The small claims court does work.

My daughter and her friend successfully sued their former landlord after he refused to return their deposit on their flat when they left.

They were awarded the full amount (£1000) less £50 for some rewiring that had been done. I suspect the judge only gave the landlord that to avoid him appealing.

They actually got their money as well. I think that was partly because the money was held by the estate agents that had acted for the landlord and they felt he had cheated them.