Learn how to file a small claim using Money Claim Online (MCOL) with this step-by-step UK guide, covering registration, fees, and what to expect next.

How to file your claim using Money Claim Online

If someone owes you money and informal attempts to recover it have failed, the UK court system provides a straightforward route to pursue what you are owed. Money Claim Online — commonly known as MCOL — is the government’s web-based service for starting a county court claim in England or Wales. It is designed to be accessible without a solicitor, making it a practical option for individuals and small businesses alike. This guide walks you through the entire process, from checking your eligibility to submitting your claim and understanding what happens once it lands with the defendant.

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What is Money Claim Online and who can use it?

Money Claim Online is an online service run by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that allows claimants to issue a county court claim for a fixed sum of money without needing to visit a court in person. You can access MCOL directly on GOV.UK.

To use the service, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your claim is for a specific, fixed amount of money (not an estimate or a range)
• The amount claimed is £100,000 or less
• You are claiming from no more than two defendants
• Both you and the defendant(s) are based in England or Wales
• You are aged 18 or over (or acting on behalf of a business)

MCOL is not suitable for claims involving personal injury, disputes about the quality of goods or services where a precise figure is unclear, or claims against someone who lives outside England and Wales. If your claim does not fit these criteria, you may need to use the N1 claim form and submit it to your local county court instead.

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Before you file: steps you must take first

Courts expect claimants to have made a genuine attempt to resolve the matter before issuing proceedings. Skipping this step can result in cost penalties later, even if you win your case.

Send a formal letter before action

A letter before action (sometimes called a letter of claim) is a formal written notice to the defendant setting out what you are claiming, why you believe you are owed the money, and giving them a reasonable deadline — typically 14 days for individuals and sole traders — to pay or respond. This is required under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims for consumer debts, and good practice for all other money claims.

You can generate a compliant letter before action quickly using the ClaimsPilot letter before action tool, which tailors the wording to your specific situation.

Calculate the full amount you are owed

Before filing, you should work out the total sum you intend to claim. This may include:

• The principal debt (the original amount owed)
• Statutory interest at 8% per annum under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, if applicable
• Court fees (which are added on top and recoverable if you win)

Use the ClaimsPilot interest calculator to work out how much interest has accrued since the debt became overdue, so you can include the correct figure on your claim form.

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Registering and setting up your MCOL account

To get started, visit www.moneyclaim.gov.uk and create an account. You will need to provide:

• Your full name and address (or your business name and registered address)
• A valid email address
• A password for your account

Once registered, you can save a draft claim and return to it later, which is useful if you need to gather additional information before submitting. Keep your login details safe — you will need them to track progress and respond to any court correspondence online.

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How to complete the claim form

This is the most important part of the process. Accuracy matters, because errors can delay your claim or give the defendant grounds to challenge it on technical grounds.

Step 1: Enter the defendant’s details

You will need the defendant’s full legal name and their current address in England or Wales. If you are claiming against a limited company, use the registered company name (which you can check on Companies House) and the registered office address. Getting this wrong can mean the claim is served at the wrong address and the defendant does not receive it.

Step 2: Set out the particulars of your claim

The “particulars of claim” section is where you explain what happened, why the defendant owes you money, and what you are claiming. MCOL gives you a limited character count (1,080 characters), so you will need to be concise. Cover:

• The nature of the agreement or transaction (for example, goods supplied, services rendered, or a loan)
• The date the debt became due
• Any relevant reference numbers or invoice numbers
• The amount claimed

Avoid legal jargon. Write clearly and in plain English, as if explaining the situation to someone unfamiliar with the background.

Step 3: Enter the amount you are claiming

You will be asked to break the claim down into:

• Amount claimed — the principal debt
• Interest — the statutory or contractual interest calculated to the date of issue
• Court fee — added automatically by the system based on your claim amount

The court fee is calculated on a sliding scale. For example, claims up to £300 attract a fee of £35, while claims between £5,000 and £10,000 attract a fee of £455. You can check the current court fee schedule on GOV.UK.

Step 4: Choose the rate of interest going forward

If your claim takes time to resolve, you may also want to claim interest that continues to accrue after the date of issue until judgment or payment. MCOL allows you to include a daily rate of interest, which you should calculate using the 8% statutory rate divided by 365.

Step 5: Review and pay the court fee

Before submitting, review every detail carefully. Once the claim is issued, making changes becomes complicated. Pay the court fee by debit or credit card through the secure payment portal. Your claim is formally issued only once payment is confirmed.

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What happens after you submit your claim?

Once issued, MCOL will serve the claim on the defendant by post. The defendant then has 14 days from the date of service to respond. They have several options:

• Pay in full — the matter is resolved
• Admit the claim — they acknowledge the debt and may request a payment plan
• Defend the claim — they file a defence, at which point the case may be transferred to a local county court and allocated to the appropriate track (small claims, fast track, or multi-track)
• Acknowledge service — they flag that they intend to respond but need more time, giving them a further 14 days

If the defendant does not respond within the deadline, you can apply for a default judgment through MCOL. This is a court order confirming that you are owed the money, and it can be used to enforce payment through methods such as warrant of execution, attachment of earnings, or a third-party debt order. Guidance on enforcement options is available on GOV.UK.

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Common mistakes to avoid when using MCOL

Even a straightforward claim can run into difficulty if certain errors are made. Watch out for the following:

• Incorrect defendant name or address — the claim may not be properly served
• Vague particulars of claim — the defendant or the court may ask you to clarify, causing delays
• Claiming an amount you cannot evidence — you should have invoices, contracts, receipts, or correspondence to back up every element of your claim
• Forgetting to send a letter before action — a judge may take a dim view if you issued proceedings without giving the defendant a fair chance to settle
• Miscalculating interest — an incorrect figure could undermine the credibility of your claim

Taking time to prepare thoroughly before you click submit will give your claim the best possible foundation.

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Ready to get started?

Filing a claim through Money Claim Online is well within the reach of most people, provided you have done the groundwork first. That means sending a proper letter before action, calculating the full amount owed — including interest — and ensuring you have your evidence organised.

ClaimsPilot is here to help you prepare at every stage. Use the letter before action tool to send a compliant, professionally worded notice, and the interest calculator to make sure your figures are accurate before you file.

Start your claim today at app.claimspilot.co.uk/auth and take the first step towards recovering what you are owed.