1. MCOL handles filing only. Money Claim Online (MCOL) is the HM Courts & Tribunals Service portal for issuing money claims up to £100,000. It is a filing tool, not a case management service. Everything after you issue the claim is up to you.
2.CaseCraft.AI guides the entire claim. From the letter before action and evidence bundle to the directions questionnaire, compulsory mediation and enforcement, CaseCraft.AI prepares each document and walks you through what to do next.
3.Different pricing models. MCOL charges a court fee upfront (£35 to £455 for claims up to £10,000). CaseCraft.AI charges nothing upfront and takes a 10% success fee only when the claim is resolved.
If you are owed money in England or Wales and want to take action, you will quickly come across two routes. The first is Money Claim Online (MCOL), the government portal run by HM Courts & Tribunals Service that lets you issue a county court claim in your browser. The second is CaseCraft.AI, a no-win, no-fee small-claims and financial-redress platform that handles every stage of a claim, not just the filing. This article sets out what MCOL is, what it is not, how CaseCraft.AI differs, and which option fits which situation.
What is MCOL (Money Claim Online)?
MCOL is the official online portal for issuing money claims in the county court of England and Wales. It is operated by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. The portal lets you do four things:
- Issue a claim for a fixed sum of money up to £100,000
- Pay the court fee online by debit or credit card
- Track the basic status of your claim and any response filed by the defendant
- Apply for a default judgment if the defendant does not respond in time
MCOL is a filing tool. It does not draft your letter before action, organise your evidence, prepare witness statements, complete the directions questionnaire, prepare you for compulsory mediation, or guide you through enforcement. Once the claim is issued, the rest of the process happens off the portal and the work is yours.
What CaseCraft.AI does
CaseCraft.AI is a small claims and financial redress platform built for England and Wales. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. It guides individuals and small businesses through every stage of a money claim up to £10,000:
- Pre-action protocol compliance. Letter before action drafted with the correct content and deadlines for debt, professional negligence or general money claims.
- Claim form (N1) preparation. Particulars of claim drafted from the facts you provide.
- Response handling. Acknowledgements, defences and Part 18 requests explained and tracked.
- Evidence organisation. Upload documents, arrange them chronologically and generate a court bundle suitable for the hearing.
- Directions questionnaire (N180). Prepared and explained, including allocation requests.
- Compulsory mediation. Settlement offers and mediation letters prepared. Mediation has been compulsory for money claims under £10,000 since 22 May 2024.
- Hearing preparation. Witness statements, hearing bundles and a checklist of what to bring on the day.
- Enforcement guidance. Once you have judgment, CaseCraft.AI walks you through warrant of control, attachment of earnings, charging order or third-party debt order.
There is no platform fee. The 10% success fee is taken only when the claim resolves with payment or a settlement.
What MCOL covers and what it does not
To see the gap clearly, here is the full lifecycle of a small claim mapped onto each option.
| MCOL | CaseCraft.AI | |
| Pre-action protocol compliance | Not covered | Covered |
| Letter before action drafting | Not covered | Covered |
| Evidence organisation | Not covered | Covered |
| Claim form (N1) issue | Covered, online filing | Covered, with guidance |
| Service on the defendant | Court serves automatically | Tracked and explained |
| Tracking acknowledgement and defence | Basic status updates | Tracked, with next-step prompts |
| Default judgment (Form N225) | Covered | Covered, with prompts |
| Directions questionnaire (N180) | Not covered | Covered |
| Compulsory mediation preparation | Not covered | Covered |
| Hearing bundle and witness statement | Not covered | Covered |
| Enforcement after judgment | Not covered | Covered |
Cost comparison
Court fees are the same either way because they go to HM Courts & Tribunals Service, not to MCOL or CaseCraft.AI. The difference is what you pay on top, and when.
| MCOL | CaseCraft.AI | |
| Court fee at issue | £35 to £455, claims up to £10,000 | Same court fee applies |
| Platform or processing fee | None | None |
| Hourly fees | None | None |
| Success fee | None | 10% of recovered amount |
| When you pay | Upfront at issue | On successful resolution |
| If you lose | Court fee not refunded | Nothing owed beyond the court fee |
On a £2,000 unpaid invoice, the court fee is £115. Using MCOL alone, that is your only direct cost, but you handle drafting, mediation and enforcement yourself. Using CaseCraft.AI and recovering the full £2,000, the success fee is £200, and the platform prepares each document.
