新加坡小额索偿庭、Singapore Small Claims Tribunals
小额索偿庭
小额索偿庭是新加坡国家法院的其中一个法庭。它设立于1985年2月1日，目的是为解决买卖双方的小额纠纷提供一个快捷且低廉的平台。
所有索偿申请需以电子方式通过互联网在社区司法与审裁庭系统(Community Justice and Tribunals System，简称CJTS)内提交。
该系统提供一个简易的方法让涉及纠纷各方能提交索偿申请及使用相关电子服务。
社区司法与审裁庭系统(CJTS)网站链接：
http://www.statecourts.gov.sg/CJTS/
小额索偿庭权限
从2019年11月1日起，小额索偿庭所审理的索偿额顶限为两万（$20,000）。但是如果双方同意并上网提交同意通函，该限额可以提高至三万（$30,000）。
索偿额不能被分割为不同的索偿申请以纳入小额索偿庭的管辖权内。所有索偿申请必须在产生诉讼原因日期算起的两年内提出（即由事实引发起诉权的日期）。
该修正案不适用于已在旧法令下过期的索偿申请。延长的2年限制期仅适用于2018年11月1日或之后所产生的诉讼原因（在法令修改前的不到1年期间）。
法庭可以审理的索偿类别:
•货品销售
•退还车辆押金
•提供服务
•财产损害的侵权行为
•租购协议
•不超过2年的住宅租赁合约
小额索偿庭索偿的主要阶段
法庭程序在提交索偿申请后正式开始。提出索偿申请者称为“索偿人” 。索偿人向答辩人提出索偿申请。答辩人也可以在同一起索偿案件中向索偿人提出“反诉”。各方都需通过CJTS提交其索偿申请或反诉。
申请费用
高达$5,000（个人费用$10 、其他实体费用$50）
•$5,000至$10,000（个人费用$20 、其他实体费用$100）
•$10,000至$20,000（个人费用=索赔金额的1%、其他实体费用=索赔金额的3%）
•$20,000至$30,000*（个人费用=索赔金额的1%、其他实体费用=索赔金额的3%）
*需经双方同意
提交索偿申请后，法庭将定日期让诉讼双方出庭见主簿官以进行磋商。
主簿官在磋商会议时将：
•评估索偿申请是否在法庭管辖权范围内；
•给予双方讨论案件的机会 ，以尝试友好地解决纠纷；
•在双方无法解决纠纷的情况下，排期审讯由审裁庭推事审理案件，或作出其他视为适当的庭令。
注意：在法庭审理过程中，律师不得代表任何当事方。
案件排期审讯后，审讯可能在磋商日期后的24小时内进行。双方在审讯时将有机会向 审裁庭推事陈述他们的案件。审裁庭推事将考虑双方的文件或其他证据及证人的证词，并依法对案件作出裁定。审裁庭推事所作出的庭令对诉讼双方具有约束力。
审裁庭对于2019年11月1日之前提交的索偿申请所作出的庭令，可视如推事法庭的庭令执行；而对于2019年11月1日之后提交的索偿申请所作出的庭令，可视如地方法庭的庭令执行。
更多详情请浏览官方网站：
https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/cws/SmallClaims/Pages/GeneralInformation.aspx
==English==
Singapore Small Claims Tribunals
What is the Small Claims Tribunals?
The Small Claims Tribunals (the “Tribunals”) are part of the State Courts of Singapore. The Tribunals were established on 1 February 1985 to provide a quick and inexpensive forum for the resolution of small claims between consumers and suppliers.
All claims are filed using an electronic case filing and management system called CJTS (Community Justice and Tribunals System). CJTS allows parties involved in disputes to file claims and access Court e-services from the comfort of their homes or any place with an internet connection. For more information on CJTS, please refer to this promotional brochure.
An order of the Tribunals made on claims filed before 1 November 2019 may be enforced as though it was an order of a Magistrate's Court, while an order of the Tribunals made on claims filed on or after 1 November 2019 may be enforced as though it was an order of a District Court.
Community Justice and Tribunals System link：
http://www.statecourts.gov.sg/CJTS/
Jurisdiction of the Tribunals
With effect from 1 November 2019, the Tribunals hear claims not exceeding $20,000. This limit can be raised to $30,000 if both parties agree to it and file a Memorandum of Consent online. A claim cannot be split or divided to bring it within the Tribunals' jurisdiction.
All claims must be filed within 2 years from the date on which the cause of action accrued, that is, the day the facts arose to give rise to a right to sue. Prior to the amendments to the Small Claims Tribunals Act, the limitation period was one year from the date on which the cause of action has accrued.
The amendments do not apply to claims that would have expired under the old Act. The extended limitation period of 2 years only applies to causes of action that accrued on or after 1 November 2018 (less than 1 year before the amendments).
The Tribunals only hear specific types of cases. Click here to find out if your claim is covered by the Small Claims Tribunals.
The types of claims that the Tribunals can hear are claims relating to：
•A contract for the sale of goods.
•Refund of motor vehicle deposits.
•A contract for the provision of services.
•A tort for damage caused to property.
•A hire purchase agreement.
•A contract relating to a lease of residential premises not exceeding 2 years.
Proceedings at the Tribunals begin when a claim is filed.
A person who files a claim is a “claimant”. A claimant files a claim against a “respondent”. A respondent can also file a "counterclaim" against the claimant in the same claim.
The applicable fees for filing a claim or counterclaim are:
•Up to $5,000（$10 for Individual、$50 for Other Entity）
•Between $5,000 and $10,000（$20 for Individual、$100 for Other Entity）
•More than $10,000 and up to $20,000（1% of amount claimed for Individual、3% of amount claimed for Other Entity）
•More than $20,000, up to $30,000*（1% of amount claimed for Individual、3% of amount claimed for Other Entity）
*Consent of both parties required.
After a claim is filed, a Consultation date will be fixed for parties to appear before the Registrar in Court. At a Consultation, the Registrar will:
•Assess if a claim is within the Tribunals’ jurisdiction
•Give parties an opportunity to discuss their cases with a view to resolving their dispute amicably
•Where parties are unable to settle a matter, fix the matter for a Hearing before a Tribunal Magistrate, or make such other orders as it deems fit
Note: Lawyers are not allowed to represent any of the parties in proceedings before the Tribunals.
After a case is fixed for Hearing, the Hearing can occur within 24 hours of the date of the Consultation. At the Hearing, both parties will have a chance to present their cases to the Tribunal Magistrate. The Tribunal Magistrate will consider the parties’ documents or other evidence, the evidence of witnesses (if any) and make a decision on the case in accordance with the law.
An order made by the Tribunal Magistrate is binding on the parties. An order of the Tribunals made on claims filed before 1 November 2019 may be enforced as though it was an order of a Magistrate’s Court,, while an order of the Tribunals made on claims filed on or after 1 November 2019 may be enforced as though it was an order of a District Court.
For more details, please visit the official website:
https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/cws/SmallClaims/Pages/GeneralInformation.aspx
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