The European Small Claims Procedure provides consumers and businesses all over Europe with a uniform and inexpensive debt recovery process for low-value claims in cross-border cases without the need to be legally represented. It is available to litigants as an alternative to the procedures existing under the laws of the Member States.
The procedure applies in civil and commercial matters where the value of a claim does not exceed €5,000. The procedure is a written one, conducted via standard forms in courts across the EU and establishes time limits for small claims litigation. A judgement given in the European Small Claims Procedure is recognised and enforceable in another Member State without the need for a declaration of enforceability and without recourse to appeal.
You can use the European Small Claims Procedure to make a claim against:
- another business
- an organisation
- a customer
Benefits of the procedure:
- you don’t need to hire a lawyer to start a Small Claims Procedure
- the claim should be solved more quickly
- the procedure is simpler, especially for cross-border claims
Read the user guide here:
In Ireland the service is provided through the District Court by the District Court Clerk, called the Small Claims Registrar. A court fee is currently €25. Further information on the European Small Claims Procedure and the relevant forms can be obtained from the Courts Service website www.courts.ie or at your local District Court.
If you are based in Ireland and you have a dispute with a trader also based in Ireland, learn more about the procedure from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission here and you can read the full guide to the procedure here:
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