[Note: See amendments, Frequently Asked Questions on the 2016 Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases] The Supreme Court approved, through A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC dated 9 September 2008, the proposed “The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases” (see full text). Here’s the basic primer or discussion on the new procedure.
What is the scope and applicabilty of the Rule?
It covers cases at the MTC where the value of the claim does not exceed P100,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs. It applies in all actions which are: (a) purely civil in nature where the claim or relief prayed for by the plaintiff is solely for payment or reimbursement of sum of money, and (b) the civil aspect of criminal actions, either filed before the institution of the criminal action, or reserved upon the filing of the criminal action in court. These claims or demands may be:
- For money owed under any of the following contracts: Lease, Loan, Services, Sale, or Mortgage.
- For damages arising from: Fault or negligence, Quasi-contract, or Contract
- The enforcement of a barangay amicable settlement or an arbitration award involving a money claim covered by this Rule pursuant to Sec. 417 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
Am I required to pay filing fees?
Unless allowed to litigate as an indigent, you have to pay the regular filing fees. In any case, even when declared an indigent, you MUST pay the P1,000.00 fee for service of summons and processes in civil cases.
How to I apply as an indigent litigant?
The proper motion must be filed (click here for the requirements). If the motion is denied, you have 5 days within which to pay the docket fees, otherwise the case will be dismissed.
Are lawyers allowed to appear?
No attorney shall appear in behalf of or represent a party at the hearing, unless the attorney is the plaintiff or defendant.
What is the general flow of the procedure?
1. Commencement. A small claims action is commenced by filing with the court an accomplished and verified Statement of Claim in duplicate, accompanied by a Certification of Non-forum Shopping, and 2 duly certified photocopies of the actionable document/s subject of the claim, as well as the affidavits of witnesses and other evidence to support the claim. When requested, the Clerk of Court or other court personnel shall provide assistance regarding the availability of forms and other information about the coverage, requirements as well as procedure for small claims cases.
2. Examination by the court. The court may, from an examination of the allegations of the Statement of Claim and such evidence attached thereto, by itself, dismiss the case outright on any of the grounds apparent from the Claim for the dismissal of a civil action. If no ground for dismissal is found, the court shall issue: (a) Summons on the day of receipt of the Statement of Claim, directing the defendant to submit a verified Response; and (b) Notice to both parties, directing them to appear before it on a specific date and time for hearing, with a warning that no unjustified postponement shall be allowed.
3. Response. The defendant shall file with the court and serve on the plaintiff a duly accomplished and verified Response (affidavits of witnesses and other evidence in its support) within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of summons. In case of faulure to file a Response, the court by itself shall render judgment as may be warranted by the facts alleged in the Statement of Claim limited to what is prayed for.
4. Hearing. The parties or their duly-appointed representatives shall appear at the designated date of hearing. Failure of the plaintiff to appear shall be cause for the dismissal of the claim without prejudice and the award of permissive counterclaims in favor of the defendant who is present. Failure of the defendant to appear has the same effect as the failure to file a Response.
5. Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR). At the hearing, the judge shall conduct JDR through mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, or any other mode of JDR. If JDR fails and the parties agree in writing that the hearing of the case shall be presided over by the judge who conducted the JDR, the hearing shall so proceed in an informal and expeditious manner and terminated within 1 day. Absent such agreement, the case shall, on the same day, be referred to the pairing judge for hearing and decision within 5 working days from referral.
6. Decision. After the hearing, the court shall render its decision on the same day. The decision shall be final and unappealable.
What is the date of effectivity of this Rule?
The Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases took effect on October 1, 2008 for the pilot courts designated to apply the procedure for small claims cases following its publication in two newspapers of general circulation.
Dear Atty. Fred,
On the applicability of Rule of Procedure for Small Claims, is it retroactive or prospective? Do existing claims prior to October 2008 apply to the said procedure?, If not, what is the legal recourse of a ‘defendant’ being harassed by collecting agents?
Thanks and best regards.
