In the Philippines, disputes involving money—such as a contractor failing to fix your roof or a seller refusing to refund a payment for a defective product—often feel like a legal dead end. However, the Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims Cases provide a streamlined, "lawyer-free" avenue for Filipinos to seek justice without the heavy costs of traditional litigation.

1. What is a Small Claims Case?

A small claims case is a special civil action for the payment of a sum of money where the value of the claim does not exceed P1,000,000.00 (as of the 2022 amendments).

Key Characteristics:

No Lawyers Allowed: You cannot bring a lawyer to represent you during the hearing. You must speak for yourself.
Speed: Cases are usually resolved in a single hearing.
Inexpensive: Filing fees are significantly lower than regular civil cases.
Informal: The judge takes an active role in questioning to get to the truth quickly.

2. Applicability: Unreturned Payments and Failed Repairs

Not every dispute qualifies. To file a small claims case, your demand must be purely for the payment of money.

Unreturned Payments: This applies if you paid for a service or product that was never delivered, or if you lent money and it wasn't paid back.
Failed Repairs: You cannot file a small claims case to "force" someone to finish a repair (Specific Performance). However, you can sue for the refund of the money paid plus damages, or the cost of hiring someone else to fix the failed repair.

3. The Pre-requisite: The Demand Letter

Before heading to court, the law requires you to show that you tried to settle the matter. You must send a Formal Demand Letter to the other party via registered mail with a return card.

State clearly what is owed.
Give a deadline (e.g., 5 to 10 days).
State that failure to comply will result in legal action.

Note: If the dispute is between individuals living in the same barangay, you must first undergo Barangay Conciliation. A "Certificate to File Action" from the Lupon is required before the court will accept your case.

4. The Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Filing the Claim

Go to the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), or Municipal Trial Court (MTC) where you live or where the defendant lives.

Fill out Form 1-SCC (Statement of Claim).
Attach your evidence: Receipts, Contracts, Demand Letters, and Photos of the failed repairs.
Pay the filing fees (indigent litigants may be exempted upon motion).

Step 2: Summons and Response

The court will issue a Summons to the defendant. The defendant has ten (10) days to file a Response (Form 3-SCC). If they fail to respond, the judge may render judgment based on your filing.

Step 3: The Hearing

The court will set a hearing date. This is where you and the defendant meet before a judge.

Mediation: The judge will first try to help both parties reach an amicable settlement.
Decision: If mediation fails, the judge will hear both sides and usually issue a decision within 24 hours.

5. Important Evidence to Prepare

Since you cannot have a lawyer, your documentation is your best weapon. Gather the following:

Proof of Payment: Acknowledgment receipts, bank transfers, or GCash screenshots.
Proof of Agreement: Text messages, emails, or written contracts showing the scope of repairs or the refund policy.
Proof of Failure: Photos of the unrepaired item or "before and after" shots showing the damage.
Proof of Demand: The demand letter and the post office white receipt/return card.

6. Finality of Judgment

The decision in a small claims case is final, executory, and unappealable. This means once the judge decides you are owed the money, the defendant cannot drag the case out in higher courts. If they refuse to pay after the decision, you can move for a Writ of Execution to have the court sheriff garnish their bank accounts or seize property to satisfy the debt.

Summary Table: Small Claims at a Glance

Feature	Details
Max Claim Amount	P1,000,000.00
Legal Representation	Strictly prohibited (Pro Se only)
Common Use Cases	Refund of deposits, failed repair costs, unpaid loans
Where to File	First-level courts (MTC, MeTC, MTCC)
Standard Forms	Provided by the Clerk of Court