Offer legal services for the return of money

03/06/2023

03/06/2023

You can make a court claim for the money you’re owed (often called a ‘money claim’ or ‘small claim’). It can include any interest and compensation you’re owed.

Your customer might pay soon after they get your claim, to avoid getting a court order against them. If they do, it won’t cost you any more than the initial fee, and you won’t have to go to court.

If you’re owed a lot of money, or the situation is complicated, you’re less likely to get paid immediately. Your claim could go to court if your customer disagrees with your claim, which can be expensive and take a long time.

It’s best to get legal advice before deciding to make a court claim if:

your customer could argue that they didn’t pay for a reason, for example they’re unhappy with your goods or services
your contract is complicated – a solicitor or legal adviser can check if any terms or conditions could be a problem in court
you’re owed over £10,000 in England or Wales, £5,000 in Scotland or £3,000 in Northern Ireland