BIZREFUND guide
Florida small claims court: limit and fee
A refund request that a company refuses can end in small claims court. This page gives the Florida facts a letter writer needs before deciding anything: the limit, the court, the fee, the rule on asking first, and where to complain. Each fact names its official source and the date it was checked.
The limit
In Florida, the general small claims limit is USD 8,000. One cap for every claimant, not counting filing costs, interest and attorney fees.
Which court
Small claims cases in Florida are heard in the County court. The court's own page, linked below, explains where to file and what the forms are called.
Filing fee range
The filing fee runs from USD 50 to USD 295, depending on the amount you claim. Statutory ceilings in section 34.041: up to USD 50 for a claim under USD 100, rising to up to USD 295 for a claim over USD 2,500, plus a USD 4 additional fee; the county sets the fee within those ceilings.
Before you file
The official pages read for this state do not say whether you must ask first. A dated letter with the evidence attached is the record either way. The state courts' small claims page, the do-it-yourself pages and the fee statute say nothing about asking for the money before filing.
Your state's consumer law
The main consumer protection law in Florida is the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Fla. Stat. ยง 501.201 et seq.). A letter can name it; what it covers in your case is a question for the statute itself or a lawyer.
Where to complain
The Florida attorney general takes consumer complaints through its own page, linked below. A complaint there is a report that the office keeps and can act on; it is not a claim for your money.
E-filing
The court accepts online filing from people without a lawyer.
Worked example
Example: a USD 850 refund that a store in Florida refused is under the USD 8,000 limit, so it is the size of claim the County court hears. The filing fee for it would fall between USD 50 and USD 295. The letter from the refund desk is the written request that comes first, and the timeline log is the record you bring.
Sources
- Small claims limit
- Filing fee
- The court
- Consumer law
- Florida attorney general: consumer complaint
- Online filing
Checked on 2026-10-11 against the sources above. Limits and fees change; confirm on the court's own page before you file.
Not legal advice and not a law firm. This page says what the court and the rule are, not whether you should file.
Common questions
What if my claim is over the limit?
Then small claims is not the court for the whole amount. People sometimes claim only up to the limit and give up the rest, or use a different court. Which is right for you is not something this page can say.
Do I have to send a letter before I file?
In Florida, the court's page does not say whether to ask first, by the official pages read for this guide. A dated letter with the evidence attached is the record either way.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It lists what the court and the rule are, with the official source for each fact and the date it was checked. It does not judge your case or tell you to file.