Respond to a court claim for money

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Respond to a claim by post

If the claim was made using a paper form, you should respond by post. You can also use a paper form to respond if the claim was made online but you are not able to use the online services. You’ll have received a letter with instructions on how to respond.

The forms you fill in will depend on whether the claim is for a fixed (‘specified’) or an unspecified amount. If you need more time to respond to the claim, download and fill in form N9.

If the claim is for a specified amount

Download and fill in:

  • form N9A to pay all or part of the claim
  • form N9B if you do not agree with the claim

If the claim is for an unspecified amount

Download and fill in:

  • form N9D if you do not agree with the claim
  • form N9C if you need to ask the court to decide how much you owe, or you want to offer to pay a certain amount

Where to send the forms

Where you send the forms to depends on how the claim was made.

If the claim was made using a paper form

Send the form to:

Civil National Business Centre
St Katharine’s House
21 – 27 St Katharine’s Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH

If the claim was made using the Online Civil Money Claims service

Your claim number will include ‘MC’ if the claim was made using the Online Civil Money Claims service.

To respond using a paper form, send the form to:

Civil Money Claims
HMCTS CMC
PO Box 12747
Harlow
CM20 9RA

If the claim was made using the Money Claim Online service

Your claim number will be 8 digits long and include letters and numbers if the claim was made using the Money Claim Online service.

To respond using a paper form, send the form to:

Money Claim Online (MCOL)
Civil National Business Centre
St Katharine’s House
21 – 27 St Katharine’s Street
Northampton
NN1 2LH

Get help responding to a claim by post

If the claim was made using a paper form, contact the Civil National Business Centre if you need help.

Civil National Business Centre
Telephone: 0300 123 1372
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm 
Welsh language: 0300 303 5174
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

If the claim was made online, contact the relevant online service for help.

After you’ve responded

Keep proof (for example, your bank records or a receipt from the claimant) to show you’ve paid.

If you offer to pay a different amount, the claimant will decide whether to accept it. If you defend the claim, the claimant will decide whether to proceed or withdraw the claim.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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