I've been served a small claim. Now what?
All four are responses to the N1 claim form you received. Pick one within 14 days. The court does not chase you.
If the claim is correct and you can pay, doing so within 14 days avoids a CCJ being registered against you. Send payment direct to the claimant (not the court) and keep proof.
File Form N9A admitting the debt and proposing a repayment plan. Be realistic; the court can replace your offer with one it considers reasonable.
File Form N9B with your defence within 14 days. State which paragraphs you accept, which you deny, and your version of events. A weak defence is worse than no defence — if you have no real grounds, admit and offer to pay.
Buys you 14 more days (28 total) to file a defence. Useful if you need time to gather evidence or take advice.
Use Form N9B to file BOTH a defence and a counterclaim if you reckon they owe YOU money on related facts. Counterclaim fee scales like a normal claim.