text: Small claims court really doesn't work You can get it settled faster, paid faster (at a discount for the debtor) while totally online -- never missing work or having to stare down the other guy in court. Services like OneDayDecisions.com are becoming more popular, especially because they are cheaper and f aster than small claims court and pay more than collection agencies -- and over 85% of all small claims settle anyway. Also, because there is no court award, there's no damage to your credit rating. Most people don't know that even if you pay the court award after losing the case, your credit score can still take a hit.