When MCOL is enough on its own
MCOL alone works well when these are all true:
- The dispute is simple, undisputed and the defendant is likely to pay or settle once a claim is issued.
- You can draft your own letter before action and follow the relevant pre-action protocol without help.
- You can organise your evidence, prepare a witness statement and complete the directions questionnaire on your own.
- You have time to track deadlines, respond to acknowledgements, attend mediation and follow enforcement steps if needed.
- The amount is small enough that the time investment is acceptable to you.
If you are comfortable with the Civil Procedure Rules and you only need to issue the claim form, MCOL alone is a reasonable route.
Where MCOL falls short
MCOL is filing only, so the common pitfalls are predictable:
- Skipping the pre-action protocol. Courts can impose sanctions if you issue a decision without sending a proper letter before action. The pre-action protocol for debt requires a 30-day reply window.
- Weak particulars of claim. Vague particulars that do not plead the cause of action clearly can be struck out.
- Missing the directions questionnaire. Form N180 must be returned by the date the court sets. Miss it and the claim can be struck out.
- Ignoring compulsory mediation. Since 22 May 2024, mediation is compulsory for money claims under £10,000. Refusing engagement can affect the outcome and your costs.
- No enforcement plan. A judgment is not the same as payment. A significant share of judgments go unpaid without enforcement steps, and MCOL does not guide you through them.
How CaseCraft.AI fills the gaps
- Pre-action protocol. Your letter before action is prepared with the correct deadlines and required information for debt, professional negligence or general money claims.
- Document preparation. Particulars of claim, witness statements, statements of truth, schedules of loss and reply documents are drafted from the facts you provide.
- Evidence organisation. Upload documents, arrange chronologically and generate a court bundle suitable for the hearing. Smart reminders track filing deadlines.
- Mediation support. Settlement positions and mediation letters are prepared for the compulsory stage.
- Enforcement. If you win and the defendant does not pay, CaseCraft.AI walks you through a warrant of control, attachment of earnings, charging order or third-party debt order, and helps complete the relevant forms.
Which route wins more claims?
There is no single answer, but the honest version is this. MCOL alone is enough when the defendant pays or settles soon after the claim is served, which is the case in a meaningful share of cases. The harder situations are defended claims, mediation and unpaid judgments. That is where end-to-end document preparation and procedural guidance change outcomes.
For most claimants, the deciding factor is not whether MCOL can technically issue the claim. It is whether you have the time and confidence to handle the pre-action protocol, evidence, mediation and enforcement on your own.
When you might still want a solicitor
Neither MCOL nor CaseCraft.AI replaces a solicitor for complex or high-value disputes. Examples where independent legal advice may still be appropriate include claims involving novel points of law, expert evidence on professional standards, cross-border issues, or claims approaching or above the £10,000 small claims limit. Both tools can sit alongside a solicitor if you instruct one.
Disclaimer. CaseCraft.AI is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This content is general information for England and Wales only. Every claim depends on its own facts. If your case is complex or high-value, consider seeking independent legal advice.
FAQ
Is MCOL free to use?
There is no platform fee, but you must pay the court fee. For claims up to £10,000 the court fee ranges from £35 to £455, set by HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
Can I use MCOL and CaseCraft.AI together?
Yes. CaseCraft.AI works alongside the court process. You still issue your claim through the county court, and CaseCraft.AI prepares the documents and guides each step.
Does MCOL handle compulsory mediation?
No. Mediation is handled by the Small Claims Mediation Service after the directions questionnaire stage. MCOL does not prepare you for it.
What if the defendant ignores my MCOL claim?
You can apply for a default judgment after 14 days using Form N225 if there is no response. If the defendant acknowledged service, they have 28 days from service to file a defence.
Does CaseCraft.AI help if the defendant does not pay after judgment?
Yes. CaseCraft.AI guides you through the main enforcement routes once you have a judgment, including warrant of control, attachment of earnings, charging order and third-party debt order.
Does MCOL work in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. MCOL operates only in the county court of England and Wales. Scotland uses simple procedure under the sheriff court, and Northern Ireland uses its own civil process.
Can I switch from MCOL to CaseCraft.AI mid-claim?
Yes. You can start with MCOL and bring in CaseCraft.AI at any stage, including for the directions questionnaire, mediation or enforcement.
Is CaseCraft.AI suitable for claims above £10,000?
CaseCraft.AI is designed for the small claims track, which covers claims up to £10,000. For higher-value claims you may want to instruct a solicitor.
