Question 1

Is Garfield a lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Garfield is not a solicitor or a barrister. In fact, Garfield is not even human! It hasn't sat any law degrees. It is a legal assistant that is a machine learning application.

Question 2

Can Garfield give me legal advice?

Accepted Answer

Garfield helps users pursue a debt claim in the small claims track of the English County Court. As part of this, Garfield will guide you through all the steps necessary to take a case to trial and help you compose and send the relevant documents, and respond to any documents you receive from the Court or the debtor. Garfield will not give you legal advice on the merits of the case.

Question 3

What kinds of claims can Garfield help me with?

Accepted Answer

Garfield can help you if you (or, if you are a law firm, your client) sold goods and/or supplied a service. If you are a law firm, Garfield can help you if you agreed a fixed fee as Garfield does not presently handle detailed assessment. Finally, Garfield does not presently conduct landlord and tenant claims or claims based on loan agreements. If you are interested in this service, please email us at enquiries@garfield.law.

Question 4

Can Garfield handle other types of claims apart from debt claims?

Accepted Answer

Not yet, but further claims are coming in 2025.

Question 5

Can I stop using Garfield at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. At any time you can download the documents generated through Garfield. Please note that if you have started a Court case, you cannot simply ignore it and you will need to resolve it with the debtor.

Question 6

I am owed more than £10,000 by a debtor. Can I use Garfield?

Accepted Answer

Yes but only if you are willing to claim no more than £10,000. Garfield does not handle fast track claims.

Question 7

Can Garfield help me with settlement negotiations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Garfield can draft settlement letters for you, including responses to the debtor's settlement letters, if any.

Question 8

When my debtor pays, does it pay me or Garfield?

Accepted Answer

The debtor will pay you (or, if you are a law firm, it may pay your client). Payment of the debt is not routed through Garfield as an intermediary.

Question 9

What happens if I win my case but the debtor does not pay?

Accepted Answer

You will be entitled to use the Court's enforcement powers to enforce payment of the debt.

Question 10

Do I recover the fees I pay Garfield if I win my case?

Accepted Answer

Garfield's fees for issuing a Claim Form, applying for default judgment and dealing with an admission are set at the levels the Court permits recovery of from the debtor. The Court has a discretion to award these fees to you, together with the fees that have to be paid to the Court. Ordinarily this discretion is exercised in favour of a successful claimant.

Question 11

Are there any hidden charges for using Garfield?

Accepted Answer

No.

Question 12

What happens if the defendant issues a counterclaim?

Accepted Answer

Providing the case is allocated to the small claims track, Garfield will help you respond to the counterclaim.

Question 13

What happens if my claim is defended and it reaches trial?

Accepted Answer

Garfield will prepare the trial bundle and a skeleton argument for you. Small claims hearings are designed so that you can represent yourself. Or you can pass Garfield's documents to a barrister or law firm to represent you at the trial if you wish.

Question 14

What happens if the case is allocated to the fast track, intermediate track or multi-track?

Accepted Answer

Garfield can only assist you with claims allocated to the small claims track. If the claim is allocated to a different track, you will need to take it forward without further assistance from Garfield. You will be able to download all the documents and there will be no further charge.

Question 15

I am a defendant. Can I use Garfield?

Accepted Answer

No, sorry. Garfield can only be used by claimants, or by law firms representing claimants.

Question 16

I've heard AI can "hallucinate". Is that a risk with Garfield?

Accepted Answer

When Garfield generates a document or proposes that you take a step in the dispute, you have to check the facts that Garfield understands. You have to do the same thing with a human lawyer. Apart from that, we have taken steps to protect against Garfield hallucinating.

Question 17

How do you deal with the confidentiality of my/my client's information?

Accepted Answer

We keep all information confidential and data secure. We use enterprise grade security and all suppliers have entered into strict confidentiality obligations to us.

Recover unpaid invoices at scale

See how Garfield can help automate your debt recovery process

Streamline the whole process with minimal user input

Add your invoices to get started

Garfield handles your legal letters

Get paid and recover your costs

Pricing built for high-volume debt recovery

Claim management that scales effortlessly with the size of your business

Link your accounting software

Collaborate with your team

Handle high volume of claims

Chasing small debts the old way is a waste of time and money

Frequently Asked Questions