What is Money Claim Online (MCOL)?
Money Claim Online is the UK government's official online portal for filing money claims through the small claims court. Instead of printing forms and posting them to the court, you fill in your claim details on a secure website, upload evidence, and submit everything electronically.
Key point: MCOL is exclusively for fixed-sum money claims in England and Wales. If your claim is for an unspecified amount, is outside England/Wales, or involves more than 2 defendants, you'll need to use the traditional paper form (N1) instead.
The portal is managed by HMCTS (Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service) and is the faster, simpler route for small claims. Your claim is usually issued within 24 hours of submission, and you can track everything through your account.
Why use MCOL instead of paper forms?
- Speed: Claims are issued within 24 hours (paper forms take longer due to postal delays)
- Tracking: You can see exactly what the defendant has done in your online account
- Simpler enforcement: If the defendant doesn't respond, you can apply for default judgment online
- Less paperwork: No printing, no envelopes, no postage stress
- 24/7 access: You can save your claim as a draft and return within 28 days whenever suits you
Who Can Use MCOL?
Before you start, check that your claim meets MCOL's eligibility criteria. If it doesn't, you can still make a claim through the small claims court using the paper form (N1) instead.
You can use MCOL if:
- Your claim is for a fixed amount of money (e.g. £4,500 for unpaid goods, not "damages to be assessed")
- The claim is for £100,000 or less
- You are claiming against 1 or 2 defendants only
- The defendant(s) are aged 18 or older
- The defendant(s) are based in England or Wales with a valid postcode
- You are the claimant and have a UK address for correspondence
You cannot use MCOL if:
- The claim is for an unspecified amount (e.g. personal injury damages)
- There are more than 2 defendants
- You are claiming against the Crown (government)
- The defendant is under 18
- The defendant is outside England or Wales or has no valid postcode
- The claim is a Part 8 claim (certain specialist types)
What You Need Before You Start
Gathering the right information before you open MCOL will make the process quicker and smoother. Have the following to hand:
Checklist
- ✓ A Government Gateway account (free to register — takes 5 minutes)
- ✓ Your full name, address, postcode, telephone, and email
- ✓ The defendant's full name, address, and postcode (must be accurate — used to serve them)
- ✓ The exact claim amount in pounds (e.g. £4,500.00 for unpaid goods)
- ✓ Your Particulars of Claim — a written description of what happened, when, and why you're owed money
- ✓ Interest details (if claiming interest) — the rate, the start date, and the total amount to date
- ✓ Court fee amount ready to pay by card (fees range from £35 to £455 depending on claim amount)
- ✓ Evidence that you sent a Letter Before Action at least 14 days before filing (14 days for individuals, 30 for businesses)
The 8 Steps of MCOL — Explained
MCOL guides you through a simple 8-step process. Here's what you'll do at each stage, plus practical tips to get it right.
Guidance and Information
When you first log in, MCOL asks you to read through guidance about how the court handles money claims. You confirm you've read it, and you'll be shown the court fee schedule.
What to do:
- Read the on-screen guidance (takes about 3 minutes)
- Note down the court fee for your claim amount
- Confirm eligibility by ticking the box
- Click Continue
Tip: The court fee is automatically added to the amount you're claiming from the defendant, so if you're claiming £4,500 and the fee is £205, the defendant will owe you £4,705 total.
Your (Claimant) Details
The MCOL portal pre-fills your details from your Government Gateway account — things like your name, address, and postcode. You can edit these if needed.
What to do:
- Check your name, address, postcode, telephone, and email are correct
- If claiming as an individual, choose your title (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, etc.)
- Optionally add a reference for your own records (e.g. "Kitchen renovation claim")
- If there's a second claimant, add their details in the same way
- Click Continue
Key detail: The address you provide here is the correspondence address — where the court will send documents to you. Make sure it's accurate and that you check it regularly.
Defendant Details
Now enter the details of the person or business you're claiming against. These details will be used to serve them with the claim, so accuracy is essential.
What to do:
- Enter the defendant's full name (as it appears on contracts, invoices, or business records)
- Enter their full address and postcode (if it's a business, use the registered office address or the address where the breach occurred)
- If claiming against 2 defendants, enter both — each one separately
- Triple-check the spelling and postcode — a wrong address can cause the claim to fail or be served incorrectly
- Click Continue
Common mistake: Many claimants get the defendant's address wrong. Use the address from the original contract or invoice, or check Companies House if it's a business. The court cannot serve a claim if the address is wrong.
Claim Amount
Enter the exact amount of money you're claiming, and specify whether you're also claiming interest.
