The easiest way to make a small claims court claim is through Garfield, which automates the entire process from start to finish. Garfield writes and sends payment reminder letters and the required Letter Before Action for you (including chaser letters if needed), then automatically completes the N1 claim form with all correct details, calculates interest and fees, files electronically with the court, tracks claim status, and notifies you of defendant responses. This eliminates errors and saves hours of work compared to filing yourself.
Before filing any claim, you must have sent a Letter Before Action and waited the notice period (30 days), gathered all evidence (contracts, invoices, correspondence), confirmed the defendant's correct legal name and address (check Companies House for businesses), and verified you're within the 6-year limitation period. Garfield handles all of this automatically.
If filing yourself, you'll need to complete the N1 form with the defendant's full details, original debt amount, payment due date, what the debt is for, and your interest calculation (statutory rate is 8% per year). Your claim statement must be clear and factual, describing what you provided, when payment was due, your evidence, and your recovery attempts. Avoid emotional language or legal jargon.