Small Claims Tribunals
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Singapore Acts of Parliament, subsidiary legislation, and official government guidance.
Singapore National Law
What is this right?
The Small Claims Tribunals (SCT) provide a quick, low-cost forum for resolving consumer and tenancy disputes:
- Claim limit: Up to $20,000 (or $30,000 if both parties agree in writing).
- Types of claims: Sale of goods, provision of services, tenancy deposits, damage to property, and unfair practices under the CPFTA.
- No lawyers: Parties must represent themselves — the process is designed to be accessible to ordinary people.
- Process: File online → consultation/mediation → if unresolved, the Tribunal hears the case and issues a binding order.
- Filing fee: $10 for claims up to $5,000; $20 for claims above $5,000.
- Timeframe: Most cases are resolved within 2–3 months.
When does it apply?
- You have a consumer dispute (bought defective goods, paid for services not rendered) or tenancy dispute (deposit, repairs).
- Your claim is $20,000 or less.
- The claim must be filed within 2 years of the cause of action (1 year for certain tenancy claims).
What should you do?
- Try to resolve it directly with the other party first — a demand letter often works.
- File your claim online at the Community Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS) website.
- Bring all evidence to the hearing: receipts, contracts, photos, correspondence, and witnesses if available.
- The Tribunal's decision is binding and can be enforced like a court order.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't bring a lawyer — the SCT process does not allow legal representation (except for companies and in rare cases with leave).
- Don't ignore an SCT summons — failure to attend can result in a default order against you.
- Don't exaggerate your claim — the Tribunal expects honest presentation of facts.
Legal Resources
We may earn a commission if you use these services — at no extra cost to you. This supports our mission to make legal information free for everyone.
LawDepotSend a formal demand letter to a business or creditor. State-specific financial and consumer documents ready in minutes.Create a Demand Letter →Credit KarmaFree credit monitoring, dispute tools, and alerts. Know when your credit report changes.Check Your Credit Free →IdentityGuardIdentity theft protection and monitoring. Get notified if your personal information is misused.Protect Your Identity →