21 July 2025, 12:54 | Updated: 21 July 2025, 12:57

By Daniel Barnett

Most everyday civil disputes end up in the county court: unpaid bills, consumer rows, minor injury claims, landlord and tenant issues, and neighbour fallouts.

Just over 1.7 million claims were issued last year. MPs on the House of Commons Justice Committee have today described the county court as the “Cinderella” of the justice system, a “dysfunctional service” where a typical small claim now waits more than fifty weeks for a hearing and larger claims often take even longer.

Justice delayed means people surrender their rights or settle for less than they are owed.

Getting anyone at the court to answer is a grind.........

© LBC