> We have small claims courts in every jurisdiction in the US. It costs $50 to file, and you do not need an attorney.

This particular example is in the UK though.

It's even easier here!

You can issue a Statutory Demand (https://www.gov.uk/statutory-demands) which gives the receiver 21 days to either pay or reach an agreement to pay. Failing to do that can lead to them being wound up.

If, for some reason, you wanted to go the small claims route instead, there's an (ageing) online service (https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome).

Unlike the US, the fee isn't a flat fee, and is tiered depending on the amount being claimed (still cheap though).

I've had to use both in the past.

The developer in this case really has no excuse for airing dirty laundry in public. If they're hosting and not being paid, by all means suspend the site, but don't deface it so there's a message about not being paid carrying the customer's branding.

I've done tons of litigation in Small Claims in the USA. It's not how you think.

I don't know what state lets you file for $50. It can easily reach $400 or more, especially because you might have to pay the sheriff to serve the defendant.

Most Small Claims in the USA allows the other party to bring an entire team of professional lawyers to destroy you. (Cook County for instance bars lawyers only for cases under $1500 IIRC)