Chinoy
This site is very relevant to cooperatives like us. Now my question, Attorney: The CoC of MCTC in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur is charging us additional P500.00 for each individual we submit for “small claims cases (aside from P1,000.00 fee for service of summons and processes in civil cases + P200.00 they said for the server’s expenses). P1,200.00 is ok with us, it doesn’t matter. We have already submitted 1 case and that was decided instantly, thanks to our efficient judge here (we paid P1,200.00). But when we submit another 5 cases this early we were asked by the court’s CoC that we pay an additional P500.00 each for Mediation Fund? Is this new?
Thanks.
safrabay
Dear Atty. Fred,
My query is relative to Chinoy’s response/comment posted last Aug. 19th, 2009 at 2:24 a.m.. My accoutn for collection as per RCBC, through the DOMINGO & MOLAER Law Offices is P106,645.26. Which I believe already includes, the penalties, interests, other charges which would make my account just hovering a little less of P20,000.00 considering that payment was stopped around late nineties or early 2000.
Is my case considered as A Small Claim Case? And can my wife be a mandatory party-defendant in the Sum of Money Case pursuant to Rule 3, Sec. 4 of the New Rules of Court as cited by the collecting agent?
Whew, I thought, this was solved already after I wrote a letter for compassion and understanding to Amb. Alfredo Yuchengco of RCBC last 2004 or 2005. And after how many years, here comes another collecting agent.
How will the court decide on cases wherein the defendant chooses not to appear or respond to summons? How will the plaintiff get his claims then?
You will askvthe court for the issuance of a writ of execution to be able to get yoir claim
how about if they defendant failed to pay? what is the next action of the court?
Hi Atty,
If there is already a scheduled court hearing, can the defendant still pay for the required amount/money owed even prior to going to the hearing and request for the case to be dropped?
Please advise.
Thanks.
Yes, the court will conduct a mediation and if the mediation is successful the court will ossue a compromise agreement between you provided you pay the plaintiffs claim
Hi Atty.,
We had a client who did not pay his balance.
He signed a document from us that he will pay for it.
We were still able to reach him over the phone for a follow up, after he signed the document until one day his number is no longer active.
We sent him several letters (SOA – Statement of Account) and it was always delivered back to our office.
We already visited his house to personally check on him and to collect the balance, but he’s no longer there and his neighbor said he’s already overseas.
Hope to hear an advice from you, as we are planning to file a case against him.
More power and God bless!
Len
Ako po ay umattend ng hearing 30 minutes earliear, subalit hindi po lumalabas ang judge at ang mga mga representative po ng aking pinagkakautangan ay nakikipagcompromise sa ibang may pagkakautang, pinili ko pong mag antay na lumabas ang judge dahil gusto kong pakiusap dahil hindi ko kaya ang gustong compromise ng akin pinagkakautangan, after 30 minutes po ako po ay lumabas para bumuli ng tubig sa kadahilanang nagdidilim na ang aking paningin at hindi parin po lumalabas ang judge na nakaassigned sa amin, subalit pagbalik ko at nagtanong kung hindi pa po ba lalabas ang judge at sinabihan ako na tapos na at naisulat na sa minutes na hindi ako dumating, ipinaliwanag ko na maaga akong dumating at nag aantay na lumabas ang judge at mag umpisa, sinabihan po ako na dapat ay lumapit ako para pumirma na naroroon ako. nakiusap ako na pipirma ako ngunit ang pinalagay ay oras kung saan tapos na ang hearing at sinabihan na kausapin ko nalang ang aking pinagkakautangan, sinubukan kong makiusap sa pinagkakautangan ko subalit sinabihan ako na aantayin nalang nila ang desisyon ng korte pabor sa kanila dahilan sa hindi ko pagdating sa hearing. kinabukasan ako po ay tumawag at muling nakiusap sa korte at sinabihan ako na gumawa ako ng liham para sa nangyari nung araw na yun. kasalukuyan ko pong inaantay ang magiging resulta sa aking ginawang liham. Ano po ang dapat kong gawin? tuluyan po bang maaaward sa pinagkakautangan ko ang kaso? tulungan nyo po sana ako. Maraming salamat po.
Your article is very informative, especially for layman. Thanks and hoping others could open your site from to time to learn more about the justice system in our country.
