Know where you stand before you file a small claim.
DisputeDesk reads your dispute — a faulty sofa, an unpaid invoice, a withheld deposit, a noisy neighbour — and tells you what UK law actually says, in minutes, for free.
Not a solicitor. Our AI-generated opinion — the final decision is always a court's, ombudsman's, or arbitrator's, never ours.
Built for the disputes that actually clog up UK small claims
Pick a category to see how DisputeDesk handles it — and which UK rules it checks against.
Faulty goods, refused refunds & poor service
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. DisputeDesk checks your purchase date, fault type and what you've already asked the retailer for, then tells you whether you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund — and drafts the letter.
- Checks your case against the Consumer Rights Act 2015 satisfactory quality test
- Flags whether the 30-day short-term right to reject still applies
- Prepares an escalation letter and, where relevant, a Financial Ombudsman Service referral
Withheld deposits & disrepair
DisputeDesk checks whether your deposit was protected in a government-backed scheme within 30 days, whether deductions are itemised and evidenced, and what the tenancy agreement actually says — the most common reasons deposit disputes succeed or fail.
- Reviews deposit protection scheme compliance (DPS, MyDeposits, TDS)
- Assesses whether deductions are reasonable against move-in inventory evidence
- Flags penalty exposure if a landlord failed to protect the deposit correctly
Unpaid invoices & personal loans
Before you can issue proceedings against an individual debtor, the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims requires a formal Letter of Claim, an Information Sheet and Reply Form, and a 30-day window for a response. DisputeDesk builds the whole pack and tracks the clock.
- Generates a compliant Letter Before Action with the required Information Sheet
- Tracks the 30-day response window automatically
- Prepares your Money Claim Online submission if the debtor doesn't pay
Boundaries, noise & nuisance
Neighbour disputes rarely belong in court first. DisputeDesk assesses whether your issue is a legal nuisance, a boundary/land registry question, or a council matter (noise, statutory nuisance), and routes you to mediation, the council, or — as a last resort — a small claim.
- Distinguishes civil nuisance claims from council-enforceable statutory nuisance
- Checks Land Registry boundary data where a fence or hedge is in dispute
- Recommends community mediation before any court route
From "what are my rights?" to a filed claim
Describe the dispute
Structured questions per case type — no blank page. Upload photos, messages, contracts or invoices.
Get your assessment
A plain-English breakdown of your position, the relevant law, and a confidence rating — with every claim linked to its source.
Try to settle first
DisputeDesk drafts your Letter Before Action or settlement proposal and sends it to the other side.
File if needed
If there's no response, DisputeDesk prepares your Money Claim Online submission, ready to file with HMCTS.
What DisputeDesk actually checks against
Disputes up to £10,000 are normally allocated to the small claims track of the County Court, with simplified procedure and limited costs risk.
Most eligible money claims can be issued digitally through MCOL or the Civil Money Claims service — no solicitor required.
Debt claims against individuals need a Letter of Claim and 30-day reply window before you can issue proceedings.
Sets the satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose and "as described" standard for goods and services.
Most civil claims must be brought within 6 years of the breach — DisputeDesk flags this before you run out of time.
Winning a judgment doesn't collect the money automatically — DisputeDesk explains your enforcement options if a debtor doesn't pay.
DisputeDesk is not a solicitor and does not provide legal advice. It gives an AI-generated assessment to help you understand your position and prepare documents. This is DisputeDesk's AI-generated opinion only, not a legal ruling or advice — the final decision on any claim can only be made by a court, ombudsman, or arbitrator, never by DisputeDesk. For complex, high-value or contested cases, or before making a final decision, speak to a qualified solicitor or a service such as Citizens Advice. Court fees, outcomes and enforcement are never guaranteed.
Small claims & AI assessment, answered
What is the small claims limit in England and Wales?
The small claims track generally handles disputes up to £10,000. Above that, or where the facts are complex, a case is usually allocated to a different track with more formal procedure.
Can an AI actually decide my case?
No. This is DisputeDesk's AI-generated opinion only, not a legal ruling or advice — the final decision on any claim can only be made by a court, ombudsman, or arbitrator, never by DisputeDesk. DisputeDesk assesses your dispute and drafts the paperwork; it doesn't issue a binding decision.
Do I need a Letter Before Action before suing for a debt?
For most individual debtors, yes. The Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims requires a Letter of Claim with a standard Information Sheet and Reply Form, then a 30-day wait before you can issue court proceedings.
How long do I have to bring a small claim?
Most claims must start within 6 years of the event under the Limitation Act 1980. Some categories, like certain tenancy deposit claims, run on different clocks — DisputeDesk flags the correct one for your case.
What's the difference between Money Claim Online and a county court claim?
Money Claim Online (MCOL) is simply the digital route for issuing a county court money claim — no solicitor or courtroom visit required. The paper N1 claim form is the equivalent route when a claim can't be issued online.
Can I claim for housing disrepair through DisputeDesk?
DisputeDesk assesses tenancy deposit and disrepair disputes, but helping pursue housing disrepair compensation for a fee is a regulated "claims management activity" in the UK. For disrepair claims specifically, DisputeDesk signposts you to a regulated solicitor or FCA-authorised claims management company rather than charging for that category itself.
Does using DisputeDesk cost anything?
The initial assessment is free. Drafting a Letter Before Action or MCOL-ready claim pack is a one-off fixed fee, shown before you pay anything — never a percentage of any compensation or claim value.
Start with the dispute, not the paperwork.
Tell DisputeDesk what happened. Get a straight answer on where you stand under UK law, and the documents to act on it.
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