PRACTICE DIRECTION 7E – MONEY CLAIM ONLINEThis Practice Direction supplements CPR Part 7
See also Part 7, Practice Direction 7A, Practice Direction 7B, Practice Direction 7C, Practice Direction 7D
General
1.1
This practice direction provides for a scheme in which, in the circumstances set out in this practice direction, a request for a claim form to be issued and other specified documents may be filed electronically (‘Money Claim Online’).
1.2
This practice direction enables claimants –
(1) to start certain types of County Court claims by requesting the issue of a claim form electronically via His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service website; and
(2) where a claim has been started electronically –
(a) to file electronically a request for –
(i) judgment in default;
(ii) judgment on acceptance of an admission of the whole of the amount claimed; or
(iii) the issue of a warrant of control; and
(b) to view an electronic record of the progress of the claim.
1.3
This practice direction also enables defendants –
(1) to file electronically –
(a) an acknowledgment of service;
(b) a part admission;
(c) a defence; or
(d) a counterclaim (if filed together with a defence); and
(2) to view an electronic record of the progress of the claim.
1.4
Claims started using Money Claim Online will be issued in the Northampton County Court and will proceed at the County Court Business Centre unless they are sent to County Court hearing centre. The address for filing any document, application or request (other than one which is filed electronically in accordance with this practice direction) is the County Court Business Centre, St Katharine's House, 21-27 St Katharine's Street, Northampton, NN1 2LH, DX 702885 Northampton 7, fax no. 0845 6015889.
Security
2
His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service will take such measures as it thinks fit to ensure the security of steps taken or information stored electronically. These may include requiring users of Money Claim Online –
(1) to enter a customer identification and password;
(2) to provide personal information for identification purposes; and
(3) to comply with any other security measures,
before taking any of the steps mentioned in paragraph 1.2 or 1.3.
Fees
3.1
Where this practice direction provides for a fee to be paid electronically, it may be paid by –
(1) credit card;
(2) debit card; or
(3) any other method which Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service may permit.
3.2
A step may only be taken using Money Claim Online on payment of the prescribed fee. The Civil Proceedings Fees Order provides that a party may, in certain circumstances, be entitled to a remission or part remission of a fee prescribed by that Order. His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service website contains guidance as to when this entitlement might arise.
3.3
A claimant who wishes to apply for a remission or part remission of fees must not use Money Claim Online and must file the claim form at the County Court Money Claims Centre.
Types of claims which may be started using Money Claim Online
4
A claim may be started using Money Claim Online if it meets all the following conditions –
(1) the only remedy claimed is a specified amount of money –
(a) less than £100,000 (excluding any interest or costs claimed); and
(b) in sterling;
(2) the procedure under Part 7 is used;
(3A) the claimant’s address for service is within the United Kingdom;
(4) the claim is against –
(a) a single defendant; or
(b) two defendants, if the claim is for a single amount against each of them;
(5) the defendant is not –
(a) the Crown; or
(b) a person known to be a child or protected party; and
(6) the defendant's address for service is within England and Wales.
(‘Protected party’ has the same meaning as in rule 21.1(2).)
Starting a claim
5.1
A claimant may request the issue of a claim form by –
(1) completing and sending an online claim form; and
(2) electronically paying the appropriate issue fee,
at via His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service website.
5.2
Detailed particulars of claim must either be –
(1) included in the online claim form but must be limited in size to not more than 1080 characters (including spaces); or
5.2A
The requirement in paragraph 7.3 of Practice Direction 16 for documents to be attached to the particulars of contract claims does not apply to claims started using an online claim form, unless the particulars of claim are served separately in accordance with paragraph 5.2 of this practice direction.
5.3
When an online claim form is received by the Money Claim Online website, an acknowledgment of receipt will automatically be sent to the claimant. The acknowledgment of receipt does not constitute a notice that the claim form has been issued.
5.4
When the court issues a claim form following the submission of an online claim form, the claim is ‘brought’ for the purposes of the Limitation Act 1980 and any other enactment on the date on which the online claim form is received by the court’s computer system. The court will keep a record, by electronic or other means, of when online claim forms are received.
5.5
When the court issues a claim form, it will –
(1) serve a printed version of the claim form on the defendant; and
(2) send the claimant notice of issue.
5.6
The claim form will have printed on it a unique customer identification number or a password by which the defendant may access details of the claim on His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service website.
