said in mediation can be repeated to the judge later.
• If you do not attend without a good reason, the judge can strike out your claim or order you to pay costs.

Go in with a clear bottom line. Decide in advance the lowest figure you would accept to avoid months of waiting and a hearing fee. Many cases end right here.

Directions Questionnaire and Allocation

If mediation fails, a judge reviews the case and allocates it to the small claims track. You will receive a notice of allocation with directions: what documents to send, by when, and when the hearing will be. Follow these deadlines exactly. Late evidence can be refused.

Which London Court Will Hear Your Case?

When a claim against an individual is defended, it is often sent to the hearing centre closest to the defendant. Greater London has several, including:

• Central London County Court at the Thomas More Building, Royal Courts of Justice
• Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court
• Mayor’s and City of London Court
• Local centres such as Wandsworth, Croydon, Bromley, Edmonton, Barnet, Brentford, Romford, Uxbridge and Willesden

Your notice of hearing will tell you the exact venue, date and time. Some hearings are now held by phone or video, and if both sides agree, a judge can decide a small claim on the papers alone.

What the Hearing Is Like

A small claims hearing is far less formal than people expect from TV. It usually happens in a judge’s room or small courtroom, around a table. The district judge will often lead the questions.

To prepare well:

1. Bring your bundle: the letter before action, contracts, invoices, messages and photos, in date order and numbered.
2. Prepare a one-page timeline of key events.
3. Write down the three or four points you most need the judge to hear.
4. Bring copies for the judge and the other side.
5. Arrive early. London court security queues can be long.

You normally get the decision on the day. If you think the judge made a legal mistake, you can ask for permission to appeal, usually within 21 days.

You Won. Now How Do You Get Paid?

Winning a county court judgment (CCJ) does not put money in your account. If the defendant ignores it, you need to choose an enforcement method and pay a further fee, which is usually added to the debt.

If you are unsure what the debtor owns, start with an order to obtain information. It costs less than guessing wrong. For employed debtors, an attachment of earnings order is often the most reliable route. For homeowners, a charging order secures your debt against their property.

One note on the human side: a CCJ that is not paid within a month goes on the defendant’s credit record for six years. Sometimes simply reminding them of that is enough to trigger payment.

Common Mistakes That Sink Small Claims

Most failed claims fail for avoidable reasons. Watch out for these:

• Suing the wrong defendant. A trading name is not a legal entity. Check Companies House.
• Skipping the letter before action. Judges notice, and it can affect costs.
• Vague particulars of claim. Say what was agreed, what went wrong and what you want.
• Ignoring deadlines. Late documents and unpaid hearing fees can end your case.
• Claiming things you cannot prove. Stress and wasted time are rarely recoverable on the small claims track.
• Not checking whether they can pay. A judgment against someone with nothing is hard to collect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a solicitor for a small claim in London?

No. The small claims track is designed for people to represent themselves, and the legal costs you can recover from the other side are very limited. A solicitor could easily cost more than the claim is worth.

How long does the small claims process online take?

Undefended claims can lead to judgment within weeks. Defended claims that go through mediation and a hearing commonly take several months, and London hearing centres can be busy, so expect some waiting.

Can I claim against someone who lives outside London?

Yes. The claim is issued centrally, and the defendant only needs an address in England or Wales for the standard online service. A defended case may be heard near where they live.

What if I am the one being sued?

Respond by the deadline on the claim form, online or by post. If you ignore it, the claimant can get judgment against you without a hearing, and a CCJ could follow.

Can I claim interest?

Usually, yes. For most debts without a contract rate, you can claim simple interest at 8% a year, calculated up to the date you file.

Conclusion

The London small claims court gives anyone owed up to £10,000 a practical way to get their money back without hiring a lawyer, as long as they follow the process with care. Start with a clear letter before action and check the other side can actually pay. File your county court claim online through the GOV.UK service or Money Claim Online, pay the right issue fee, and track the claim through your account.

If the defendant disputes it, treat compulsory mediation as a real chance to settle, and if it goes to a hearing at one of London’s county court centres, arrive with an organised bundle and a short timeline. Once you have judgment, pick the enforcement method that fits what the debtor owns. Do each step properly and the small claims process online is one of the most accessible parts of the justice system in England and Wales.