Hello po! Tan0ng q lng po regarding civil case na isinampa namin. Ilang days po b bgo maikasa yun sa court? Hit & run victim po ung ka live in ko nung january 2015, my mga pag uusap po n na naganap betwen parties pro until now wla pa rin result.. Anyone know ab0ut Mr. NATANIEL LEANO, owner of the Bmw with plate # NIL 88..pls po kung cnu nka2kila s kanya pag bigay alam nlng po.salamat sa 22l0ng.
Good day attorney,
Tanong ko lang po Kung Sakali n mag file ako ng smooth claim ay maibabalik pa po ba ng buo ang perang inutang sa akin sa pamamagitan ng SANLANG TIRA? 25k po ang perang pinahiram ko at may pirmahan Kmi ng 6 buwan n kontrata Kung Saan magbibigay ng 4k n tubo kada bwan ang nagsangla. Mayos nmn po cya na nkakapagbayad. Sa loob ng 6 na buwan 24k n rin lahat ang nkolekta Kong tubo. Ngaun n tpos ang kontrata nmin nhihirapn n ako kunin ang 25k n puhunan sa Kanya . Maturing an nyo po sana ako. Marami ng Salamat po.
gusto ko lang po malaman kung ang 2,000 pesos po ay qualified for small claims case ?
meron po kasing taong malapit sakin na ipapakulong daw sa halagang 2,000 kahit mangako sya na sa katapusan nya babayaran pagkasahod ng anak nya.
Atty kumuha po ako ng cp sa halagang 5999.naka tatlong hulog lng po ako.ksi nawalan ako ng work.my warrant of arrest na daw ako.tama po b un??pls.answer po.natatakot po ako
yes starting feb 2016 200hundred thousand below covered ng Civil Case sum of Money kung ikaw ay naki pag kasundo sa ng habla sayo at nag karon kayo ng compromise agreement ay mas maganda pero kung di mo babayaran ang iyong napagkasuduan ang nag habla sau ay mag file ng motion for execution at kung sakaling ito ay ma grand ang finale ng husgado mag lalabas ang MTC ng dicision Writ of Execution ikaw ay hahatakan ng gamit .
May i seek advice regarding my issue.
May nagutang po sakin ng 84k tapos po tumakas po sya at nag tago.
Nag post po ako sa facebook ng picture nya para po babala sa mga taong tinakasan nya. at dahil sa galit narin dahil tinakbuhan nya ako.
Ngayon bumalik sya nag rereklamo ng paninirang puri ebidensya nya ang post ko sa fb.
Nag file ako ng Small Claims — on going pa —
Sya naman po ay mag fifile ng libel case.. kakatapos palang namin mag usap sa brgy. kanina. kami padaw po ang mag babayad sa kanya dahil sa ginawa ko sa facebook.
Hindi ko po inamin ang post ko sa fb. sabi ko wala akong alam dun. tapos po deactivated n ang fb ko.
Ano po ba ang laban ko dito?
Good day po,
Sir ask ko lang po kung below 5000 ay tinatangap po small claims?
Atty.,
OFW po aq, ngresign po aq last Feb 29 2016, umuwi po aq last March 1, may utang aq sa isang lending company, 5 months n po aq nkkabayad kso etong 2 mos e hndi na po dhil nwalan na po aq ng work. Paalis na po aq uli kaso hntay pa po ng visa. Kaso etong lending company e pinipilit aq maglabas ng pera, gusto q mag compromise sa knila kso e pilitan aq pinag bbyad ng amount na hndi ko kaya bayaran. Ano po magandang gawin d2.
