Legal

Letter Before Action Template (Small Claims)

A letter before action (LBA) is required before starting a small claims court case in England and Wales. This template meets the Pre-Action Protocol requirements.

When to use this template

Use this template when you intend to take someone to the small claims court (county court) in England or Wales and have not been able to resolve the dispute informally. A letter before action is required by the Pre-Action Protocol. You must allow the recipient a reasonable time to respond (usually 14 days) before filing a claim.

The template

[Your Full Name]
[Your Address Line 1]
[Town / City]
[Postcode]

[Date]

[Defendant's Full Name]
[Defendant's Address Line 1]
[Town / City]
[Postcode]

Dear [Mr/Ms Defendant's Last Name],

Re: Letter Before Action - Claim for [£X / Description of Claim]

I am writing to formally notify you that, unless this matter is resolved within 14 days of the date of this letter, I intend to commence proceedings against you in the County Court without further notice.

Summary of claim

[Describe the basis of your claim factually and concisely. Include dates, amounts and what the other party agreed to do or pay. For example: "On [date] I paid you £X for [goods/services]. You failed to [deliver the goods / complete the work / provide a refund as agreed on [date]]." ]

Amount claimed

The total amount I am claiming is £[X], comprising:

  Principal amount: £[X]
  [Interest at 8% per annum from [date]: £[X] - statutory rate for county court claims]
  [Other losses / costs: £[X]]

  Total: £[X]

What I require

I require payment of £[X] in full by [date 14 days from today]. Payment should be made by [bank transfer to Sort Code XX-XX-XX, Account Number XXXXXXXX / cheque payable to (Your Full Name)].

Alternatively, if you dispute this claim, please provide written reasons within 14 days.

If I do not receive payment or a written response within this period, I will file a claim at the County Court using the Money Claim Online service. Please be aware that if judgment is entered against you, it will be recorded on your credit file.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Telephone Number]
[Your Email Address]

Tips for using this template

1This letter meets the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims and the general pre-action conduct requirements. Courts expect claimants to have attempted to resolve disputes before filing.
2Give at least 14 days for a response. Courts may look unfavourably on claimants who did not allow adequate time.
3Send by tracked or signed-for post so you have proof of receipt. Keep a copy.
4The small claims track in England and Wales handles claims up to £10,000 (personal injury and housing disrepair have lower limits).
5Statutory interest on a court judgment is 8% per year. You can only claim this in court, not in the letter itself, but you may mention it as a consequence.
6If the defendant is a company, address the letter to the registered office and include the company registration number if known.

Frequently asked questions

Is a letter before action legally required before I sue someone?

In most cases, yes. Courts in England and Wales expect claimants to follow the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct, or a specific Pre-Action Protocol where one applies to your claim type (for example, the Debt Claims protocol normally gives an individual debtor 30 days to respond, not the general 14 days used for many other disputes). Check which protocol applies to your claim before setting a deadline.

What happens if I skip the letter before action?

The court can penalise you with costs even if you win, since failing to follow the Pre-Action Protocol is taken into account when the judge decides who pays legal costs.

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