A new online service, Money Claim Online , allows anyone owed less than £100,000 to issue a claim through the small claims court - for a fee of as little as £27.
Creditors simply register a username and password at the site, enter the name and address of the debtor, the amount owed and details of the services provided. The court fee, payable by credit or debit card, is then calculated automatically.
Using their password details, claimants can then track the progress of their cases online and, if the debtor takes too long to respond, request the court to enter judgment and, finally, send in the bailiffs.
The new system does not change the way the courts operate but it does make the process more convenient. Previously a small claims form would have to been collected from a local county court or printed off the Court Service web site and posted.
Andrew Pinter, the UK government's e-envoy, said: "By putting this service online, the Court Service is to be congratulated for creating a system that can help people avoid the need for what can be a lengthy and sometimes intimidating court process."
Free daily newsletter
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
Related articles
- Five key takeaways from the UK select committee on the future of news
- The first UK local news publisher gains charitable status
- Inclusive Journalism Cymru wants to diversify Welsh newsrooms
- A searchable court case database aims to improve reporting on public interest stories
- Call for Views: UK media invited to shape code of practice on data protection in journalism