Salamat po
Good day po,ask q po kung ganu kvalid ang promisory note even if n wala yung name ng babayaran n tao..last dec po kc nkabangga ang sskyan nmin ng uv express.ngaon po d nman msyado ang damage ng nabangga nmin. Ang operator ng uv express ayaw ipasok s insurance nmin o kya ipaassess kng mgkano ang damage ng sskyan nya. Ang gusto ng operator mgbyad km ng 100 k. Npilitan n lng km n gumawa ng promi note dahil msyado n km ngstay s presinto 4 hrs.ksama p nman nmin ang mga anak nmin. Ngayon po ngdemanda n po under s small claims ang operator dahil d nmin nbyaran ang hinihingi kc msyadong malaki. Pinaestimate nmin s talyer ns 7 thou lng po ang damage. Sana po mbigyan nyo po aq ng advice. Salamat po and godbless
Nagfile po ako ng kaso sa Small Claims Court sa Pasay noong Friday. Tumawag po ako sa Process Server kanina para tanungin kung kailan maise-serve ang summon sa hinabla ko. Pinapupunta po nya ulit sa offiice nya para magbigsy ng pamadahe papunta sa bahay o opisina ng aking inihahabla. Sa Las Piñas pa po ako manggagaling, at taga- Malibay, Pasay ang respondent. Ganyan po ba talaga ang kalakaran sa korte?
Hi po. Nais ko lng idulog sa inyo yung problema ko. Dec last year po nakakuha ako ng 15k sa isang kakilala. Ang usapan ay 3k ang tubo monthly hanggang d pa kaya ibalik ang kapital. Tapos po early this year. May ginarantoran ako na mga kakilala. Bale total po ay 15k din. So 30k na ung total sa knila. Mula dec 15 hanggang june15 ay hinulugan ko po ang tubo na 5k mo. Kaso po nhirapan na kong ituloy gawa ng buntis ako at nangangailangan pa ng operasyosn sa cyst. Nkiusap ako na pwedeng ung kapital nlng ang bayaran monthly hanggang mabalik ubg tubo dapat ng start na netong june 30 pero d ko naibigay dhil 3k lng ang ntira sa sinahod ko. Nakiusap ako mula pero ang savi ay ihahabla daw po ako at ipapahiya. D ko nmn po tinatakbuhan ung utang ko, ano po naganda gawin??? Salamat po.
Atty.
May mga cases na po ako sa small claims as the plaintiff and was decided by the judge in favor of me. May amicable settlements po na nangyari to pay me in three gives. Pero after giving the first hindi na tumupad yong may utang. Ano po ang gagawin ko para masingil ang kanyang balance.
Hi Julius, mabilis naman yung processing during your hearing?
How can I go after a person who owes me around 30k pesos in cash and does not pay the monthly credit card installment charge of 7400php? We do not have any written agreement but it was just in good faith the she will pay. I have been asking and collecting payment bec of the credit card finance charges due to unpaid monthly balance. Please help on how I can collect money from her. Thank you.
Hi Atty,
Thank you for your very informative article. I have a question regarding small claims. Nasa 500k ang credit sakin with several dated cheques na ng bounced back due to insufficient fund and sooner ay closed account na. Matagal po ang processing ng BP 22 so maari po ba na atleast 200K lang ang ilapit ko sa small claims court para lang maka pag bayad na yung may utang sakin? Ang signed contract namin is nasa 500k din pero ang mga cheques ay split into several amount.
Thank you very much and more power!
Good morning……. Ask q lng po kung anong dapat kung gawin kasi inisyuhan po ako ng bouncing check na 350,000.00. Hindi po ako ng file ng case kasi single mother po ako at busy sa maliit kong business at may apat na anak po ako. Ano po ang dapat kung gawin, kaibigan ko po siya at binibigyan ko siya ng chance baka kasi magbabayad siya. Check was been issued last July 2015 and its gonna be a year this month. Please help me what to do.
good day, what is the prescriptive period of the transactions to be filed in small claim court? is it the same if what involve is bounced checks or invoices only?
Atty:
Ako po ay may tindahan ng rtw, may mga dealer po kami. May mga dealer po kami na nagkakabalance sa amin. Ang iba po tumigil na sa pagdi deal, pero yun nga po may mga balances sila. ang tanong ko lang po halimbawa, 5 sila, paano po ang proseso ng ganun? pagsabay sabayin po ba sila? Isang tao lang po ba ang
pwedeng kasuhan? paano na po yung ibang ngkautang sa amin?
Sana po matulungan nyo kami. Mraming salamat po.
Hi po!
