The Civil Mediation Council has given the opportunity for it’s members to join a fixed price mediation scheme. This is to fill the gap left by the Ministry of Justice scheme for cases worth < £50,000. Traditionally financial disputes are settled through the small claims courts but this can take a long time. Clients approaching mediators to help with low value cases have found that although mediation costs are far lower than litigation, they may still exceed the amount of money that is actually in dispute. The necessity of conducting mediations remotely by telephone or online during the pandemic has facilitated cutting costs such a venue hire and travel making ADR more accessible and viable for smaller claims.

Rossendale Mediation has been quick to apply to the scheme offering services at the costs outlined below

Amount being claimed Fees per party Length of session

£5000 or less £75 1 hour – telephone/video mediation only
£5000 or less £125 2 hours – telephone/video mediation
£5000 to £15,000 £320 3 hours
£15,000 – £50,000 £445 4 hours

Each additional hour is charged at £100 per party