Discover what MCOL (Money Claim Online) is, how the UK small claims process works, and how ClaimsPilot helps you prepare and submit your claim with confidence.
What is MCOL and how does ClaimsPilot help you use it?
If you are owed money and have been unable to resolve the matter informally, the UK court system provides a straightforward route to recover what you are due. Money Claim Online — commonly known as MCOL — is the government’s digital portal for making a county court money claim in England and Wales. For many people, however, navigating the process alone feels daunting. That is where ClaimsPilot comes in. This guide explains what MCOL is, how it works, and how ClaimsPilot can support you at every stage.
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What is MCOL?
MCOL stands for Money Claim Online. It is an official service run by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that allows individuals and businesses to issue a county court money claim over the internet, without needing to visit a court in person or complete paper forms.
You can use MCOL to claim a fixed or specified amount of money — for example, an unpaid invoice, a security deposit that was not returned, or compensation for faulty goods or services. Claims can be made against individuals or organisations, and the service is available to claimants based in England and Wales.
The service is accessible through the official MCOL portal on GOV.UK, where you can register, issue your claim, and track its progress online.
MCOL is specifically designed for specified money claims — that is, claims where you know the exact amount you are seeking. If your claim is for an unspecified amount, or involves a particularly complex legal dispute, you may need to consider alternative court routes. For most straightforward debts and consumer disputes, however, MCOL is the most efficient option available.
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How does the MCOL process work?
Understanding the steps involved helps you prepare properly and avoid unnecessary delays. Here is a broad overview of how a typical MCOL claim progresses.
Sending a letter before action
Before you issue a claim through MCOL, you are expected to contact the person or business you intend to sue and give them a reasonable opportunity to respond. This is done by sending a letter before action (sometimes called a letter before claim). Courts expect claimants to have attempted to resolve the dispute before resorting to legal proceedings, and skipping this step can reflect poorly on you during the case.
A letter before action should set out the amount you are claiming, the reason for the claim, and a clear deadline for payment — typically 14 days for individuals, or 30 days for business-to-business disputes under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.
ClaimsPilot’s letter before action tool makes this step straightforward. You can generate a professionally worded letter in minutes, tailored to your specific situation, ensuring it meets the expectations set out by the courts.
Issuing the claim on MCOL
If the defendant does not respond or refuses to pay within your deadline, you can proceed to issue the claim on MCOL. You will need to:
- Register for an account on the MCOL service
- Provide the defendant’s full name and address
- Set out the details of your claim (the “particulars of claim”)
- Pay the relevant court fee
Court fees are calculated based on the amount you are claiming. You can find the current fee schedule on GOV.UK. If you are on a low income, you may be eligible to apply for a fee remission using Form EX160.
After the claim is issued
Once your claim is issued, the defendant has 14 days to respond. They may:
- Admit the claim and offer to pay
- Defend the claim, in which case the matter may be transferred to your local county court for a hearing
- Ignore it, allowing you to apply for a default judgment
A default judgment means the court rules in your favour automatically because the defendant did not respond. You can then take steps to enforce the judgment if the defendant still does not pay.
If the defendant defends the claim and the amount is £10,000 or less, it will usually be allocated to the small claims track — an informal, cost-effective court process designed for use without a solicitor.
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How much can you claim and what interest can you add?
Through MCOL, you can claim amounts up to £100,000, though claims above £10,000 will typically be allocated to tracks with more formal procedures and potentially higher cost risks.
You are also entitled to claim interest on top of the principal amount owed. For most consumer debts, the court allows 8% simple interest per annum under the County Courts Act 1984. For business-to-business debts, you may be entitled to claim statutory interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, which carries a higher rate.
Working out exactly how much interest you can claim — and over what period — can be confusing. ClaimsPilot’s interest calculator does this for you automatically. Simply enter the amount owed, the date payment became due, and the relevant interest rate, and the tool calculates the total interest accrued to date. This figure can then be included in your MCOL claim.
Getting your claim amount right from the outset matters. If you under-claim, you may not recover everything you are owed. If you claim an incorrect figure, it could complicate proceedings.
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Writing your particulars of claim
One of the most important — and often most challenging — parts of submitting a claim on MCOL is writing the particulars of claim. This is a concise statement explaining the background to your dispute, why the defendant owes you money, and the amount you are seeking.
MCOL provides only a limited text field for particulars, so clarity and brevity are essential. Courts expect particulars to be factual, clearly structured, and specific. Vague or overly emotional language is unlikely to serve you well.
Your particulars should typically include:
- When the agreement or transaction took place
- What was agreed or what goods/services were provided
- How the defendant has failed to meet their obligation
- The amount owed and how it is calculated
- Any relevant dates (such as when invoices were raised or payment demanded)
ClaimsPilot guides you through drafting your particulars in a clear, structured way, helping you include the right information without going into unnecessary detail. Well-written particulars make it easier for the court — and the defendant — to understand your case quickly.
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What happens if you win your claim?
Obtaining a court judgment is one thing; actually receiving payment is another. If a defendant still refuses to pay after a judgment is made against them, you will need to enforce it. There are several enforcement options available through the courts, including:
- Warrant of control — sending county court bailiffs to seize the defendant’s goods
- Attachment of earnings order — deducting money directly from the defendant’s wages
- Third-party debt order — freezing money held in the defendant’s bank account
- Charging order — securing the debt against the defendant’s property
Each option has its own process and associated costs. You can read about enforcement options on GOV.UK. It is worth considering before you issue a claim whether the defendant is likely to be able to pay — pursuing an unenforceable judgment wastes time and money.
ClaimsPilot helps you understand the enforcement landscape as part of its broader guidance, so you can make informed decisions about whether and how to proceed with your claim.
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How ClaimsPilot supports you through the MCOL process
MCOL is a powerful tool, but for people who have never used the courts before, the process can feel uncertain. ClaimsPilot is designed specifically to address this gap — providing AI-powered guidance that makes each step clearer, more manageable, and less stressful.
Here is how ClaimsPilot helps:
- Letter before action — generate a properly structured pre-action letter in minutes using the letter before action tool
- Interest calculation — work out the