BIZREFUND guide
Ohio small claims court: limit and fee
A refund request that a company refuses can end in small claims court. This page gives the Ohio 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 Ohio, the general small claims limit is USD 6,000. Set by R.C. 1925.02 and raised to USD 6,000 by House Bill 387 in 2016; libel, slander, replevin, claims by an assignee or agent, and punitive damages are excluded.
Which court
Small claims cases in Ohio are heard in the Small claims division of the municipal court or 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 is set by the court or the county, and the court's own page lists it. Set by each court under R.C. 1925.04; the court's own page lists it.
Before you file
Official guidance for this state recommends that you ask the other side for the money in writing before you file. The attorney general's guidance says to contact the business first and to consider a letter that explains your concern and how the business could resolve it.
Your state's consumer law
The main consumer protection law in Ohio is the Consumer Sales Practices Act (Ohio Rev. Code ยง 1345.01 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 Ohio 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
Online filing depends on the county. The court's page says which counties offer it.
Worked example
Example: a USD 850 refund that a store in Ohio refused is under the USD 6,000 limit, so it is the size of claim the Small claims division of the municipal court or county court hears. 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
- Asking first
- Consumer law
- Ohio 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 Ohio, a request first is recommended, 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.