What 'no win, no fee' really means, what you pay if you win, and what happens if your claim doesn't succeed — with no jargon.
‘No win, no fee’ is the phrase everyone knows but few have had explained properly. Here's the plain version.
The basic idea
You don't pay any fees upfront to start your claim, and if the claim doesn't succeed, you don't pay a fee for the work done on it. The financial risk of bringing the claim sits with us, not you.
What if I win?
If your claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation. The terms are explained clearly and agreed with you before any work begins — there are no surprises later.
Are there really no catches?
The key is transparency. Before you commit to anything, you should be told exactly what you'd pay in the event of a win, and what (if anything) you'd be responsible for if it doesn't succeed. If a provider won't put that in writing plainly, walk away.
How Swift Assist works
We work on a no win, no fee basis with clear terms agreed before we start. Call our claims line and we'll explain exactly where you'd stand before you decide anything.
Frequently asked questions
What does no win, no fee actually mean?+
You pay no fees upfront to start a claim, and if the claim doesn’t succeed you don’t pay a fee for the work done on it. The financial risk of bringing the claim sits with the firm handling it, not with you.
What do I pay if my claim wins?+
If your claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation. The exact terms are explained and agreed with you before any work begins, so you know precisely where you stand.
Are there any catches with no win, no fee?+
The key is transparency: before you commit, you should be told exactly what you’d pay if you win and what, if anything, you’d be responsible for if the claim fails. Be wary of any provider that won’t set that out clearly upfront.
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About this guide. Written and reviewed by Swift Assist's claims specialists, who handle non-fault motor accident claims for UK drivers every day. Figures are taken from official UK sources and checked on publication. It is general information, not legal or financial advice. See our sourced UK statistics.