MCOL Scotland Equivalent: Civil Online for Simple Procedure

Money Claim Online Does Not Work in Scotland

If you are in Scotland trying to sue someone for money, you may have found guidance pointing you to Money Claim Online (MCOL) — the English and Welsh County Court service for some fixed money claims under £100,000, excluding interest and costs. MCOL does not serve as Scotland's Simple Procedure portal. Whether a cross-border claim belongs in Scotland or England and Wales depends on the jurisdiction rules and facts such as where the parties are based and where the contract was performed.

Scotland has its own online filing system: Civil Online, run by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).

What Civil Online Does

Civil Online is the usual filing portal for Simple Procedure claims in Scotland — money claims up to £5,000. Paper filing requires Sheriff approval and a brief note explaining why you cannot submit the claim through Civil Online.

Through the portal you can create an account and submit Form 3A (the Claim Form), pay the court fee (£23 for claims up to £300, £127 for claims between £300 and £5,000), track service and response deadlines via Form 3D (the timetable), upload evidence and supporting documents, lodge Form 7A (Application for a Decision) if the respondent does not reply, and manage the case through to decree.

Key Differences from MCOL

The claim limit is lower. MCOL covers some fixed money claims under £100,000 in the County Court. Civil Online handles Simple Procedure claims up to £5,000 only. Larger claims in Scotland go through Ordinary Cause procedure and are not filed on Civil Online.

Civil Online is the standard route. In England, MCOL is optional — you can still file a paper claim form (Form N1) at the County Court without permission. In Scotland, paper filing on Form 3A requires Sheriff approval and a brief note explaining why you cannot use Civil Online.

The terminology is different. MCOL produces a County Court Judgment (CCJ) if the defendant does not respond. Civil Online produces a decree from the Sheriff Court. The enforcement mechanisms differ too — Scotland uses Sheriff Officers rather than County Court bailiffs, and earnings arrestment rather than attachment of earnings.

Court fees are structured differently. MCOL fees scale with claim value across many bands. Civil Online uses just two bands: £23 or £127. Fee exemptions are available in both systems for claimants receiving qualifying benefits.

If Your Respondent Is in England

Cross-border claims are possible but add complexity. If you are in Scotland suing someone in England, you generally need to file in the respondent's home jurisdiction — meaning the English County Court, potentially through MCOL. Exceptions exist for consumer contracts (where you can sue in your own jurisdiction) and for contracts performed in Scotland.

The reverse applies too: an English claimant suing a Scottish respondent should typically file through Civil Online in the relevant Sheriff Court district.

Jurisdiction rules for cross-border UK claims follow the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982. Getting this wrong means your claim gets rejected and you have wasted your court fee.

Getting Started on Civil Online

The Scotland Simple Procedure filing guide includes a section-by-section walkthrough of Civil Online — from account setup through Form 3A submission to fee payment. It covers the common mistakes that trigger Clerk rejections: wrong party naming, jurisdiction errors, and missing fee exemption forms.

See more Scotland guides →