# Working in Northern Ireland, Small Claims
In Northern Ireland, small claims run through the County Court Small Claims Court · separate from the small claims track in England and Wales, and different from Scotland's Simple Procedure.
1. What it is
You normally use the NI Small Claims Court for straightforward money claims up to around £5,000, such as:
- Unpaid invoices
- Disputes over small jobs
- Faulty goods or poor-quality work
The process uses NI-specific forms, fees and guidance, so you follow the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service route, not the England and Wales online money claim system.
2. How it compares
| England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| System | Money Claims Online / County Court | Simple Procedure / Sheriff Court | County Court Small Claims |
| Claim limit | Up to £10,000 | Up to £5,000 | Up to ~£5,000 |
| How you file | Online portal (MCOL) or paper | Scottish forms to Sheriff Court | NI-specific forms to County Court |
| Solicitor needed? | No | No | No |
Any "just use Money Claims Online" advice from English sources is wrong for NI.
3. Court fees
Court fees in NI are set by County Court Fees Orders and are banded by claim value:
- One fee level for claims up to £300
- Then higher bands for £300–£500, £500–£1,000, and over £1,000
Check the current NI Courts and Tribunals Service website for exact fees, they change over time.
4. What this means for you
If you're working in NI and a customer won't pay:
- Use the NI Small Claims Court process and paperwork.
- Don't try to file through England's Money Claims Online or Scotland's Simple Procedure.
- Make sure you have a clear paper trail: quote, acceptance, invoices, messages, photos of work done.
The paper trail is what wins in front of any court. "He said he'd pay me" with no evidence is not a claim: it's a hope.
What to do next
- Read: Guide 1.12 · Chasing debt as a sole trader
- Read: Guide 9.1 · What to do when a customer won't pay
- Read: Working in Scotland · Simple Procedure (for comparison)
Sources
- County Court (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 · legal framework for NI small claims.
- NI Courts and Tribunals Service · forms, fees, guidance.
- County Court Fees Orders (NI) · fee bands by claim value.
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