Small claims court fees depend on how much you're claiming. If you win, you get these fees back: the court orders the defendant to pay them.
Court fees
Issue fee (to file the claim)
- £35 for claims under £300
- £50 for £300-£500
- £70 for £500-£1,000
- £80 for £1,000-£1,500
- £115 for £1,500-£3,000
- £205 for £3,000-£5,000
- £455 for £5,000-£10,000
Hearing fee (if your case goes to trial)
- £27 for claims under £300
- £55 for £300-£500
- £80 for £500-£1,000
- £115 for £1,000-£1,500
- £170 for £1,500-£3,000
- £345 for £3,000-£10,000
You only pay the hearing fee if the case actually goes to a hearing. If they settle or don't respond, you don't pay it.
What you can recover if you win
Court fees The defendant pays back your issue fee and hearing fee (if applicable).
Fixed legal costs The court allows you to recover £80-£110 on top of court fees. These are standardized costs for preparing the case.
Your claim amount The original debt plus any interest and compensation you're claiming.
What you CAN'T recover
Solicitor fees If you hire a traditional solicitor (typically £1,500-£3,000+), you pay that out of pocket, even if you win. The court doesn't allow full solicitor fees in small claims.
That's why most people represent themselves.
Your time The hours you spend preparing documents, attending hearings, and managing the case aren't recoverable.
Example: £3,500 debt
Upfront costs:
- Issue fee: £205
- Hearing fee (if it goes to trial): £170
- Total: £375
If you win, the defendant pays:
- Your £3,500 debt
- £375 in court fees
- £80-£110 in fixed legal costs
- Total: £3,955-£3,985
You get everything back, including the court fees.
DIY vs Garfield: understanding the real cost
DIY with Money Claims Online (MCOL)
Filing yourself through the government portal costs only the court fees (£35-£455).
However, the hidden costs are:
- Your time: 10-20+ hours completing forms, calculating interest, tracking deadlines
- Risk of errors: Mistakes can delay your claim or weaken your case
- Stress: Managing correspondence and preparing evidence alone
Garfield (recommended)
Garfield charges the fixed legal costs (£80-£110) that the court allows you to recover.
What this means:
- If you win, the defendant pays Garfield's fees - making it effectively free
- You get professional document preparation and court filing
- No risk of paying solicitor fees (£1,500-£3,000+) out of pocket
- 5 minutes to start vs 10-20+ hours DIY
You get professional help with recoverable fees, unlike solicitors whose fees you can't recover in small claims.