How to Sue a Company in the UK – A Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-step guide to suing a company in the UK for up to £10,000. What you need, what it costs, and how GotAClaim automates the entire process from £20.
Can You Sue a Company Without a Solicitor?
Yes. If a company owes you money, delivered faulty goods, did a bad job, or broke a contract, you have every right to take them to court — and you do not need a solicitor to do it.
For claims up to £10,000 in England and Wales, up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland, or up to €2,000 in the Republic of Ireland, the small claims process is specifically designed for individuals to represent themselves.
The process is straightforward when you follow the right steps in the right order. This guide walks you through every stage — from your first complaint to enforcing a court judgment.
Step 1 – Try to Resolve It Directly
Before anything legal happens, contact the company in writing. Email or write to them clearly stating the problem, what you want them to do about it (refund, repair, compensation), and a reasonable deadline to respond. Keep copies of everything.
Many disputes are resolved at this stage — companies often prefer to settle quietly rather than deal with formal complaints. If the company ignores you or refuses to resolve the issue, you move to the next step.
Step 2 – Send a Letter Before Action
A Letter Before Action (LBA) is a formal legal notice telling the company that you intend to take court action if they do not resolve the dispute. In England and Wales, sending an LBA is required under the Civil Procedure Rules before filing a claim. In Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, it is strongly recommended.
The letter must include: what the dispute is about, how much you are claiming and how it was calculated, a deadline to respond (usually 14 days), and a clear statement that you will file a court claim if they do not pay or resolve the matter.
This is the step where many disputes are settled. Sending a formal legal notice often prompts the other party to resolve the matter — without the need for court proceedings.
GotAClaim generates a professional Letter Before Action for £20 (automated email delivery with follow-up reminders).
Step 3 – Find the Company's Legal Details
If the company does not respond to your LBA, you need their correct legal details to file a court claim. This is where many people make a mistake — you must sue the correct legal entity, not a trading name or brand name.
Go to Companies House (companieshouse.gov.uk) and search for the company. You need: the registered company name (exactly as it appears on Companies House), the registered office address, and the company number.
If you are suing a sole trader, you need their personal name and home address. If you are suing a partnership, you need the names of the partners.
Getting this wrong can invalidate your entire claim. The court will not correct it for you.
Step 4 – Calculate What You Are Owed
Be precise about your claim amount. Include: the original amount owed (the cost of goods, services, or the debt), any additional losses directly caused by the company's failure (for example, the cost of hiring someone else to fix botched work), and statutory interest at 8% per year calculated from the date the money became overdue.
Do not include speculative losses, emotional distress, or anything you cannot evidence with receipts or invoices. The court awards compensation for actual, provable financial loss — not for inconvenience or frustration.
Step 5 – File Your Claim
The process for filing depends on your jurisdiction.
In England and Wales, you can file online through Money Claim Online (MCOL) for straightforward money claims up to 100,000 pounds, or by posting Form N1 to the County Court. Court fees range from 35 pounds to 455 pounds for claims up to 10,000 pounds.
In Scotland, you file through the Civil Online portal using the Simple Procedure (Form 3A) for claims up to 5,000 pounds. Court fees are 22 pounds for claims under 300 pounds or 123 pounds for claims over 300 pounds.
In Northern Ireland, you file through the NI Courts and Tribunals Service website for claims up to £5,000. Application fees range from £47 to £155.
In the Republic of Ireland, you file through the Courts Service of Ireland website for claims up to €2,000. The fee is a flat €25.
Or — for any of these jurisdictions — GotAClaim can prepare your pre-filled court filing pack for £30 (€35 in Ireland), with all forms, claim details, and step-by-step filing instructions ready to go. For a full breakdown see our court fees guide.
Step 6 – What Happens After You File
Once your claim is served on the company, they usually have 14 to 21 days to respond depending on the jurisdiction. They can pay in full, admit the claim and propose a payment plan, defend the claim, or ignore it.
If they ignore it, you apply for a default judgment — the court rules in your favour without a hearing.
If they defend, the case goes through mediation (free in England and Wales) or a court hearing. You represent yourself. The hearing is informal for small claims — you explain what happened, present your evidence, and the judge decides.
Step 7 – Enforcing the Judgment
A court judgment in your favour does not automatically mean you get paid. If the company ignores the judgment, you need to take enforcement action.
In England and Wales this can include bailiffs, attachment of earnings, third-party debt orders, or charging orders. In Scotland, sheriff officers handle enforcement. In Northern Ireland, the Enforcement of Judgments Office handles it. In Ireland, the Sheriff or County Registrar handles enforcement.
Each enforcement method has its own fee. However, if the company is insolvent or has no assets, enforcement may not succeed.
Before filing a claim, it is worth checking Companies House for any signs of financial distress such as late accounts or outstanding charges.
What If the Company Has Gone Into Liquidation?
If the company has already entered liquidation, administration, or been dissolved, you generally cannot sue them through the small claims court. Your claim would need to be submitted to the appointed liquidator or administrator.
If the company was dissolved but you believe directors acted improperly, you may be able to apply to restore the company to the register — but this is a more complex legal process where professional advice is recommended. Check the company's status on Companies House before taking any action.
How GotAClaim Makes This Easier
GotAClaim automates the most tedious and error-prone parts of suing a company.
For £20, our automated LBA service sends a professionally formatted Letter Before Action by email with automated follow-up reminders — resolving most disputes before they reach court.
If the company does not respond, your pre-filled court filing pack is available for £30 (€35 in Ireland), with all forms completed from the details you already provided.
No solicitor, no re-typing, no guesswork. The entire process from first letter to court-ready forms can be completed in minutes rather than weeks.
Already Sent Your Own Letter Before Action?
If you have already sent a Letter Before Action yourself and the company has ignored it, GotAClaim can still help.
Start with our £20 automated LBA service. A second professionally formatted LBA with automated reminders strengthens your paper trail and gets your claim details into our system — which then unlocks your pre-filled court filing pack for £30.
Think of it as upgrading your claim, not starting over.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to sue a company in the UK?
Court fees range from £22 (Scotland, claims under £300) to £455 (England and Wales, claims up to £10,000). In Ireland it is a flat €25. With GotAClaim, the total cost of Letter Before Action plus court filing pack is £40 (€45 in Ireland) plus the court fee. No solicitor fees required.
How long does the process take?
If the company does not respond to your claim, you can get a default judgment within a few weeks. Defended cases may take a few months. Most disputes settle after the Letter Before Action — often within 14 days.
Can I sue a company that has closed down?
If the company has been dissolved, you generally cannot sue it through the small claims court. Check its status on Companies House. If it is in liquidation or administration, submit your claim to the appointed insolvency practitioner.
Do I need evidence?
Yes. Keep all receipts, invoices, contracts, emails, text messages, photos, and any other documentation that supports your claim. The stronger your evidence, the stronger your case.
Can I sue a company based in another country?
It depends. Within the UK, you can generally file in the courts of the jurisdiction where the company is based. For companies in the Republic of Ireland, use the Irish small claims process. For companies outside the UK and Ireland, the process is more complex and legal advice may be needed.
What if I already sent a Letter Before Action and it was ignored?
Start with our £20 automated LBA service to get your details into our system and create a documented trail. Then unlock your pre-filled court filing pack for £30.
Related Guides
Ready to Take Action?
Ready to Sue a Company?
Start with a Letter Before Action — it is legally required in most jurisdictions and resolves the majority of disputes without going to court. If they do not respond, we prepare your court forms.