A planned hike in small claims courts fees has been shelved – after the increases were branded ‘shameful’ in Tynwald.
Juan Turner MLC said the increase was ‘hammering people already at a disadvantage’.
He questioned what was going on at the General Registry when even jurors were being charged now for tea and coffee.
Under the proposed changes, court fees to file a claim or counterclaim in the small claims court would have risen from £82.50 to £185 for a claim up to the maximum amount of £10,000.
Howard Quayle (Middle) said: ‘This does seem a rather excessive increase.’
John Houghton (Douglas North) urged Treasury Minister Eddie Teare to withdraw the Court Fees Order, saying the hike of 124 per cent was ‘completely out of kilter’ – although he accepted the costs could be added to the claim if it was won.
Mr Teare agreed to bring back the order to the following month’s Tynwald sitting.
But he said: ‘I don’t think the level of charges is disproportionate.’
He said he thought the fee of £185 was ‘quite small’ when set against a claim for £10,000.
Mr Teare said he would not be changing the £10,000 limit for the small claims court – and while he would look again at the small claims fees, he would not reconsider those for probate.
He said there was a statutory obligation for jurors to pay for their own refreshments.
Tynwald heard the revised fees are intended as a further step towards the costs of providing justice in civil cases being met from fees collected – while encouraging more agreed settlements.
Fees will be minimised for less complex cases, with more appropriate charges for more protracted matters.