5.7
The claim form will be deemed to be served on the fifth day after the claim was issued irrespective of whether that day is a business day or not. ‘Business day’ has the same meaning as in rule 6.2(b).
Particulars of claim and certificate of service
6.1
Where the particulars of claim are served by the claimant separately from the claim form pursuant to paragraph 5.2(2), the claimant must –
(1) serve the particulars of claim in accordance with rule 7.4(1)(b); and
(2) file a certificate of service in form N215 at the County Court Business Centre within 14 days of service of the particulars of claim on the defendant.
6.2
The certificate of service may be filed by sending form N215 by e-mail to ccbc@justice.gov.uk. However, the subject line to the e-mail must contain the claim number.
6.3
The claimant must file the particulars of claim at the court to which the proceedings are sent under paragraph 12.1 or 12.2 within 7 days of service of the notice of transfer by the court.
6.4
Where the proceedings are not sent to a County Court hearing centre under paragraph 12.1 or 12.2 and remain at the County Court Business Centre, the claimant is not required to file the particulars of claim unless ordered to do so.
Online response
7.1
A defendant wishing to file –
(1) an acknowledgment of service of the claim form under Part 10;
(2) a part admission under rule 14.5;
(3) a defence under Part 15; or
(4) a counterclaim (to be filed together with a defence),
may, instead of filing a written form, do so by completing and sending the relevant online form at www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/onlineservices/mcol.
7.2
Where a defendant files an online form –
(1) a hard copy must not be sent in addition;
(2) the form is not filed until it is received by the court, whatever time it is shown to have been sent;
(3) an online form received after 4 p.m. will be treated as filed on the next day the court office is open; and
(4) where a time limit applies, it remains the responsibility of the defendant to ensure that the online form is filed in time.
Statement of truth
9.1
Part 22 requires any statement of case to be verified by a statement of truth. This applies to all online forms.
9.2
The statement of truth in an online statement of case must be in the form specified in paragraph 2.1 of Practice Direction 22.
9.3
Attention is drawn to –
(1) paragraph 3 of Practice Direction 22, which provides who may sign a statement of truth; and
(2) rule 32.14, which sets out the consequences of making, or causing to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth, without an honest belief in its truth.
Signature
10
Any provision of the CPR which requires a document to be signed by any person is satisfied by that person entering their name on an online form.
Request for judgment or issue of warrant
11.1
If, in a claim started using Money Claim Online –
(1) the claimant wishes to apply for judgment in default in accordance with Part 12; or
(2) the defendant has filed or served an admission of the whole of the claim in accordance with rule 14.4,
the claimant may request judgment to be entered in default or on the admission (as the case may be) by completing and sending an online request form at www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/onlineservices/mcol.
11.2
Where –
(1) judgment has been entered following a request under paragraph 11.1; and
(2) the claimant is entitled to the issue of a warrant of control without requiring the permission of the court,
the claimant may request the issue of a warrant of control by –
Transfer of claim
12.1
Where the defendant is an individual and the claim has not been sent to a County Court hearing centre, the claim will be sent to the defendant’s home court –
(1) under rule 13.4, if the defendant applies to set aside or vary judgment; or
(4) if either party makes an application which cannot be dealt with without a hearing.
12.2
Where the defendant is not an individual, and one of the events mentioned in paragraph 12.1 arises, the claim will be sent to the County Court hearing centre which serves the claimant’s address for service which is stated on the claim form.
12.3
If a defence is filed to all or part of the claim and the parties have filed their directions questionnaires, the proceedings will be sent in accordance rule 26.2A(3) to (6).
Enforcement
12A.1
An application for—
(a) an order for a judgment debtor to attend court for questioning pursuant to an order for information under CPR Part 71;
(b) a third party debt order under Part 72;
(c) omitted
(d) omitted
must be issued in accordance with paragraphs 9.1 and 11.1 of section 2 of Practice Direction 70, unless the proceedings have already been sent to a County Court hearing centre.
12A.2
A request for a warrant of control to enforce a judgment or order made at the Centre must be made to the Centre, unless the proceedings have since been sent to a County Court hearing centre.
Viewing the case record
13.1
A facility will be provided for parties or their legal representatives to view an electronic record of the status of claims started using Money Claim Online.
13.2
The record of each claim will be reviewed and, if necessary, updated at least once each day until the claim is sent from the County Court Business Centre.