Before you file at VCAT, name the respondent by full name and street address (no PO Box), file an ABR, ASIC or business name extract where one applies, state the order you want, and itemise every amount. Set out the dispute in numbered paragraphs in date order, and attach your supporting documents. Goods and services claims are generally made within six years. VCAT’s practice note on generative AI (PNVCAT11) allows AI help, but expects you to disclose it and to check every statement yourself.
For the forms, fees and each step, see our guide to making an VCAT application.
Prepared by Claim Done from VCAT Practice Note PNVCAT11 (generative AI), Practice Note PNCCL1 (Consumer and Business Disputes general procedures), VCAT’s order guide, application checklist, witness and evidence pages, and the legislation listed under Sources. Procedure last checked 8 November 2026; fees are those in force from 1 July 2026.
VCAT application checklist at a glance
| Check | What VCAT says (goods and services) |
|---|---|
| Which list | Goods and services claims are in the Consumer and Business Disputes practice area, formerly the Civil Claims List (the form still uses the old name) |
| Respondent | Full name and address; no PO Box. File an ABR extract if they have an ABN, an ASIC search if a company, and a business name search if they trade under one |
| The claim | Say what the dispute is about and what order you want; describe the issues in numbered paragraphs; itemise each amount claimed |
| Time limit | Generally within six years of the dispute; revoking the sale of a car bought for less than $40,000, within 3 months of purchase |
| Money | VCAT does not publish a maximum for goods and services claims; $15,000 is where the fee rises |
| Fee | Up to $15,000: $67.40 standard, $202.10 corporate, no fee with a concession. Over $15,000: $222.80 standard, $673.50 corporate |
| Service | You serve every respondent with the application and all supporting documents, and email a declaration of service at least one week before the hearing |
| Generative AI | Allowed with guardrails; disclose its use; the author verifies witness evidence, not with AI (PNVCAT11) |
VCAT application tips: what to check before you file
- The respondent’s details. “You must provide the other parties’ details, including their full name and address. Don’t provide a PO Box address.”
- The registry extract. PNCCL1 requires an Australian Business Register extract for a party with an ABN, an ASIC search for a company, and a business name search for a business name. VCAT says of the extract: “We can’t progress your application without it.”
- Who holds the business name. “Look at the holder of the business name. If it’s a company, go back and change the respondent to ‘Company’.”
- The order you want. The application must say what the dispute is about and “what order is being sought from the Tribunal as a remedy against the respondent”.
- Every amount. “If claiming payment of money, you must include details of each amount claimed.” The form warns that too little information may lead to the hearing being adjourned.
- Numbered paragraphs. “When describing the issues, structure your account of the dispute in numbered paragraphs.” VCAT adds: “You might delay the progress of your application if you do not follow this format.”
- Supporting documents. Under PNCCL1 para 14, documents such as invoices, photos and contract terms “should now be attached to the application form.”
- The time limit. Check the date the dispute arose against the limits in the table above.
One conflict to know about: the print-friendly paper form (June 2026) still says “Do not include other documents with the application”, while PNCCL1 (27 June 2026) is the later rule. If you file on paper, confirm with VCAT which applies.
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 this about?
2. How much is at stake?
3. Do you have it in writing?
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How to write VCAT points of claim
Points of Claim are your written statement of the facts and the result you want. VCAT’s order guide says:
- “Points of Claim must clearly set out, in separate numbered paragraphs and in date order, the facts that explain the claim.”
- “The Points of Claim must also tell the respondent and VCAT what remedy or result the applicant is seeking.”
- “It should not include personal comments or criticisms or other emotional language.”
If the summary in your application is already in that form, VCAT says you can repeat it as your Points of Claim. Get it right early: parties “may not be permitted to raise any new issues at the final hearing” that were “not raised in their application, Points of Claim or Points of Defence”. If you are the applicant and you miss a time limit in VCAT’s order, your case may be struck out.
