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Money, tax and benefits
Responding to a County Court claim
If someone has issued a claim against you through a County Court, it's important to act quickly - you only have 14 days from receiving the claim to reply. If you don't respond, or leave it too late, a judgment could be made against you, which could make it difficult for you to get credit in the future.
If you want to pay the amount in full
If you decide to pay in full, you must:
- include the court fees, costs and interest (if specified) in your payment
- send the payment directly to the claimant (at the address shown on the claim form)
- make sure the claimant receives your payment within 14 days (allowing at least two days for posting)
It's also a good idea to ask for a receipt.
If you pay in full within the deadline you don't need to contact the court or complete any of the forms.
If you can't afford to pay all the amount at once
If you can't afford to pay the money all at once, you can ask for time to pay. You'll need to:
- fill in the 'Admission Form' N9A
- specify on the form how you want to pay (eg instalments)
- send the form directly to the claimant (at the address shown on the claim form)
- make sure the claimant receives your form within 14 days (allowing at least two days for posting)
It's also a good idea to keep a copy for yourself.
If you don't agree with the amount owed
If you do owe some money, but don't agree with the amount claimed, this is known as 'making a part admission'. You should:
- return the 'Admission Forms' N9A and N9B to the issuing court
- say on the forms how much you think you owe the claimant and why you don't consider you owe any more than that
- make sure the court receives the forms within 14 days (allowing at least two days for posting)
- either pay the amount you think you owe straight away, or ask for time to pay either by instalments or by a certain date
If you want to defend the claim
If you want to defend against the claim you should:
- return the 'Defence Form' N9B to the issuing court
- answer all the points raised ('allegations') in the particulars of claim
- make sure the court receives the form within 14 days (allowing at least two days for posting)
If you need more time to respond
If your defence is complicated and you need more time to respond, you can fill in the 'Acknowledgment of Service Form' N9.
If you file an acknowledgment of service within 14 days, this will allow you an extra 14 days to complete the defence form.
If you want to make a counterclaim
If you think you are owed money by the claimant that could offset some, or all, of the claim, this is know as 'making a counterclaim'.
In this case, you should complete the counterclaim section of the defence form.
Do you have to pay to respond to a claim?
You can respond to a claim with an admission or defence for free. If you include a counterclaim there may be a fee. Court staff will be able to advise you about this.
Where to get advice
Help with completing the forms
Staff at your local County Court will be able to answer your queries on completing the response forms.
General advice
If you're unsure about what to do, you can get free advice from Community Legal Advice on 0845 345 4 345 (9.00 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday). The service can also tell you if you qualify for legal aid.
Alternatively you can get advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Responding to the claim online
If the person making the claim against you did so using the Money Claim Online internet service, you can choose to respond through the same service. The login details you'll need will be on the claim. The 14 day limit still applies, so it's important to act quickly.
What happens if you ignore the claim?
If you ignore a claim, or miss the deadline, the claimant can request judgment against you without your side being heard. This is known as 'judgment by default'.
This can result in a judgment order demanding that you pay the money in full (plus costs) immediately. Your credit rating may also be affected.
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