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jayeff · 08-04-2006, 10:23 AM

Depending on the size of your claim, you may not need a lawyer. Check your local regulations for how much you can pursue via small claims and if you are inside that limit the paperwork is easy and the costs negligble (both in the US and UK). Unless the debtor disputes the claim, you will almost always get a judgement in your favor, but then you have the job of collecting. Often that isn't as tough as it sounds when the person owing you money realizes that (depending on local laws) your/the court's agent can sieze enough property to cover your debt at auction. So a letter copying the judgement is worthwhile before going to a third party for collection.

I don't know where you are or where you are pursuing this claim. If it is the US you will need to check whether this applies, but (at least as of 10 years ago) in the UK the amount at which you can file bankruptcy proceedings against someone is very close to the ceiling on small claims. Again the paperwork is easily filled out on your own and filing costs are cheap. A refusal to pay a legitimate debt is de facto regarded as inability to pay (ie bankrupt), which tends to make people sit up and take notice. I used that route many times for larger sums and got paid every single time without going near a courtroom.

08-04-2006, 10:23 AM
jayeff Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 2,944	Depending on the size of your claim, you may not need a lawyer. Check your local regulations for how much you can pursue via small claims and if you are inside that limit the paperwork is easy and the costs negligble (both in the US and UK). Unless the debtor disputes the claim, you will almost always get a judgement in your favor, but then you have the job of collecting. Often that isn't as tough as it sounds when the person owing you money realizes that (depending on local laws) your/the court's agent can sieze enough property to cover your debt at auction. So a letter copying the judgement is worthwhile before going to a third party for collection. I don't know where you are or where you are pursuing this claim. If it is the US you will need to check whether this applies, but (at least as of 10 years ago) in the UK the amount at which you can file bankruptcy proceedings against someone is very close to the ceiling on small claims. Again the paperwork is easily filled out on your own and filing costs are cheap. A refusal to pay a legitimate debt is de facto regarded as inability to pay (ie bankrupt), which tends to make people sit up and take notice. I used that route many times for larger sums and got paid every single time without going near a courtroom.