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What Costs Can Be Recovered On The Small Claims Track?

The normal position

The Small Claims Track was designed to be a less formal ‘streamlined’ way of handling cases below a certain value – currently claims up to £10,000 (although value is not the ultimate determining factor). Because of its special status, some of the usual rules don’t apply, including the rule that the loser pays the winner’s costs.

That means that the winning party will only get the following costs:

  • Fixed costs (roughly £80 in most small claims – not enough to cover lawyers’ fees)
  • Reimbursements for certain disbursements such as:
    • The issue fee (this depends on the amount claimed)
    • The hearing fee
    • The expert’s fee (up to £750)
  • Miscellaneous costs for attending a hearing
  • Loss of earnings for a witness or party (up to £95)
  • Travel expenses (second class train fare)

If the dispute is between two businesses and relates to non-payment of a commercial debt, the Late Payments of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 (the ‘Late Payments Act’) also enables a claimant to seek the following:

  1. Statutory compensation for each late invoice (£40-£100 depending on the amount of the invoice)
  2. Statutory ‘reasonable costs’ (described below)

A typical example

Imagine that a company, ABC Ltd, is suing XYZ Ltd for two unpaid invoices totalling £2,000. If ABC instructs lawyers and wins at the hearing, it would be awarded:

  • Fixed Costs of £80
  • Disbursements of:
  • £115 for the issue fee
  • £170 for the hearing fee
  • Statutory compensation of £140 (£70 per invoice)
  • Loss of earnings of £95 for the witness
  • Total: £505.00

If ABC’s total legal costs (including disbursements) were £1,500, the obvious problem is that the £505.00 isn’t enough.

Depending on the situation, ABC may still be able to try to recover the remaining £995.

Possible ways to recover more costs on the Small Claims Track

Although generally only fixed costs are allowed in small claims, there are three ways to argue that costs should be awarded: unreasonable conduct, contractual costs and statutory costs.

Unreasonable conduct

If a party has behaved very unreasonably, the court may be persuaded to depart from the usual no-costs position and award some costs to the reasonable party. The standard for ‘unreasonable conduct’ is very high and the likelihood of being awarded costs on this basis is correspondingly low. It’s not a reliable way to get costs, and ABC is not likely to be successful unless XYZ has behaved outrageously. For example, making an application and not turning up to the hearing.

Contractual costs

If the dispute relates to a contract that contained a clause stating that the opponent would be liable for costs resulting from his or her breach of contract, then costs can be sought on this basis. The court still has discretion about awarding costs, but the Civil Procedure Rules and case law state that the court should usually exercise its discretion in accordance with a contract where the contract provides for the payment of costs. ABC would have to have had the foresight to have made this a term of the original contract, and it would have to formulate a good argument to submit to the court about why the court should not depart from the contract and allow all of ABC’s costs. All businesses should have a legal costs clause in their standard terms and conditions as it gives them the chance of recovering costs on the Small Claims Track and therefore acts as a powerful incentive to the debtor to settle debts without going to court.

Statutory costs (only available in business-to-business disputes)

Under section 5A 2A of the Late Payments Act, it possible for a creditor to claim the difference between the fixed statutory compensation and its ‘reasonable costs’ incurred in recovering the debt. However, statutory interest under the Late Payments Act first has to start to accrue on the debt before costs recovery under section 5A 2A can be sought. It is a complex issue, and would require a technical argument to be put forward to a judge to increase the prospects of obtaining an award for costs. ABC and XYZ are both businesses, so ABC could make this argument even if it didn’t make costs a term of the contract.

Summary

Costs are extremely limited on the Small Claims Track, and it’s safest to provide for costs recovery in the event of breach (such as non-payment) in a contract from the outset. That makes it possible to seek costs even when both parties weren’t acting in the course of their respective businesses when they entered into the contract. If contractual costs haven’t been provided for, then the Late Payments Act may ‘imply’ (i.e. insert) a term in business-to-business contracts that makes it possible for an aggrieved party to recover costs on the Small Claims Track, but it isn’t straightforward.

Operative date

  • Now

Recommendation

  • Costs generally aren’t allowed on the Small Claims Track and very often it is the fear of paying costs that prevents parties from going to court. Faced with the risk of paying the losing party’s costs litigants often find a reasonable settlement. If, as a result of a legal costs clause, you are the only party entitled to costs you are in a very strong bargaining position.  A debtor cannot recover their costs under the Late Payments Act or your contractual term – so it is best to provide for them contractually – even if you don’t have a costs clause it may be possible to invoke the Late Payments Act in business disputes.

Posted by:

Alex Cook
Solicitor

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