How to File a Money Claim Online (MCOL): Step by Step Guide

Who can use MCOL

Money Claim Online (MCOL) is the online route for starting a county court claim for a fixed sum of money. It is run by HM Courts and Tribunals Service at moneyclaim.gov.uk. For straightforward debts it is quicker and cheaper than paper forms, and many unrepresented claimants manage it without professional help.

MCOL handles claims for a specified (fixed) amount up to £100,000. If you want the court to decide the figure, use form N1 on paper or the newer Online Civil Money Claims service. Other limits:

• Both you and the defendant must have an address for service in England or Wales.
• No more than two claimants and two defendants.
• The claim must be against a named person or organisation, not "the occupier".
• It cannot be used against the Crown, anyone under 18, or a protected party.

If any of those apply, use the paper N1 route through your local County Court Money Claims Centre.

Small Claims Guide

Thinking of making a small claim or defending one? Describe your situation and get a step-by-step guide to the process, costs, and what to expect.

Try our Small Claims Guide free, here on this site →

Getting started: registration and parties

You need a Government Gateway login for MCOL. Registration is free and takes a few minutes. Use an email you check regularly: the court sends notifications there and will not ring you with updates.

Before filling anything in, gather your documents: the contract or written agreement, invoices, statements, correspondence chasing the debt, and your letter before action with proof of posting. You can save claims as drafts, so there is no pressure to complete everything in one sitting.

Getting the parties right matters. Errors can make any judgment unenforceable. For an individual, use their full legal name and current residential address. Sole traders are sued as individuals, optionally as "Mr John Smith trading as Smith's Motors". For a limited company, use the exact registered name from Companies House, including "Limited" or "Ltd", and serve at the registered office. A trading name is not a legal entity: if the invoice says "ABC Plumbing" but Companies House shows "ABC Plumbing Services Ltd", claim against the Ltd company. Check at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk before you file.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Calculating the claim and drafting particulars

MCOL asks for the amount claimed, any interest, and the court fee. The amount claimed is the debt itself. Keep a note of how it breaks down (invoice numbers, dates, sums) because you will need that for the particulars.

On interest, two common bases apply:

• Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998: applies to business to business debts. The statutory rate is 8% above the Bank of England reference rate, plus a fixed compensation sum per invoice under section 5A.
• Section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984: the fallback for most other debts, usually 8% per year simple interest from when the cause of action arose. This is discretionary but commonly awarded.

You cannot claim under both for the same period. Contractual interest takes priority over either. MCOL will ask for the daily rate going forward (annual interest divided by 365).

Court fees depend on the claim value, and MCOL fees are slightly lower than paper equivalents. Check the current table on GOV.UK under "Court fees for the civil and family courts" (form EX50). If you are on a low income or certain benefits you may qualify for help with fees (form EX160).

MCOL gives you around 1,080 characters for the particulars of claim. Write plainly and cover: what the agreement was, what the defendant failed to do, the sum due (broken down if helpful), and that interest is claimed under a specific Act or contract term with the rate and period. If you cannot fit everything, you can state that fuller particulars will follow within 14 days of service under CPR 7.4, though most debt claims do not need that.

Submitting, service, and what happens next

Once you are happy with the draft, pay by card and submit. The system generates a claim number immediately. Claims are typically issued on the next working day, and you can download the sealed claim form from your MCOL account.

MCOL serves the claim form by first class post. Under CPR 6.14, service is deemed on the second business day after posting. The defendant then has 14 days from deemed service to respond, or 28 days if they file an acknowledgment of service. Your MCOL account shows status updates as things progress. If the defendant does not respond in time, you can request judgment in default through MCOL.

If the defendant admits the claim, you can accept their offer or ask the court to decide the payment rate. If they defend, the claim usually transfers to a local County Court hearing centre and is allocated to a track (most often small claims for debts under £10,000).

Before issuing, make sure you have complied with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims where it applies. The Protocol covers any business claiming payment from an individual (including sole traders). It requires a letter of claim setting out the amount owed, how the debt arises, details of any interest or charges, and a 30 day response deadline. Skipping it can lead to costs sanctions or the claim being stayed.

For anything unusual: contested debts, parties outside England and Wales, guarantees, trusts, complex set-off or counterclaim situations, or larger sums: take advice before you press submit. Once a claim is issued, amending it costs money and may need the court's permission.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Small Claims Guide lets you thinking of making a small claim or defending one? Describe your situation and get a step-by-step guide to the process, costs, and what to expect. Try it now →