I used small claims court over a dispute over a repair to my car. I'm a sensitive soul so must admit I found the whole process really rather trying. And financially it was not the storming success I'd anticipated.
As much as I've tried to erase the whole process from my mind, here's the little I remember, some of which is supplementary to the information jonnyboy recounted above, from my small claims experience.
The court process costs you every step of the way. You (as you are the instigator) pay to register the case, there's another cost (I forget what for), you then pay (£300, I recall) for the actual hearing, you pay (£500+, as I recall, though I can;t see you needing one in this case) for a statement from an expert witness. You pay to send each and every correspondence registered post to both court and "defendant". But most of all you pay in emotional energy and lost sleep. But maybe that last part's just me.
There are ways of reducing all of the costs.
When registering the case one of the questions you are asked is if you are prepared to take part in a negotiation session (it was called summat else, but I forget what) where you, defendant and facilitator meet (or maybe in conference call) to try and resolve the case before it gets serious. As the guy I was chasing for cash had shown no interest in any kind of compromise I said "No" to this. This was a mistake, because months and a lot of misery and expense later this is what I ended up doing in front of a judge at my own expense. I was after 4K, simply to end the whole sorry process I settled for £2K, yet I spent over £1K on various costs. Coincidence maybe but I also developed IBS during the stressiest parts of the process.
Hopefully, as long as this supplier realises you aren't making idle threats he'll do what any decent person would do and settle. Otherwise he's an idiot. If he is an idiot then I wish you well.
I am going to PM you my one top tip, which is morally dubious at best but very helpful.
As much as I've tried to erase the whole process from my mind, here's the little I remember, some of which is supplementary to the information jonnyboy recounted above, from my small claims experience.
The court process costs you every step of the way. You (as you are the instigator) pay to register the case, there's another cost (I forget what for), you then pay (£300, I recall) for the actual hearing, you pay (£500+, as I recall, though I can;t see you needing one in this case) for a statement from an expert witness. You pay to send each and every correspondence registered post to both court and "defendant". But most of all you pay in emotional energy and lost sleep. But maybe that last part's just me.
There are ways of reducing all of the costs.
When registering the case one of the questions you are asked is if you are prepared to take part in a negotiation session (it was called summat else, but I forget what) where you, defendant and facilitator meet (or maybe in conference call) to try and resolve the case before it gets serious. As the guy I was chasing for cash had shown no interest in any kind of compromise I said "No" to this. This was a mistake, because months and a lot of misery and expense later this is what I ended up doing in front of a judge at my own expense. I was after 4K, simply to end the whole sorry process I settled for £2K, yet I spent over £1K on various costs. Coincidence maybe but I also developed IBS during the stressiest parts of the process.
Hopefully, as long as this supplier realises you aren't making idle threats he'll do what any decent person would do and settle. Otherwise he's an idiot. If he is an idiot then I wish you well.
I am going to PM you my one top tip, which is morally dubious at best but very helpful.
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