How to Issue County Court Claims and Obtain CCJs

Mediation
Before scheduling hearing dates, the court will write to both parties and suggest they try settling the dispute though mediation. Parties will be advised to attend a mediation centre where they can share the cost of hiring a mediator at rate of around £1,500-day.

Direction Questionnaires
If you get past the mediation stage, the court will require both parties to fill out a Directions Questionnaire. This will help the court manage the case, and decide whether the claim should be allocated to the small, fast, or multi track (see below).

Small Claims
For small claims of less than £10,000, neither party is entitled to recover their costs. As a result, it's sometimes better for claimants to represent themselves as neither party will recoup their legal expenses.

Fast Track and Multi Track
Fast track claims are valued between £10,000 and £25,000. These claims are hurried through the system, but can still take 12 to 18 months to go to trial depending on:

• How busy the court is
• The complexity of the case

Multi Track claims - for debts greater than £25,000 - are prioritised as they tend to be complex and involve more litigation.

Unless Orders
Some defendants frustrate the process by deliberately failing to comply with court-issued directions. This forces the claimant to apply for an Unless Order, which declares that unless the defendant complies by a particular date, their case is liable to be struck out of court. Unless Orders sometimes backfire because even if a litigant wins or successfully defends a claim, the courts may order them to pay all costs as they were the non-compliant party.