In England and Wales a homeowner can apply to a county court to claim money owed by a business, and the court expects the parties to have exchanged information and considered alternative dispute resolution first; the court fee rises with the sum claimed, and a defended claim of £10,000 or less goes to free court-organised mediation.

Where a court claim fits

A court claim is usually a late step after the routes in our guide to resolving a dispute without court. GOV.UK describes a money claim as an application to a county court for money owed by a person or business, made online or by post. It says a different process applies in Scotland and in Northern Ireland, so this guide covers England and Wales only. The legal basis of the claim, such as poor workmanship, is set out in our guide to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 services rules.

Pre-action steps

The Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct applies where no specific pre-action protocol does. Before proceedings start, it says the court will expect the parties to have exchanged enough information to understand each other’s position, try to settle and consider alternative dispute resolution. The usual steps are a letter from the claimant giving the basis of the claim, a summary of the facts, what the claimant wants and, if it is money, how the amount is calculated. The defendant should reply within a reasonable time, which the Practice Direction puts at 14 days in a straightforward case and no more than three months in a very complex one, and the parties should disclose key documents.

Non-compliance matters. The Practice Direction says the court may take it into account in case management and costs, and that an unreasonable refusal to use alternative dispute resolution, or a failure to respond to an invitation, can be treated as a failure of compliance. It also says the Practice Direction does not alter statutory time limits for starting proceedings.

What it costs to issue a claim

GOV.UK states that the court fee is based on the amount claimed plus any interest. The table shown on GOV.UK on 24 September 2026 lists these fees:

• up to £300: £35
• £300.01 to £500: £50
• £500.01 to £1,000: £70
• £1,000.01 to £1,500: £80
• £1,500.01 to £3,000: £115
• £3,000.01 to £5,000: £205
• £5,000.01 to £10,000: £455
• £10,000.01 to £200,000: 5% of the claim

Help with fees may be available on a low income or certain benefits. GOV.UK says interest can be claimed on the money owed and that, for debts other than late commercial payments, the rate is usually 8%.

Making the claim

GOV.UK says a claim can be made online unless, for example, the amount is unknown, there are three or more defendants, or a party has no address in England or Wales; otherwise the paper form N1 is used. After issue, the defendant must respond by a date the court notifies. If the defendant does not respond or refuses to pay, the claimant can ask the court for judgment.

Mediation and the hearing

For a claim of £10,000 or less that the defendant disputes, GOV.UK says the parties are told they must attend mediation, which the court organises free as a telephone appointment of up to one hour. For a larger claim the court may offer mediation, or the parties can arrange it themselves. If there is a hearing, GOV.UK says a claimant can represent themselves, and that a claim for less than £10,000 may be heard in a judge’s room or a courtroom, with a possibly more formal hearing for larger sums. A decision is given on the day and an appeal must be made within 21 days.

Evidence and enforcement

Where a claim turns on technical questions, the Practice Direction says the court must give permission before expert evidence can be relied on and that it may limit recoverable fees, so the first evidence is usually the contract, photographs and dated records, as suggested in our guide to recording a leak. If a judgment is not paid, GOV.UK says the claimant can ask the court to collect payment, including by bailiffs under a warrant of control; a county court warrant of control is available where the sum owed is £5,000 or less.

FAQs

Does this process apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

No. GOV.UK says there is a different process to make a court claim in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.

Do I have to write to the installer before issuing a claim?

The Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct says the court will expect the parties to have exchanged information and considered settlement first, usually starting with a letter setting out the claim.

Is mediation compulsory?

GOV.UK says that for a disputed claim of £10,000 or less the parties are told they must attend mediation.

Can I recover the court fee?

GOV.UK says a claimant may be able to claim fees back if they win the case.

The bottom line

A county court claim against a conservatory installer in England and Wales follows a set order: a pre-action letter, an attempt to settle, an issue fee that scales with the sum claimed, mediation for smaller disputed claims and, only then, a hearing. The court looks at whether both sides behaved reasonably before issue. This is general information, not legal advice; the figures and steps on the GOV.UK pages can change, so check them before issuing a claim.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: Court fees”
• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: Resolve your claim through mediation”
• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: Make a claim”
• Ministry of Justice, “Practice Direction: Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols”

Related guides

Compare Conservatories is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not legal or planning advice on any specific property — always confirm requirements directly with your local planning authority.