Small Claims Court Thread

All written by Paddy19

As of 25 May:
Aer Lingus are paying up within a few days of the 15 calendar day limit.

Ryanair seem to be disputing all SCC claims, so chargeback maybe a better option.

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If your flight is cancelled you are entitled to a cash refund in 7 days per EU261 8 1 a.

The small claims process is one way to get your money back from a travel company registered in Ireland.

It costs 25 Euro which is non refundable and non claimable.

The small claims process is no more difficult than creating an account on eBay or Amazon,
it is designed to be simple to use. No requirement for a solicitor or be fluent in legalese.

Best part is the company must reply within 15 calendar days.
If they don't reply you win the case.
Companies normally just pay up if they know they will loose.
If they decide to defend the case they have to retain an expensive solicitor.
If the case goes to court you have to attend the court. Your expenses are not allowed. The Airline expenses are not not allowed either.

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Guide

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The small claims process is very straight forward:

https://www.csol.ie/ccms/welcome.html

1. Create an account.
2. Open a New Case.
3. Add Claimant (that's you) details.
4. Add Respondent details that's the company.
5. Add Case Details. Keep it very simple, flight cancelled, booking ref number, passenger names, flight details and the total cost of the complete booking. Note: Refund for all flights and all passengers on booking. Note: Reference # or screenshot date for refund request.

Don't worry about submitting documents at this stage.

6. Submit Claim.
7. Check under Events to make sure Claim Submitted shows on the listing.
8. You will get an email
"Courts Service - Notification Case Not Initiated"
This email will have a link for paying the 25 Euro.
9. Once the Registrar sends the claim to the company the events status will show as "Claim Issued."
10. If the airline does not respond within 15 calendar days you win the case. The airline may dispute the claim and request documents. You can email the documents to the Registrar and ask him to send them to the airline.

11. The airline can then pay up or dispute the claim. For a disputed claim you then have a choice to drop the case or request a court date. You have top be prepared to attend the court personally.
Expenses for court appearances are not allowable.

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It's generally intuitive except they have the blue Add Claimant, Add Respondent and Edit Case Details,
are three quarters way up the page. You if you get stuck check those buttons.

Critical you get the airlines official titles and CRO number correct.

CRO Number:
9215
Aer Lingus Limited
Dublin Airport Dublin

104547
RYANAIR DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
RYANAIR DUBLIN OFFICE
AIRSIDE BUSINESS PARK
SWORDS
CO. DUBLIN

You can track your claim by logging into the online account and watch the 15 day countdown!

Unlike the airlines they even supply an email address for support sccadmin@courts.ie.

Be great is people could let us know how they get on with the process and when they get the money!