When should I consider a professional negligence claim?

Consider a claim when a professional failed to meet the standard expected of a competent practitioner, causing you financial loss between £200 and £10,000, and you have evidence of the advice given and the resulting damage.

Do I need an expert report for professional negligence claims?

For claims over £1,000, an expert report can strengthen your case significantly. The expert should be qualified in the same field and can confirm whether the professional met expected standards.

What if the loss exceeds £10,000?

You can limit your claim to £10,000 to stay in small claims track and avoid legal costs risk, or claim the full amount which goes to fast track or multi-track where costs are recoverable if you win.

SurveyorAccountantFinancial AdviserSolicitorArchitect

Professional Negligence: When Advice or Reports Go Wrong

No solicitors needed. Step-by-step guidance to recover losses caused by professional negligence through UK small claims court. Built for claims against surveyors, accountants, financial advisers, and other professionals.

Check If Your Dispute Can Become a Claim View Detailed Guides

Claims £200 - £10,000England & WalesNo solicitor required

Common Professional Negligence We Help With

From unpaid work to unfair complaints, our guides cover the disputes you face.

Professional Negligence

Surveys Missing Defects

Surveyor failed to identify significant property defects that you later had to pay to repair.

Advice That Caused Loss

Professional advice that was wrong or inadequate, leading to financial loss.

Service Failures

Reports or Work Not Delivered

Professional failed to deliver the service you paid for, or delivered substandard work.

Fee Disputes

Disputed Professional Fees

Challenging excessive or unjustified professional fees.

When to Consider Small Claims Court

Most disputes start as complaints or negotiations. Here's when it makes sense to consider court action.

Consider Court Action When:

The loss is £200 - £10,000 — below the small claims track limit
You have documentation — reports, instructions, correspondence, repair invoices
The professional is in England or Wales — or has a UK-registered practice

Quick Checklist Before Filing

Professional based in England/Wales

Claim value under £10,000

Complained to the professional first

Ready to send Letter Before Action

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How CourtPilot Helps You

From documentation to court-ready documents in three steps.

Upload Your Dispute

Order confirmations, tracking data, messages, emails - upload everything and we extract the key facts.

AI Builds Your Case

Automatic Letter Before Action generation, particulars of claim drafting, and deadline tracking.

Court-Ready Documents

CPR-compliant bundles, indexed evidence, and witness statement templates ready for small claims court.

Evidence analysis for negligence claims

Letters Before Action for professionals

Court bundle with expert evidence

AI-powered deadline tracking

Real Disputes, Real Outcomes

Examples of how others have recovered money through small claims court and pre-court negotiation.

£8,500

Survey Missed Subsidence

Scenario: Homebuyer survey rated property as "satisfactory". 6 months later, significant subsidence discovered.

Evidence: Original survey, structural engineer report, repair quotes, photos of cracking.

Outcome: Surveyor's PI insurance paid settlement of £7,200 after Letter Before Action.

£3,200

Accountant Error Caused HMRC Penalty

Scenario: Accountant filed incorrect returns. HMRC issued penalties and interest charges.

Evidence: Original returns, HMRC penalty notice, corrected figures, engagement letter.

Outcome: Accountant admitted error after seeing evidence compiled. Full penalty amount reimbursed.

£4,800

IFA Unsuitable Advice - Switching Fees Lost

Scenario: Financial adviser recommended pension transfer. High fees meant you lost money on switch.

Evidence: Suitability report, fee disclosures, pension valuations before/after, FCA rules.

Outcome: FOS complaint upheld. IFA ordered to reimburse switching fees plus compensation.

£6,200

Architect Drawings Wrong - Builder Extras

Scenario: Architect's drawings contained errors. Builder charged extra to correct during construction.

Evidence: Original drawings, builder's variation orders, photos showing discrepancies.

Outcome: Mediation resulted in architect paying 70% of additional building costs.

£2,100

Legal Fees Dispute - Work Not Completed

Scenario: Solicitor billed for work not done. Matter dragged on with no progress.

Evidence: Engagement letter, itemised bill, correspondence showing lack of progress.

Outcome: Legal Ombudsman ordered fee reduction. 60% of disputed fees refunded.

£150

When NOT to Claim: Small Fee, Vague Complaint

Scenario: Accountancy fee for annual accounts. Client just felt it was "too expensive".

Evidence: Invoice only. No engagement letter showing agreed fees or scope.

Advice: Advised NOT to pursue. Without clear breach of duty or negligence, subjective "too expensive" claims fail.

These examples illustrate typical dispute scenarios. Every case is different and outcomes depend on evidence and circumstances.

Built for UK Small Claims

England & Wales Specific

Guidance tailored to UK small claims court procedures and rules.

CPR-Aligned Documents

Letters and bundles formatted to Civil Procedure Rules standards.

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One payment, unlimited cases. No monthly fees or hidden costs.

Information Only - Not Legal Advice

CourtPilot provides tools and guidance to help you prepare your own small claims case. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice. For complex matters or if you are uncertain about your rights, please consult a qualified solicitor.

Hold Professionals Accountable

Whether it's a survey that missed defects, an accountant error that caused penalties, or professional advice that cost you money, CourtPilot gives you the tools to recover your losses through UK small claims court.

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