What can I claim in the small-claims track?
The small-claims track in England & Wales generally covers money claims up to £10,000. RobinReturn is built for B2B debts in that band — an unpaid invoice owed by one business to another.
Small claims
Small claims for an
unpaid invoice.
If a business owes you up to £10,000 in England & Wales, the small-claims track lets you recover it yourself. Here is how it works, what it costs, and where RobinReturn fits in.
Direct answer
To recover an unpaid B2B invoice (up to £10,000) in England & Wales you can use the County Court small-claims track as a litigant in person. The usual route is a reminder, then a Letter Before Action, then a County Court claim if it is still unpaid.
TL;DR
- Small-claims track covers money claims up to £10,000.
- You can act for yourself — no solicitor required.
- Send a reminder, then a Letter Before Action first.
- HMCTS court fees run £35–£455 by claim value.
- RobinReturn prepares the documents; its role ends at judgment.
The steps
From overdue invoice
to a judgment.
The pre-action steps matter: the court expects you to give the debtor a fair chance to pay before you issue a claim (the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims).
| Step | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Polite reminder | A clear, professional request for payment, stating the debt, interest and compensation. | Stage I · 7–14 days |
| 2 · Letter Before Action | A formal demand giving the debtor a deadline to pay before a claim — 14 days for a company, 30 days for a sole trader or individual. | Stage II · response window |
| 3 · County Court claim | If still unpaid, an N1 claim form and Particulars are prepared. You file it yourself via Money Claim Online (MCOL). | Stage III · then judgment |
RobinReturn prepares the documents and guides you through filing — there is no MCOL programming interface, so the filing step is done by you. RobinReturn's help ends once judgment is obtained.
What it costs
Court fees scale
with the claim.
The HMCTS court fee is paid to the court and is separate from RobinReturn's flat £35 claim-preparation fee. Court fees are exempt from VAT.
| Claim value (up to) | HMCTS court fee |
|---|---|
| £300 | £35 |
| £500 | £50 |
| £1,000 | £70 |
| £1,500 | £80 |
| £3,000 | £115 |
| £5,000 | £205 |
| £10,000 | £455 |
RobinReturn's own fees are a £2.00 reminder, a £9.50 Letter Before Action and a flat £35 for claim preparation — you only pay for the stage you reach. See the full price book.
FAQs
Small-claims questions,
answered.
How much are the court fees for a small claim?
The HMCTS court fee scales with the amount claimed, from £35 for claims up to £300 to £455 for claims up to £10,000. It is paid to the court, not to RobinReturn, and is separate from RobinReturn's flat £35 claim-preparation fee.
Do I need a solicitor to make a small claim?
No. The small-claims track is designed for people to act for themselves as a litigant in person. RobinReturn prepares the documents and guides you; it is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How long does a small claim take?
It varies. Many invoices are paid at the reminder or Letter Before Action stage, within weeks. A defended claim that goes to a hearing can take several months. RobinReturn's role ends at judgment.
What if the debtor disputes the debt?
A genuine dispute on the amount or the quality of the work may need different handling — and possibly legal advice. RobinReturn is intended for documented, undisputed B2B invoices.
Recover it without
the guesswork.
Start with a reminder and only escalate to a Letter Before Action or a claim if you need to — each step at a published price.