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Small claims not needing a lawyer - that's rubbish!! I've just put a file away where I have a final hearing on 11 January. The claim is for over £10K but the other side in their DQ said it should be SCT as they felt the claim was "really smaller than pleaded" - well it would be if there defence succeeded, but it wouldn't be if decided in our favour - but anyway - it gets allocated to SCT - with 5 pages of directions - including obtaining expert report, detailed disclosure etc. No way could a layman understand any of it! - and now, some 14 working days before trial - and after arguing for two years - the other side put forward an offer to settle - pretty well what we claimed - but of course fixed fee of £100 inc VAT!! Actual work carried out - in excess of £3000 I suspect.