The Small Claims Tribunals are part of the Subordinate Courts of Singapore. The Tribunals were established on the 1st of February 1985, to provide a quick and inexpensive forum for the resolution of small claims between consumers and suppliers.
Jurisdiction of the Small Claims Tribunals
The Tribunals have jurisdiction to hear claims not exceeding $10,000, where the claims relate to disputes arising from:
- a contract for the sale of goods; or
- a contract for the provision of services; or
- tortious damage to property (but not including damage arising in connection with motor vehicle accidents)
- Any contract relating to a lease of residential premises not exceeding 2 years
Where the Claimant and the Respondant consent in writing, the jurisdiction can be raised to $20,000. (Memorandum of Consent)
All claims must be lodged or filed at the Small Claims Tribunals within one year from the date on which the cause of action accrued.
All claims to be lodged or filed with the Small Claims Tribunals have to be within the Jurisdiction of the Tribunals. For some general assistance on this, you may wish to refer to this checklist.
Parties lodging or filing a claim would have to pay claim fees as follows;
|
|
Not exceeding $5,000
|
Exceeding $5,000 but not exceeding $10,000
|
Exceeding $10,000 but not exceeding $20,000
|
|
Consumer
|
$10.00
|
$20.00
|
1% of claim amount
|
|
Non consumer
|
$50.00
|
$100.00
|
3% of claim amount
|
Claim forms can be obtained from the Tribunals in person or by fax through the teleresponse system at 64355937. The claim form can also be obtained from here.
A person or company who wishes to make the claim is referred to as the “Claimant” while the person or company claimed against is referred to as the “Respondent”. The party you claim against can also claim against you in the same claim. This is referred to as a “Counterclaim”.
A claim can be lodged or filed in person at the Tribunals or through the fax at 65364478 or 64355994. Currently, certain authorised users are allowed to lodge or file their claims via the Internet. If you are a frequent user of the Tribunals making numerous claims a year, you may apply in writing to the Registrar of Small Claims Tribunals for approval to utilise the electronic filing.
Payment for claims lodged via fax may be made in person or by post. If in person, payment can be made by cash, NETS or crossed cheque. If by post, payment is only to be made by cheque. Only local cheques will be accepted. For crossed cheque, it should be made payable to the “Registrar, Subordinate Courts”. All payments must be made within 7 days of lodgment, or the claim will be deemed withdrawn. Claim forms would have to be submitted in quadruple when lodging a claim in person and parties would have to provide one copy each of all supporting documents. For claims lodged via fax only, parties would have to provide one copy each of the claim form and the supporting documents.
Parties claiming against a company or a business would have to produce the instant information search of that company or business. This can be obtained at the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority’s the service bureau at 6th Floor, Apollo Centre, Havelock Road , Singapore 059763.
Even after a claim has been filed, the parties can still attempt to resolve the matter between themselves before the Consultation / Mediation date and should there be a settlement they may write in to withdraw the Claim.
The parties would first attend a Consultation / Mediation before a Registrar of the Small Claims Tribunals. If the matter is not resolved at that stage, the parties would then have to attend a Hearing before a Referee.
Source: subordinate court