Documents, witnesses and service
- Disclose the bad with the good. VCAT’s order requires the documents you rely on and any “which might be harmful to their case or helpful to the case of another party.”
- Chronological PDFs. “Documents should be sorted into chronological order (oldest to most recent) and sent in .pdf format.” Over 50 pages, a single page-numbered PDF greatly assists VCAT.
- Serve everything. “It is the responsibility of the applicant to serve their application on each respondent with all the supporting documents that were filed with the Tribunal.” Serve a company at its registered office, or at an email address it has previously used. “If the documents have not been served, the proceeding might be struck out or the hearing adjourned.”
- Declaration of service. Email it to VCAT at least one week before the hearing, and give a signed copy to the Member at the hearing.
- Witnesses. “All parties must tell VCAT and the other parties how many witnesses will come to the hearing.”
- Technology. Ask VCAT to use technology in the hearing room at least one week before the hearing.
- Tenancy claims. Evidence must be submitted at least 3 days before the hearing.
What a VCAT witness statement needs
“In most cases, you only have to prepare a witness’s statement when we order you to do it.” When you do, the witness must:
- “state their name, address and occupation at the beginning”
- “set out all the evidence they intend to give at the hearing in numbered paragraphs, in date order”
- sign and date it, with any documents it refers to attached at the end
- have first-hand knowledge of the facts
VCAT generally does not accept key witness evidence without the witness attending, unless all parties agree. An expert must read and state they have read Practice Note PNVCAT2 on expert evidence.
What VCAT’s AI practice note (PNVCAT11) says
PNVCAT11, effective 22 December 2025, applies “to all proceedings in all Tribunal practice areas and to all users engaging with the Tribunal (parties)”. VCAT’s position: “While the Tribunal does not seek to discourage the use of AI tools, such use must be carefully considered and undertaken within appropriate guardrails.” The rules that matter for an applicant:
- You are responsible. The person filing a document “is responsible for the accuracy of the content, regardless of whether Gen AI tools are used.” (para 15)
- Disclosure. “Where parties use Gen AI tools, they should disclose this use to other parties and to the Tribunal.” The practice note suggests a front-page line: “this document was produced with the assistance of [insert name of Gen AI tool]” (paras 16-17).
- Witness statements. AI may assist, but “the Tribunal expects the author to have verified that the material accurately reflects what the witness knows to be true.” “Verification must not be performed using a Gen AI tool.” (paras 20-21)
- Submissions. Check that “all citations, legal and academic authority and case law and legislation exist in the real world, are accurate, and are relevant to the proceedings” (para 19(c)).
- Expert reports. Gen AI may assist “but must not be used to generate an opinion.” (para 22)
- What not to upload. VCAT prohibits uploading material “produced on subpoena or summons, or under discovery in a Tribunal proceeding, or filed in a Tribunal book”, or material under a suppression or non-publication order. It also says “confidential, personal or identifying information, health information, or protected information should not be submitted or uploaded when using Gen AI tools.” (para 14)
VCAT’s rule differs from New South Wales, where NCAT bans using AI to write or reword evidence at all.
What our check covers
Upload the VCAT application, Points of Claim, statements and documents you have prepared, and get a plain-English report, usually about 5 minutes after you pay. The report is prepared using generative AI; if you change your documents because of it, read paragraphs 16 and 17 of PNVCAT11 on disclosure. It:
- checks you are in the right VCAT list and within its time limits
- checks the respondent is named correctly, with the extract VCAT needs, and the orders you ask for are clear
- finds facts your claim needs that no document or witness supports
- checks your documents are numbered, dated and referred to consistently
- gives you a prioritised list of what to fix before you file or before the hearing
It may suggest wording for the application form’s administrative details, a list of documents or the orders sought. It never writes or rewords a witness statement, affidavit or other evidence: it points out what is unclear or missing, and you write it in your own words. Do not upload documents produced on subpoena or discovery, or already filed in a Tribunal book, and leave out personal or health details the check does not need. The check is not legal advice and cannot tell you whether you will win.