May nagbenta po sakin ng sasakyan kaso nung paparehistro ko na… may alarm na sya. nagsabi na ako sa kanila na isosoli ko yung sasakyan at isosoli nila yung pera ko worth 110k. Kaso, nung wala silang maipambayad, ang sabi nila na lalabanan na lang sila sa demanda ko. Question po is pasok po ba ang kaso ko sa small money claim e hindi po utang iyon? Meron po kaming agreement sa barangay na dapat isoli nila yung pera.
Salamat po!
Hello, Atty.
Thank you for this Article at maari kaming makapagtanong. Way back in 2005, nakahiram po ako sa isang lending company ng halagang 23,000. Ang naging problem po is nawalan ako ng trabaho at noong nagkaroon ako ng trabaho hindi ko din po naasikaso bayaran dahil po maliit lang ang kinikita ko. Problem now is nagsampa po sila ng small claims which is inabot na nga po ng 100k ang total amount na sinisingil nila sa akin. I begged for them po na mabayaran ko in an installment manner dahil hindi ko nman po sila kayang bayaran ng ganun ka laki ng biglaan, pero hindi po sila pumapayag. Ano po kaya ang pwede kong gawin dito? Thank you po.
Can a loan qualify for small claims if it is below 6,000 PHP? Thanks!
atty gusto ko lang po itanong kung paano po kung ang nagfile sa ng small claim ay hindi po dumaan sa barangay? pwede ko po ba ipadismis un? at paano po kung ang pinadala nilang demand letter ay minor po ang nakatangap at ngpirma? hindi po nakarating sa amin ang demand letter na nireceive ng minor sa adres namin? willing naman po magbayad pero dipo ba dapat dumaan muna sa barangay bago nagfile ng small claim? pls reply po
igood evening po attorney may tanong po sana ko regarding po sa nahiraman ko bago ako umalis nung mga unang buwan po kasi nakakahulog naman po ako kaso nung huli mejo pumalya po kasi ngkaproblema po ako sa ibang bansa kaya ngakagipit gipit din po kami..ngaun po sabi nya naifile nya na daw po last week ang small claims skin sa court sa monday daw po ang final. pero nakiusap po ako sa kanya sa sa next month magstart napo ako magbayad sa kanya. posible nya pa po bang maiatras ang pagfile ng klaso sa small claims court?Pede rin po ba un kahit ndi dumaan sa baranggay.Salamat po.sana po mapaliwanagan nyo po ako.
A fake geodetic engineer and I had a compromise agreement before the MTC wherein the former shall refund or pay me Php140,000.00, I paid him for the subdivision survey of our land, this coming December 1, 2016. Actually I paid him Php170,000.00 but he pleaded for a reduction to which I agreed. What action shall I take if he fails to pay me the Php140,000.00 on December 1, 2016? Thanks for the advice.
Kasali po ba sa small claims ang utang sa Avon? May ipinadala pong letter sa akin ang Avon pero hindi ko nabasa kasi hindi naiwala ko po. This happened like 4-5 years ago.
sir, if the amount involve is more than 200k can i split my claim into several causes of action in order to qualify under SCC? say 500k is the amount involved can i filed first for the 1st 200k, then for the next 200k and so on?
Hello po, tanong ko lang po kung pwede pa bang singilin ang mga 10 -12 years na utang? May kaibigan kasi ako nuon na pinapuhunan nya ako sa wedding photography nya. Tpos d namn sya ngbukas ng photography shop at nang singilin ko sya nuon ay nagalit ang nanay nya kusa ko daw binigay sa anak nya kaai may gusto daw ako dito. P135k+ ang utang nya. May receipt ako na pnadala ko sakanya ang pera at emails na ngsasabing magnegosyo kami ng photography shop. Andito po ako sa Canada as an OFW kng sakali pwede lng ba ang kapatid ko ang haharap sa hearing? Thank you po God bless.
Atty,
Gud day…ano po ba ang remedy kapag nadimiss ang small claim case…nadismis kasi for lack of jurisdiction daw.
tnx
may i ask if last 2005 may utang bf ko then nag abroad cla ng asawa nya. till now di pa rin mobayad .may promissory cya sa akin,pwede ko mag file sa kanya?nasa cebu na ako at ang kanyang hometown ay nasa south cotabato
Good day po atty,
Consider po ba na small claims ang below 5k it was 3 yrs ago? Thanks and more power!
gudpm po. ang 5k pesos po ba na utang ay tinatanggap sa small claims procedure,?
