THE SHORT VERSION
Scottish Claims Helpline is completely free to you at every stage. The solicitor we refer you to charges a 20% success fee from your compensation if your claim succeeds. We receive a referral fee from the solicitor — this comes out of their share, not yours. If your claim is unsuccessful, nobody charges you anything.
What Does Scottish Claims Helpline Charge?
Nothing. Our service is completely free to you from start to finish. There is no charge for your initial assessment, no charge for our referral service, and no charge at any stage of the process regardless of the outcome of your claim.
Scottish Claims Helpline is paid a referral fee by the solicitor we refer you to. This comes entirely out of the solicitor’s own success fee — it does not add anything to what is deducted from your compensation.
What Is the Solicitor’s Success Fee?
The solicitors on our panel work on a no win no fee basis, also known as a Damages-Based Agreement (DBA). Under this arrangement:
- If your claim succeeds — the solicitor deducts a success fee of 20% from your compensation award. This is the only deduction from your settlement.
- If your claim does not succeed — you pay nothing to anyone. Not to Scottish Claims Helpline, and not to the solicitor.
For example, if you receive a settlement of £10,000, the solicitor deducts 20% (£2,000) as their success fee, and you receive £8,000. Scottish Claims Helpline’s referral fee is paid by the solicitor from their £2,000 — it does not come from your £8,000.
Important: In many cases, the defending party (the other side’s insurer or employer) also contributes towards the solicitor’s costs. This can reduce or eliminate the deduction from your compensation entirely in cases where costs are recovered from the other side.
How Does Scottish Claims Helpline Make Money?
Scottish Claims Helpline is a claims management company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 830381). We are paid a referral fee by the solicitor once a claim is successfully concluded. This fee:
- Comes out of the solicitor’s success fee — not from your compensation
- Is only paid when a claim succeeds — we receive nothing if your claim fails
- Does not increase the 20% deducted from your award
This model is regulated by the FCA and is fully compliant with the Claims Management (Regulation) Act 2006 and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
How Do We Select Solicitors?
We only refer clients to solicitors who meet all of the following criteria:
- Regulated by the Law Society of Scotland — every solicitor we refer to is a fully regulated Scottish solicitor
- Proven specialism — we match each claim type to a solicitor with specific expertise in that area of Scottish law. For example, equal pay claims go to solicitors with Law Society Accredited Specialist status in Employment Law; asbestos claims go to solicitors with dedicated industrial disease practices
- Track record — we refer based on demonstrated outcomes in comparable cases, not simply on availability
- Scottish courts experience — all our panel solicitors have experience in the Scottish Sheriff Court and, where required, the Court of Session
You are never under any obligation to proceed with the solicitor we suggest. You are free to use any solicitor of your choosing at any time.
Summary
| What |
Cost to you |
| Scottish Claims Helpline assessment |
Free |
| Scottish Claims Helpline referral service |
Free |
| Solicitor’s fee if claim succeeds |
20% of your compensation |
| If claim does not succeed |
Nothing — to anyone |
Regulatory information: Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a claims management company. FCA Reference Number:
FRN 830381. We are not a firm of solicitors. All legal work is conducted by independent solicitors regulated by the Law Society of Scotland. Last reviewed: March 2026.