Thread: how much to add for my costs

I seem to remember reading a thread somewhere but I can't find it again....

I'm about to start filling in my N1 as I very much doubt that the Woolwich are going to accept my 'offer'.

There's approx

£2200 in charges
£500 in contractual interest OR £130 in statutory interest incase the judge decides I can't have the contractual

£130 in court costs

and how much should I put down for my own costs, bearing in mind the amount of research time etc I've had to put in? anyone have any idea of what would be reasonable?

many thanks

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is nobody claiming for their own costs then?

i think that we would be no better than they are if we did that hun, but if they mess me around and still not offer what they owe once i have a court date then i will be telling them that i am adding £100 for the postage costs and photocopying etc onto my charge. also if have totake a day off work i will be charging them a days loss of earnings. but i wont be until it gets that far

amandax

I know from experience in family court that where you self litigate, the court does not recognise costs on par with those charged by a solicitor's firm for letter writing, telephone costs etc however I think amanda is quite right to expect some form of costs, loss of earnings etc that have resulted solely from that defendent's lack of timely response to resolve. Therefore, one shouldn't include costs of initial response or first request for reimbursement (ie anything up to and including preliminary letter asking for £xxx of charges to be refunded). After that point, it can be argued that the defendent failed to act in a reasonable fashion thus causing a burden of debt to the claimant.

I will be charging telephone costs in line with per minute standard rate of my telephone supplier (which is a mobile and the fact that I have contract that gives 'free minutes' is irrelevant as any calls made to the bank have in effect used up airtime that would otherwise be available for calls of my choice).

I will be charging actual postage (keep post office receipts for everything sent) plus £5 per 1-2 page letter which includes stationery costs.

For photocopying, I shall be charging 10pence per A4 black and white text sheet.

Travel should be charged at 40 pence per mile or actual receipted cost of travel using public transport/taxi. Parking receipts as per ticket face value.

Loss of earnings should be actual. If you are normally a stay at home parent and someone else has to look after or school run your children due to a court attendance, you can claim for this (even if it is a family member). Again, their travel costs are as above paragraph and childcare costs should be in line with local rates.

I believe that only where you are at a court etc (ie required to be available)for continuous periods of 4 hours or more should you be claim for food & drink expenses.

It will depend on the mood and attitude of the presiding judge but as amanda says, it's unlikely to get past one intial court hearing (the directions).

Hope that helps

u mean to say i actually got something right lol thanks welshcakes ur a star.

amandax

ha ha, you're an old hand at this now amanda, I can see you as the new Clare Rayner ... Agony Aunt to the masses!

pmsl why thank u hunnie, altho im much prettier than clare rayner lol

amandax

Originally Posted by skeggs885

it would have been more effective to claim for my costs at the time of issuing the claim?

You can't claim a defined amount until you have completed the case however you should have included in your Particulars of Claim that you were seeking 'wasted time'/expenses costs (on top of money owed and court costs). As long as you did that, you are entitled to request the court to consider allowing them - though it's no guaranttee they will be as Small Claims tends to view the awarding of costs differently.

If you didn't request it initially, it's unlikely the judge would entertain them as the judgement and award will be based on the application youi made and the elements specifically sought in your application.