Gud pm may nangutang po sa akin na 120k na gagamitin daw po para sa kanilang negosyo at ang sabi po ng ngutang tutubuan ng 10% sa loob ng 20 araw..dahil sa Inuutangan daw nla 20days25% ang tubo dahil sa ang Pamangkin ko naman po ang nagrekomenda na pautangin xa sapagkat secretarya po xa ng kumpanya ng kanyang boss pinautang po ko po merun naman po silang iniyung checke PDC ang problema po twing sumasapit ung due date sinasabi na I cacash nlng nla wag m daw nmin iincash wala rin manang pondo hanggang sa puro ganun nlng po ang ginawa nla Isuzu ng checke tapus Hindi naman suka tumutupad sa pinag usapan pag dumatrating young date na nkalagay sa checke mag ttxt sila n Hindi mkakabayad at mag iisue nalang ng panibagong checke may mga uspan po Kami na khit wala ng tubo bayaran nlng aq kc kailangan ko na po young perang pinihiram ko ..nag issue nnm po xa ng cheke at nangako na magbabayad nung August 15 2017 pagsapit po ng due uno cash ko po ung check sa bank ang sabi po sken ng teller ipapa aprobe pa tpus simabihan ako na makipagusap sa ngutang saken subalit nung tinatawagan ko po ang may utang sken pinapatayan Lang po aq ng cp ang advise po sken ng banko Kung may account daw po aq s bank I deposit ko nlng daw po ang banko n daw po bahala ng mkipag usap sa knila ang inaashan ko po kc tumalbog ang checke pra mkasuhan ko sila ng stafa kayalang ang advise ng tells sken Kung may bank account ako idepost ko nlng dun deneposit ko naman po ung cheke kayalang Hindi Ko rin makuha ang amount nung cheke kc sna current balance lng xa Anu po ba maari Kung gawin?
Hi Atty., is thier an expiration of validity for Small Claims decision? They were all decided April 2011.
Hope to hear from you.
Jo
Gud pm .. ask ko lng my utang kc ako as Avon company na almost 2000 sinabi nila n kapag d me ngbayad today ipapabaranggay nila ako ”pwede po ba un ??
Good evening po..
Ask po sana ako legal advice, meron po kc ako cc sa rcbc worth 103 thousand kasama na po lahat dun (interest at late charges). Nawalan po kase ako work last March kaya di po ako nakakabayad sa bank, gang sa may dumating po na sulat galing sa court na nag file c rcbc ng small claims against sakin. Sobrang natatakot po ako, ano po dapat ko gawin? Ako lng po inaasahan ng parents (may maintenance na po kc nanay ko sa diabetes) Please help me po king ano dapat ko gawin. Salamat po
Hellow po’ ask ko lng po if tama po ba na ang anak ng complainant ang humaharap sa hearing sa Barangay samantalang name po ng mother nya ang nka indicate sa Summon Letter?naabot na po sa LUPON once lng po humarap yung complainant pero ok pa rn sa Barangay nmin kahit wala ang complainant…
sir nag inquire po ako dto MTC sa aming bayad may babayaran po akong P2,015.00 sa ano po yn?
May umutang sa akin ng 115k pero 55k lang yong may documents ako representing 1 check and signed agreement. Pwede po bang gamitin yong palitan ng messages thru messenger para makita at mapatunayan ang kabuuang pagkaka utang nya? Paano kaya mapapadala yong summon sa kanya kung d ko alam ang residential address nya dahil na assign sya sa ibang lugar? Ngunit alam ko ang employer address dahil malaking company ito. Pwede po bang ipadala ang summon sa opisina nya thru HR?
Sir
I am a foreigner I would like to file a case at Muncipal court for claim 1.5 million pesos. because I helped a Filipina person to buy A homein Philippines and she dont want give back the money to me and i complaint at Barangay but Barangay said this case to be in court.
Could you please let me know the court fee for file my case.
Expecting your kind information
Thank you
How can i file a small claim from a person who is out of the country working as ofw in dubai?