🏛️ Small Claims Checker
Can I take this to the Small Claims procedure?
The Small Claims Procedure is the cheapest way to make a business take a dispute seriously: €25, no solicitor, and an application you can make online. It also excludes several things people routinely try to use it for, which is where most claims fall down.
Figures reviewed September 2026. Free, no signup, nothing stored on our servers.
What this means
The procedure exists so that a consumer can bring a claim against a business without a solicitor and without the cost that normally makes small disputes not worth pursuing. The fee is €25, it is not refundable, and the limit is €2,000.
Most claims are settled before a judge sees them. The Registrar contacts the business, which is frequently the first time the complaint reaches anyone with authority to resolve it, and a great many are resolved at that point.
The exclusions matter more than the inclusions. Debt collection is not a small claim. Neither is personal injury, breach of a leasing or hire-purchase agreement, or a residential tenancy dispute — the last of which goes to the RTB, whose service is free.
What affects the result
- The amount. Above €2,000 the procedure is closed to you, though you may reduce the claim to the limit.
- The nature of the dispute. Several common types are specifically excluded.
- Whether the other side is a business. A dispute between two private individuals is not a consumer claim.
- Where the other side is based. A trader elsewhere in the EU is handled through a different route.
- Whether you complained in writing first. The Registrar will ask, and many disputes end at that stage.
- The evidence you have. Contracts, receipts, photographs and messages are what decide a contested claim.
Can I take this to the Small Claims procedure?
Before you apply
Complain in writing and give a deadline. It is what the Registrar will ask about, and a surprising number of disputes end there — a written complaint often reaches somebody with authority to fix it for the first time. Gather the contract, the receipt, photographs and every message between you, because a contested claim is decided on evidence.
If this is not the right route
Regulated sectors have their own ombudsman or regulator, and those services are free — the complaint route finder names the right one. Before either, check what you are actually entitled to with the consumer rights checker: claims fail as often on the wrong remedy being sought as on the wrong forum.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- The €2,000 limit and €25 fee are the published figures for the Small Claims Procedure at the time of writing. Check the Courts Service before applying.
- The exclusions listed are those published by the Courts Service.
- Nothing here assesses the merits of a claim — only whether the procedure appears to be the right route for it.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- Courts Service — Small Claims Procedure
The official description of the procedure, the current limit and fee, what it covers and what it excludes.
- Courts Service Online (CSOL)
Where a small claim is actually submitted and tracked online.
- Citizens Information — Small Claims
A plain-English walkthrough of the process from application to hearing.
- RTB — dispute resolution
The free route for residential landlord and tenant disputes, which the Small Claims Procedure excludes.
Common questions
How much does a small claim cost in Ireland?
€25 to apply, and the fee is not refundable. No solicitor is needed — the procedure is specifically designed to be used without one, and legal costs are not generally awarded, which is what keeps it accessible.
What is the maximum small claim in Ireland?
€2,000. Above that, a claim goes to the District Court proper, where the process is more formal and costs become a real consideration. You can reduce a larger claim to the limit and use the procedure, giving up the balance.
Can I use the Small Claims Procedure for unpaid debt?
No. Debt collection is specifically excluded. The procedure is for consumer and business claims about goods, services and minor property damage — not for recovering money somebody owes you.
Can I use it against my landlord?
Not for a residential tenancy dispute. Those go to the Residential Tenancies Board, which has its own free mediation and adjudication service and covers rent, deposits, notice and standards. A deposit on a holiday or short-term let is different and can be a small claim.
How long does it take?
It varies by District Court area. The Registrar first tries to settle the claim, and many are resolved at that stage within weeks. A contested claim that goes to a hearing takes longer.
What to check next
What are my rights on this purchase?
Answer six questions about what you bought and see the Irish rights that may apply.
Consumer Rights CheckerNewWho should I actually complain to?
The right Irish regulator, ombudsman or body for your complaint, with the official link.
Complaint Route FinderNewAm I entitled to a refund?
Online, in-store, faulty, change of mind, services and digital content — what the law gives you.
Refund & Return CheckerNewIs this quote reasonable?
Break a trade quote into labour, materials and VAT and compare it to benchmark ranges.
Quote CheckerNext steps across CheckIreland
Picked for what you just worked out — not a list of everything we make.
CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.