BIZREFUND guide
Tennessee small claims court: limit and fee
A refund request that a company refuses can end in small claims court. This page gives the Tennessee 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 Tennessee, the general small claims limit is USD 25,000. Confirmed on the Davidson County General Sessions Court site; the state courts site says General Sessions jurisdiction varies from county to county under state laws and private acts, so check your own county's court.
Which court
Small claims cases in Tennessee are heard in the General Sessions 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 county's clerk; no statewide fee page exists.
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 court's guidelines say to try to settle before trial; they do not say whether to ask first before filing.
Your state's consumer law
The main consumer protection law in Tennessee is the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977 (T.C.A. ยง 47-18-101 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee refused is under the USD 25,000 limit, so it is the size of claim the General Sessions 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
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 Tennessee, 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.