Small Claims Court Threat Got Me a $2,000 Refund Without Ever Filing.

I threatened to take a renovation contractor to small claims court. They refunded $2,000 the next day. Here is the email I sent: Subject: Final Notice Before Small Claims Filing. Body: Dear [Contractor], I am writing to give you one final opportunity to resolve this matter before I file a claim in small claims court. I will be filing in [County] Court on [Date + 10 days] if a refund of $2,000 is not received. Small claims court is designed for disputes under $5,000. The filing fee is $50-100. You can file without a lawyer. The threat is credible because I could actually do it. Most companies know that small claims court is a hassle. They would rather refund you than send an employee to court. I have used this threat 3 times. 2 times, I got the refund without filing. 1 time, I actually filed and won. The filing fee was $75. The judgment was $2,000. Worth it.