What to do:
- Enter the claim amount in pounds and pence (e.g. 4500.00)
- If claiming interest, select Yes and enter:
- The interest rate (usually 8% per year under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998)
- The date from which you're claiming interest (the date the money was due)
- The total interest calculated to today's date (if you're unsure, calculate it as: claim amount × 0.08 ÷ 365 × number of days overdue)
- If no interest applies, select No
- Click Continue
Smart tip: Always claim statutory interest if the money was due as a debt (contract breach, unpaid goods, etc.). It adds up over time. The court will calculate daily interest up to the date of judgment.
Particulars of Claim
This is the heart of your case — a written description of what happened, when, and why the defendant owes you money. The court reads this to understand your case, so clarity matters.
What to do:
- Write a clear, chronological account of events
- Include:
- Who the parties are (you and the defendant)
- When and how the agreement was made (contract, email, invoice, etc.)
- What was supposed to happen
- What actually happened and when
- The financial loss you suffered
- The legal basis (breach of contract, goods not delivered, services not performed, etc.)
- Use short, numbered paragraphs (break it into clear, short sections rather than one long block of text)
- Stick to the facts — avoid emotional language or insults
- There's a 25,000 character limit, but most claims fit comfortably in 2–3 pages of text
- Click Continue
Example opening: "The claimant is a self-employed plumber. The defendant is the owner of a residential property at [address]. On 1 March 2025, the claimant and defendant agreed by email that the claimant would install a new kitchen for £4,500, with completion by 30 April 2025."
Character limit hits you? If your Particulars of Claim is very long, focus on the key facts: what was agreed, what went wrong, when, and the loss. Save detailed evidence for the evidence bundle.
Review Your Claim
MCOL now summarises everything you've entered. This is your last chance to check before you commit to filing.
What to do:
- Read through every section carefully
- Check:
- Claimant details are correct
- Defendant name and address are spelled correctly and complete
- Claim amount is correct and matches your calculation
- Interest calculation is right (if applicable)
- Particulars of Claim are clear and factually accurate
- You can click Edit against any section to go back and change it
- If you're not ready, you can save the claim as a draft and return within 28 days
- Once happy, click Continue to proceed to payment
Important: Amending a claim after it's been issued is difficult and can be expensive. Spend time getting this review right.
Payment
Now you pay the court fee by debit or credit card. This is the point of no return — once you pay, your claim is issued.
What to do:
- Review the court fee (shown on screen)
- Provide an email address for your receipt (use one you check regularly)
- Enter your card details (Visa, Mastercard, or Debit card)
- Complete the payment
- You'll receive a confirmation number on screen and by email
Fee tip: The court fee is automatically added to the total amount you're claiming from the defendant, so you don't lose out. If they pay, you'll recover the fee.
Payment issues? If your card is declined, you can try again. Check with your bank if you're unsure why it failed.
Confirmation
Your payment is successful. The claim has been submitted to the court and will be issued within 24 hours.
What happens next:
- Within 24 hours, your claim is officially issued and a Claim Pack is sent to the defendant by post
- The Claim Pack includes your claim form and Particulars of Claim
- The defendant has 14 days from being served to respond
- You can log back into your MCOL account at any time to check the status
- When the defendant responds (or doesn't), you'll see updates in your account
Pro tip: Set a reminder in your calendar for 15 days after filing. If the defendant hasn't responded by then, you may be able to apply for default judgment online.
What Happens After You Submit Your Claim?
Once your claim is issued, the process moves out of MCOL and the defendant has several options for how to respond.
The 14-Day Response Window
The defendant has 14 days from being served to respond. Here's what they might do:
1. Pay in full
The simplest outcome. The defendant pays the full amount within 14 days. Your claim is resolved and you're done.
2. Admit and request time to pay
The defendant admits owing the money but asks to pay in instalments. You can accept their proposal or ask the court to set different payment terms.
3. Part admission
The defendant admits owing some money but disputes the full amount. You can accept the part admission, or dispute it and continue to judgment.
4. Full defence
The defendant denies owing you anything and defends the claim. The case proceeds to allocation — the court decides how to handle it next, which usually leads to mediation and possibly a hearing.
5. No response (default)
The defendant ignores your claim entirely. After 14 days, you can apply for default judgment online through MCOL. If the court grants it, you've won and the defendant owes the full amount.
You control this: Everything happens in your MCOL account. You'll see notifications of the defendant's response and you can manage the claim from there — accept part admissions, request default judgment, or proceed to mediation.
Common MCOL Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Wrong Defendant Address
Why it matters: If the address is wrong, the defendant won't be served and your claim fails. The whole process has to start again.
How to avoid it: Use the address from the original contract, invoice, or business correspondence. If you're claiming against a limited company, check Companies House for the registered office address.
Mistake 2: Unclear Particulars of Claim
Why it matters: If the judge can't understand what happened or why they owe you money, you might lose. Vague or rambling Particulars of Claim confuse everyone.
