The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) handles disputes up to $25,000 without needing a lawyer. If someone owes you money, sold you defective goods, damaged your property, or breached a contract, you can lodge a QCAT application yourself.
What QCAT handles
QCAT’s Minor Civil Disputes jurisdiction covers:
- Unpaid debts — money owed under a contract, invoice, or loan
- Consumer disputes — defective goods or services
- Property damage — compensation for damage caused by another person or business
- Breach of contract — written or verbal agreements that have been broken
- Rental bond disputes — if the RTA has not resolved your bond claim
QCAT does not handle family law, criminal matters, or personal injury claims.
Before you lodge
Send a letter of demand
QCAT expects you to try resolving the dispute before filing. A letter of demand must:
- State the amount owed or the remedy you want
- Explain why the other party is liable
- Give them a reasonable deadline to respond (typically 14 days)
- Warn that you will lodge a QCAT application if they do not comply
If you skip this step, QCAT may adjourn your hearing and order you to send one first.
Gather your evidence
Collect everything that supports your claim:
- Contracts, invoices, receipts, quotes
- Emails, text messages, letters
- Photos or videos of defective goods or property damage
- Bank statements showing payments made
QCAT hearings are informal, but evidence still matters.
Identify the respondent correctly
You must name the correct legal entity. Common mistakes include:
- Suing a trading name instead of the registered company (check ABN lookup or ASIC register)
- Suing an individual when the debt is owed by their company
- Misspelling the respondent’s name
Get it wrong and QCAT may dismiss your application, or you may win a judgment you cannot enforce.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who is the other party?
2. How much is at stake?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
Which QCAT form to use
For most money claims, you need the application form on QCAT’s website for a minor civil dispute. Download it from qcat.qld.gov.au.
The form asks for:
- Your details — name, address, contact number, email
- Respondent’s details — full legal name, address
- Claim amount — the total you are claiming
- Brief description of the dispute — what happened, why the respondent is liable
- Remedy sought — typically a money order
Keep the description clear and factual. Explain the dispute in plain language.
QCAT fees
Fees change each 1 July; check the current fee on the tribunal’s or court’s website before you file.
If you hold a pension or Health Care Card, you may be eligible for a fee waiver or reduction. Attach a copy of your concession card to the application.
Fees are non-refundable.
How to lodge your application
Online (preferred)
Lodge through the QCAT Online Registry at qcat.qld.gov.au. You will need:
- A scanned copy of your completed application form
- Scanned copies of your supporting documents
- A credit or debit card to pay the filing fee
The system confirms lodgement immediately and emails you a receipt.
By post
Mail your completed application form, supporting documents, and a cheque or money order to:
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal GPO Box 1639 Brisbane QLD 4001
Mark the envelope “Minor Civil Dispute Application”. Allow 5-7 business days for processing.
In person
Lodge at the QCAT registry, Level 11, 259 Queen Street, Brisbane. Outside Brisbane, check QCAT’s website for where you can lodge near you.
Bring your completed form, supporting documents, and payment.
What happens after you lodge
QCAT registers your application
QCAT reviews your application to ensure the form is completed correctly, the claim is within jurisdiction, and you have paid the correct fee.
If there is a problem, QCAT will contact you. Otherwise, your application is registered and allocated a case number.
QCAT serves the respondent
In a minor debt claim, the respondent has 28 days from service to file a response (Form 7, Response to minor civil dispute – minor debt). In consumer and trader, tenancy and dividing fence disputes, no response is required. The respondent can:
- Admit the claim — agree to pay or comply with your demand
- Dispute the claim — file a response explaining why they do not owe you anything
- Make a counterclaim — claim that you owe them money
In a minor debt claim, if the respondent does not respond within 28 days, you can ask QCAT for a decision by default.
Directions hearing or final hearing
If the respondent disputes your claim, QCAT may schedule:
- A directions hearing — a short conference to clarify the issues and set a timetable for evidence
- A final hearing — the full hearing where both parties present their case
Most QCAT hearings are held by phone or video.
QCAT makes a decision
After the hearing, QCAT issues a written decision. If you win, the decision orders the respondent to pay you or comply with your demand.
If the respondent still does not pay, you can enforce the QCAT order through the Queensland Magistrates Court.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not sending a demand letter first — QCAT expects you to try resolving the dispute before filing
- Lodging against the wrong party — check ABN lookup or ASIC register to confirm the correct legal name
- Missing the limitation period — most claims must be lodged within 6 years of the dispute arising
- Not keeping copies — always keep a copy of your application and all supporting documents
- Ignoring QCAT directions — comply with all orders or risk having your application dismissed
How Claim Done helps
Claim Done prepares your QCAT application in about 5 minutes. Tell us what evidence you have, answer a few questions, and our Programmatic Algorithms draft the application document you file with QCAT, citing the applicable law.
You still lodge the application yourself (online, by post, or in person), but Claim Done does the drafting.
What you get:
- The application document you file with QCAT
- A witness statement
- Plain-language guide to lodging and what happens next
Claim Done does not give legal advice and is not a law firm.
Final checklist before lodging
- [ ] Letter of demand sent and deadline passed
- [ ] Correct respondent identified (full legal name and address)
- [ ] All supporting documents collected and organised
- [ ] Application form completed accurately
- [ ] Filing fee paid (or concession card attached)
- [ ] Copy of application and documents kept for your records
Once lodged, QCAT takes over the process. You will be notified of the next steps by email or post.
Ready to lodge your QCAT application?
Claim Done prepares your QCAT application in about 5 minutes — the application document you file and a witness statement. Tell us what documents you have, answer a few questions, and get your application and a witness statement drafted without paying a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does QCAT take to hear my case?
Waiting times for minor civil disputes vary; check QCAT’s website for current timeframes. Cases may be resolved sooner if the respondent admits the claim. In a minor debt claim, if the respondent does not respond within 28 days of being served, you can ask QCAT for a decision by default.
Can I lodge a QCAT application if the respondent lives interstate?
Yes, if the dispute occurred in Queensland or the contract was made in Queensland. QCAT can hear cases involving interstate respondents, but enforcement may require registering the order in another state.
What happens if the respondent does not respond to my QCAT application?
In a minor debt claim, you can ask QCAT for a decision by default if the respondent does not file a response within 28 days of service. In other minor civil disputes, no response is required and the matter goes to mediation or a hearing.
Do I need a lawyer to represent me at QCAT?
No. QCAT hearings are designed for self-representation. You can bring a support person or McKenzie friend, but legal representation is generally not allowed in minor civil disputes unless QCAT grants permission.
Can I appeal a QCAT decision?
Appeal rights from a minor civil dispute decision are limited, and strict time limits apply. Check QCAT’s website for how to appeal and the current deadline as soon as you receive the decision.
Need this document prepared for you?
Claim Done generates professional legal documents from your evidence in about 5 minutes. Flat fee. No subscription.
What changes when your case is properly prepared
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Tribunal Application drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Tribunal Application from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $97 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=tribunal-application. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Tribunal Application cost, and how long does it take?
$97 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Does Claim Done lodge the application with the tribunal or court?
No. Claim Done drafts the documents; you lodge them yourself and pay the tribunal's or court's own filing fee directly to it. The draft names the right tribunal or court and Act for your state.
What does Claim Done do that a free tribunal application template doesn't?
It sets out your claim to match your state's tribunal or court application (for a New South Wales debt, a Local Court statement of claim) under the right Act, with a witness statement drafted from your account (in New South Wales, the outline NCAT requires) and the documents you mention referred to as numbered exhibits. You read every word, change it or ask for a redraft (two are included), then lodge it yourself.