26th September 2013, 07:44 PM
Hi RedEarth, I filed the form from the comfort of the spare room/study. Fee was £35 for the first claim (£400) and £60 for the second (£1000).... both were consumer goods issues rather than chasing invoices. There's an incremental fee structure.
I tend to think going small claims is a great way to alienate clients and luckily have never needed to - but would if I had to. I have issued a penalty invoice once to a client who wouldn't return my calls. It worked and I got a call and an explanation (and paid) so I cancelled the penalty. I did learn that solicitors letters seem to be seen as a bit of an idle threat (and I have a very friendly solicitor in the form of my mother-in-law) but court papers tend to be taken seriously.
In the case I went to the court the other party didn't turn up, but that worked in our favour as they counted the case as indisputed gave us the money we claimed, the fees we'd paid, loss of earnings for having to attend court and the cost of mileage to travel plus parking...
I guess it just depends how much the amount you loose is worth to you in time and effort.
I tend to think going small claims is a great way to alienate clients and luckily have never needed to - but would if I had to. I have issued a penalty invoice once to a client who wouldn't return my calls. It worked and I got a call and an explanation (and paid) so I cancelled the penalty. I did learn that solicitors letters seem to be seen as a bit of an idle threat (and I have a very friendly solicitor in the form of my mother-in-law) but court papers tend to be taken seriously.
In the case I went to the court the other party didn't turn up, but that worked in our favour as they counted the case as indisputed gave us the money we claimed, the fees we'd paid, loss of earnings for having to attend court and the cost of mileage to travel plus parking...
I guess it just depends how much the amount you loose is worth to you in time and effort.