Check my VCAT application – $59
Questions people ask
What should I check before filing a VCAT application?
Check the respondent’s full name and street address, the ABR, ASIC or business name extract, the order you want, each amount itemised, and that the dispute is set out in numbered paragraphs in date order. Then check the time limit.
What are Points of Claim at VCAT?
A document setting out, in separate numbered paragraphs and in date order, the facts that explain your claim and the remedy you want. VCAT says it should not include personal comments, criticisms or emotional language.
Do I need an ASIC or ABN search for a VCAT application?
Yes, if the respondent has one. PNCCL1 requires an ABR extract for a party with an ABN, an ASIC search for a company and a business name search for a business name, and VCAT says it cannot progress the application without it.
Can I give a PO Box for the respondent?
No. VCAT asks for the other party’s full name and address and says not to provide a PO Box address.
How long do I have to apply to VCAT?
Generally six years from the dispute; after that the other party may argue the case should be dismissed. A claim to revoke the sale of a car bought for less than $40,000 must be made within 3 months of purchase.
Is there a money limit at VCAT for goods and services?
VCAT does not publish a maximum for goods and services claims. The $15,000 mark sets the fee: $67.40 standard up to $15,000 and $222.80 above it, with higher corporate fees.
Can I use AI to prepare my VCAT documents?
Yes, within limits. PNVCAT11 does not discourage AI use, but you stay responsible for accuracy, should disclose the use, and must verify any witness statement yourself without using AI.
Do I have to tell VCAT I used AI?
VCAT expects it. PNVCAT11 says parties who use Gen AI tools should disclose this to the other parties and to the Tribunal, and suggests a statement on the front page of the document.
What must a VCAT witness statement include?
The witness’s name, address and occupation at the start, all their evidence in numbered paragraphs in date order, a signature and date, and the documents it refers to attached at the end. The witness must have first-hand knowledge.
Do I have to serve my VCAT application myself?
Yes. The applicant serves each respondent with the application and all supporting documents, then emails a declaration of service at least one week before the hearing. Unserved documents can lead to the case being struck out or adjourned.
Can I bring new evidence on the hearing day?
Bring everything you rely on, but new issues and documents you did not provide as ordered may be refused. VCAT also says you cannot provide further evidence after it makes an order at the hearing.
Does the VCAT application check write my Points of Claim?
No. It points out facts that are missing, unclear or unsupported in your Points of Claim and statements, and you write the changes yourself. It never writes or rewords evidence.
Is the VCAT application check legal advice?
No. It is a plain-English check of your documents against VCAT’s published procedure and practice notes. Claim Done is not a law firm, and the check cannot tell you whether you will win.
Related guides
- VCAT application guide: how to lodge a claim in Victoria without a lawyer
- VCAT application form online: myVCAT, which list, what to upload
- What to bring to your VCAT hearing: evidence checklist
- What happens at a VCAT compulsory conference and hearing
- VCAT fees 2026
Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; this page is general information about VCAT procedure as at 8 November 2026. Whether your claim is within time and within VCAT’s jurisdiction is for VCAT to decide.
Sources (checked 8 November 2026)
- VCAT: Practice Note PNVCAT11, Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence; Practice Note PNCCL1, Consumer and Business Disputes Practice Area: General Procedures; practice notes
- VCAT: guide to goods and services orders; apply (goods and services); application checklist; after you apply; application form (print-friendly)
- VCAT: witnesses and witness statements; prepare evidence; residential tenancies dispute types; residential tenancies: apply
- VCAT: fees (from 1 July 2026, verified 27 September 2026)
- Money limit (verified 15 October 2026): Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic) ss 183-184
What happens when you put it in writing — properly
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can Claim Done review my contract for me?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) reviews an Australian business contract you upload and returns a plain-English report for a flat $59 AUD, usually within about five minutes of payment. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=vcat-application-check. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a contract review cost, and how long does it take?
$59 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.