1

Can the German company make a claim through the British Small Claims Court or do have to use the EU Small Claims Court system?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

I believe you can, but you are likely to have to travel to the UK if a hearing is needed. The EU system is designed to work from documents where possible and hence not need a hearing.

Improve this answer
3
  • Thanks Paul. Main reason for asking the question was that a UK Court finding should theoretically be easier to action. I would assume that expediting any action by the EU Small Claims could be more protracted.
    – Mike Elliott
    Jun 4, 2019 at 13:57
  • In the UK if you have to collect on a court judgement then the options are here. gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/enforce-a-judgment I don't know exactly how this would interface with a judgement from the EU small claims court, but I would expect it to be straightforward.
    – Paul Johnson
    Jun 4, 2019 at 14:13
  • Thank you Paul - Very useful information.
    – Mike Elliott
    Jun 4, 2019 at 17:24
0

You can. The claimant need not be present or domiciled within the UK for proceedings to be issued and served (since by issuing proceedings the Claimant thereby submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts)

As long as the defendant in this action is domiciled in the UK (for a company, this would be that they are registered in the UK, or that their principal place of business is in the UK, or that they have a registered branch office in the UK) you may serve proceedings on them. (You can also sue a foreign company in england, but that requires court permission)

See CPR 6, which governs service, for more information

Improve this answer
7
  • It may or may not be necessary, but it would certainly be wise for a foreign company to instruct a solicitor.
    – Tim Lymington
    Jun 4, 2019 at 16:12
  • Yes absolutely.
    – Shazamo Morebucks
    Jun 4, 2019 at 16:29
  • Thank you for all your comments. I hear you with regards to instructing a solicitor but surely costs would seriously impact low value claims typically addressed by Small Claims court
    – Mike Elliott
    Jun 4, 2019 at 17:23
  • 1
    Although most small claims can be dealt without a solicitor or a barrister, (i.e. The claimant/defendant acts as a litigant in person), you are a foreign company, therefore it is simple much more convenient to have a legal representative. Remember that in English cases the losing party has to pay the (reasonable) legal costs of the winning party. Although to be honest such costs orders are unlikely to be made in small claims court unless the court that it was wholly proportionate to have representation
    – Shazamo Morebucks
    Jun 4, 2019 at 18:42
  • @ShazamoMorebucks Actually for small claims you can only claim reasonable attendance costs. These can include loss of wages, but thats going to be a lot less than the solicitor actually charges.
    – Paul Johnson
    Jun 4, 2019 at 20:40

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .