The two fees, explained
Issue fee: £50. Paid when you start the claim, online through Money Claims or on a paper N1. A £500 claim falls in the £300.01 – £500 band of the EX50 fee list.
Hearing fee: £59. Paid by the claimant only if the defendant defends and the case is listed for a hearing on the small claims track. Claims that end in default judgment, admission or settlement never reach this fee.
Total at most: £109. There are no other court fees for a standard money claim. Enforcing a judgment afterwards has its own fees, from £69 to £139 per step.
Issue fees for every claim size
| Claim amount | Issue fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £300 | £35 |
| £300.01 – £500 | £50 |
| £500.01 – £1,000 | £70 |
| £1,000.01 – £1,500 | £80 |
| £1,500.01 – £3,000 | £115 |
| £3,000.01 – £5,000 | £205 |
| £5,000.01 – £10,000 | £455 |
| £10,000.01 – £200,000 | 5% of the claim |
Source: HMCTS form EX50, checked 2026-08-29. Or use the court fee calculator for any amount.
Is a £500 claim worth the fee?
The fee is 10% of the claim to issue and 21.8% if it goes all the way to a hearing, and you recover it if you win. The real questions are whether you can prove the debt and whether the defendant can pay. A judgment against someone with no assets costs you £109 and recovers nothing.
Before paying anything, send a letter before action. It is required by the pre-action rules, and a large share of debts are paid at that stage without a claim.
The free assessment tells you whether a £500 claim is strong, moderate or weak, what the legal basis is, and what to do next. No sign-up.
Check my claim free →Questions people ask
Do I get the £109 back if I win?
Yes. Court fees are added to the judgment, so the defendant is ordered to pay your £500 plus the £50 issue fee, the £59 hearing fee if one was paid, and interest. If you lose, you do not recover them.
Is the fee the same if I claim £500 online?
The issue fee for a £500 claim is £50 whether you use the online Money Claims service or a paper N1. Online is faster and the court serves the claim for you.
When is the hearing fee paid?
Only if the case is going to a hearing. After the defence and directions questionnaires the court tells the claimant to pay the £59 hearing fee by a set date. Most claims settle or end in default judgment before that, so many claimants only ever pay the issue fee.
Can I get help with the fees?
If you receive certain benefits or have a low income and little savings, Help with Fees (Form EX160) can waive all or part of both fees. Apply before you pay, quoting the reference on the form.
Can I add interest to a £500 claim?
Yes. Statutory interest under s.69 County Courts Act 1984 runs at 8% a year, which on £500 is £0.11 a day. Claim it from the date the money fell due. Business-to-business debts can instead use the Late Payment Act rate of 8% above base rate plus fixed compensation.
Fees for other claim amounts
£200 · £300 · £750 · £1,000 · £1,500 · £2,000 · £2,500 · £3,000 · £4,000 · £5,000 · £6,000 · £7,500 · £8,000 · £10,000
See also: Form N1, the claim form and every County Court form explained.
CourtPilot is an information and document-preparation service, not a law firm. Nothing on this page is legal advice. Fees are set by HMCTS and change; figures were checked against the published EX50 on 2026-08-29.