YET MORE ON COURT FEES: SME'S AND "SECOND WAVE" OF PROPOSED INCREASES

There are more interesting posts on the impact of the new court fees regime. I propose to post on this issue regularly. If anyone has any comments, views or links please let me know.

The SI itself (with the new fees) is available here.

THE IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES

Slater & gordon make the really trenchant point that “New Court Fees will Hit Access to Justice for UK SMEs” Including a quote from a business owner.

“Slapping SMEs with more costs when they are already at a very low ebb is unfair. The Government often talk about how SMEs are the driving force behind the economy and highlight how much they are doing to help us. But the fee increases are a massive hindrance.”

LETS JUST HIT THE LITTLE GUY

Litigation Futures reports that the CJC and Bar Council condemn plans for second wave of court fee rises.

Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, stated:

“We are not talking about multinational firms in multi-million pound law suits. General applications relate to things like chasing a cowboy builder, or challenging an application for possession of your home.

“Studies show that there is price elasticity around the use of courts, so the government knows this will stop some people from using the law to seek the redress they need.

“It is right that court users make a contribution, but wrong in principle that court fees should be used to generate more money than the courts cost to operate.”