You can make a small claims court claim either through the government's Money Claims Online (MCOL) portal or through Garfield. Here's how they compare:
DIY with Money Claims Online (MCOL)
The government's free portal at gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money lets you file claims yourself.
What you'll need to do:
- Send a Letter Before Action yourself and wait 14-30 days
- Gather all evidence (contracts, invoices, correspondence)
- Confirm the defendant's correct legal name and address
- Complete the N1 claim form manually
- Calculate statutory interest (8% above base rate) correctly
- Track all deadlines and court correspondence
- Prepare your evidence bundle for any hearing
Time required: 10-20+ hours over several months
Risk: Errors in forms, incorrect interest calculations, or missed deadlines can delay or weaken your claim.
Garfield (recommended)
Garfield automates the entire process from start to finish.
What Garfield does for you:
- Writes and sends payment reminders and Letter Before Action
- Automatically completes the N1 claim form with correct details
- Calculates interest and late payment compensation accurately
- Files electronically with the court
- Tracks claim status and notifies you of responses
- Provides hearing preparation if the defendant defends
Time required: 5 minutes to start
Cost: Fixed recoverable fees - if you win, you can ask the Court to order the defendant to reimburse most of Garfield's fees.
Before filing any claim
Whichever method you choose, 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)
- Verified you're within the 6-year limitation period
Garfield handles all of this automatically.