How to avoid it: Write in numbered paragraphs. Start with who you are and who they are. Then describe what was agreed, what went wrong, and when. Keep it factual and chronological.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the Letter Before Action
Why it matters: The court expects you to have tried to resolve the dispute before filing. Skipping the Letter Before Action can result in cost penalties even if you win.
How to avoid it: Always send a Letter Before Action at least 14 days before filing (30 days for businesses). Keep proof that you sent it (email delivery receipt, registered post, etc.).
Mistake 4: Claiming Interest Without Basis
Why it matters: You can't claim interest without a proper basis. It must be based on the contract, statute, or common law. Wrong interest claims can undermine your credibility.
How to avoid it: Only claim 8% statutory interest if the money was due as a debt (goods not paid for, services invoiced, etc.). If the contract specifies a different rate, use that. If there's no legal basis, don't claim interest.
Mistake 5: Session Timeout
Why it matters: If you're in MCOL for too long without activity, your session expires and you lose unsaved data.
How to avoid it: Have all your information ready before you start. If you know you need to think something through or gather more details, save your claim as a draft and come back within 28 days.
Mistake 6: Hitting the Character Limit on Particulars of Claim
Why it matters: MCOL only allows 25,000 characters for your Particulars of Claim. If you hit the limit, you can't add everything.
How to avoid it: Write concisely. Focus on what, when, and why. You can include full evidence (documents, photos, etc.) separately as a court bundle — they don't go in the Particulars of Claim.
Mistake 7: Postcode Format Issues
Why it matters: MCOL's address lookup is picky about postcode formats. A missing space or typo can cause the system to reject it.
How to avoid it: Use the postcode exactly as it appears on the Royal Mail website or the defendant's own invoices. UK postcodes are typically in the format "XX1 1XX" (letter-number-letter space number-letter-letter).
When You Can't Use MCOL (and Need Form N1 Instead)
If your situation doesn't fit MCOL's criteria, you'll need to file a paper claim using Form N1. Here's when you'd do that:
- Claim is over £100,000: No upper limit on paper claims
- More than 2 defendants: MCOL only handles up to 2
- Unspecified amount: E.g. personal injury damages or breach causing unquantified loss
- Defendant outside England/Wales: MCOL only works within England and Wales
- Defendant under 18: Paper forms handle minors differently
- Part 8 claims: Certain specialist types (e.g. applications under specific statutes)
Form N1 process: Download the form from GOV.UK, fill it in, print it, and post it to the County Court Business Centre. It's slower (postal delays) but works for claims that don't fit MCOL.
How ClaimOn Makes MCOL Easier
You now understand the MCOL process. But preparing a claim from scratch — gathering evidence, writing your Particulars of Claim, calculating interest — takes time and focus. That's where ClaimOn comes in.
ClaimOn prepares all your MCOL data and auto-fills the portal for you — no re-typing needed.
Here's what happens:
- You walk through our app once, entering your details, the defendant's details, and your evidence.
- We generate your Letter Before Action, your Particulars of Claim, and calculate your interest — all done.
- When you're ready to file with MCOL, you get a bookmarklet (a tiny tool you drag to your browser's bookmarks bar).
- You log into MCOL and click the bookmarklet. It auto-fills every step of the 8-step form for you.
- All you do is click Continue 8 times. No re-typing. No mistakes from entering the same info twice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the whole process take?
If you have all your information to hand, you can complete the 8 MCOL steps in 15–30 minutes. The court then takes 24 hours to issue your claim. The defendant then has 14 days to respond. So from filing to first response is about 2–3 weeks, depending on the defendant.
Can I edit my claim after it's issued?
Not easily. Once issued, amending a claim requires the court's permission and can be expensive and time-consuming. This is why the review step (Step 6) is so important. Get it right first time.
What if the defendant is in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
You can't use MCOL. You'd need to use Form N1 and post it to the court, or seek legal advice about the right court to use in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
What if my claim is for less than £300?
You can still use MCOL. The court fee is £35. You'll still go through all 8 steps. MCOL has no minimum claim amount.
What happens if the defendant pays part of the claim?
You can accept the part payment as settlement of part of your claim and proceed against them for the rest. Or reject it and pursue the full amount. It's your choice.
Can I claim for my solicitor's costs?
On the small claims track, you usually cannot recover solicitor's costs even if you win (this is a key advantage of small claims — you don't need a solicitor and don't risk paying for one). You can recover court fees and (in rare cases) costs for expert reports, but not legal representation costs.
Can I withdraw my claim after I've filed it?
Yes, you can ask to withdraw at any point, but once the defendant has been served, you usually need their consent or the court's permission. Withdrawing can also result in you paying the defendant's costs.
What happens if the defendant makes a counterclaim?
If they defend your claim, they can also make a counterclaim (a claim against you). Both claims are dealt with together. The court will consider both and decide the outcome.