3. Are cookies used by e-Filing?
Yes. In order to log in to e-Filing, your web browser must support cookies, and you must allow them to be accepted. The e-Filing web application uses session-based cookies to track who is currently logged in so that the application knows how to function properly with the activity you are performing. When your session finishes, the cookies disappear - nothing is actually stored on your computer.

4. What is a PDF file or document?
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. This is a world-wide standard method for electronic document distribution. This file format's key feature is the preservation of all fonts, formatting, graphics and color; with no dependence on the application, operating system, and platform used to create it. You must use Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF's.

5. How do I view PDF's
To view a PDF, your computer must be equipped with a PDF viewer. To download and install the recommended PDF viewer known as Adobe Reader, please click here.

6. What is Adobe Reader?
Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader is used to view and print 'PDF' files across a broad range of hardware and operating systems. Adobe Reader must be installed on your computer in order to view the 'PDF' file format. This software is free of charge and can be downloaded here.

7. What is “Printer Friendly Version”?
"Printer Friendly Version" refers to an optional document format on the Web that enables the printing of the page to fit on standard sized paper. When a Web page is printed as is, text and images may be truncated or not print at all. A printer friendly format removes Web site navigation bars and images and ensures that all relevant information is printed in the appropriate margins. The format may also eliminate all graphics so that the page can be printed on a text-only printer and save on printer ink.

8. Why I am seeing system error messages?
System error messages may be displayed for a variety of reasons. Some of the common reasons for the appearance of system error messages on this Website include:

• Required information is missing (required fields are marked with an asterisk(*))
• Incorrect data format
• Data entered or intended user action violates the Small Claims Rules
• One or more of the systems integrated with this Website are not available
• This Website may be down for maintenance

9. How do I make a Payment?
To make a payment while using the e-Filing system, please have your credit card ready and follow the instructions on the screen to proceed to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Online Payment software.

10. What is Online Payment software?
The Online Payment software, also known as ePayment, was created and supported by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The system allows for the payment of filing fees via personal credit cards.

11. How do I know my information is safe?
The information collected via this system is equal to the information that is requested when filing a Small Claims document manually (paper form). The information submitted into the e-Filing system is stored in a database which resides inside a secure data center within the Office of the Chief Information Officer. The information that is available for viewing by approved Provincial Court staff is equal to the information presented to the user at the time of submission - no more or no less information is shared. No information is shared with other systems unless the user has indicated that their judgment is to be registered with the Sheriff's Office.  At that time, only the information pertaining to the judgment will be passed to the Sheriff's Office system.

A number of mechanisms have been implemented to ensure the safety of data collected, some of these include:

• Approved Registered Remote User (must be approved by the Office of the High Sheriff to use this system);
• Secure Data Center;
• Access to the Small Claims internal e-Filing Manager system is restricted to approved Small Claims court staff only;
• 3-tier system architecture (consistent with recommended architectures from large industry players such as Oracle, IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Microsoft);
• Firewalls;
• No network path to submitted, accepted, or rejected e-Filing persistent data. 
• Auditing of all events that occur within the e-Filing system; and
• Implementation of Intrusion Detection System.

The Online Payment system, as mentioned above, has been created by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is an approved application for electronically collecting service fees. Please take the time to read the Privacy, Liability and Disclaimer Statement for this software system.

12. What types of attachments are permitted?
The types of documents currently accepted include PDF's, JPEG's and TIF's.

13. What are Electronic Signatures?
Electronic signatures are defined as an electronic process to signify an approval to terms, and/or a document, presented in electronic format. The e-Filing system allows for all documents to be signed electronically. The filer has the option to provide either a conformed or typographical signature (see next question for an explanation).

The filer, prior to submitting the document, must attest that the electronic signatures contained in the electronic documents correspond to the handwritten signatures on the paper versions of these documents, and that the paper versions with handwritten signatures will be retained and produced in court upon request.

14. What is meant by “Typographical” and “Conformed” signatures?
Typographical signatures are typed representations of your normal, everyday signature.

A Conformed signature can be a variation on your real signature and is used to indicate that a real signature is in place on the original.

E-Filing Technical Guidelines

To use the e-Filing system, your internet browser must handle 128-bit encryption. Your computer must also have installed the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view/print any PDF documents. Your browser must be configured to accept cookies in order to login. Please see the Help section on the e-Filing system for more details on these or other technical related issues.

Below are some possible issues or errors that may be encountered by users of the e-filing systems.

Viewing the E-Filing Website
Supported Browsers
Login/Cookies
Completing a Filing
Uploading an Attachment

1. Viewing the E-Filing Website

Website not loading. Usually denoted with a “Problem loading this page error”.

• Ensure you are browsing https://provincial.efile.court.nl.ca
• The system is also accessible by visiting http://court.nl.ca/provincial and selecting “Small Claims Court”, then “E-Filing”.
• Ensure your browser can via secure pages, denoted by the HTTPS URL prefix
• Try the system in another Internet Browser. The website is optimized for Internet Explorer but also functions in such browsers as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, SeaMonkey etc.
• Clear your browsers cache and re-try the URL address.

2. Supported Browsers

The e-Filing system has been optimized for Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 and higher. The system has been tested and confirmed to be functional in the following popular Internet browsers:

Microsoft Internet Explorer

• Internet Explorer 8.0
• Internet Explorer 7.0
• Internet Explorer 6.0

Mozilla Firefox

• Firefox 3.6.3.0
• Firefox 3.0
• Firefox 2.0

Google Chrome

• Chrome 5.0
• Chrome 4.0
• Chrome 3.0

SeaMonkey

• SeaMonkey 2.0
• SeaMonkey 1.1

Opera

• Opera 10.53
• Opera 9.6
• Opera 9.5

3. Login/Cookies

Cookies

The e-Filing system requires cookies to login to the system. Your web browser must support cookies, and you must allow them to be accepted. The Registry web application uses session-based cookies to track current users so that the application knows how to function properly and to support security features such as automatic logout. When your session finishes, the cookies expire and nothing is stored on your computer.

• In Internet Explorer, cookie settings are found under Tools > Internet Options > and then either under Security or Privacy depending on the version of your browser.
• In Firefox, cookie settings are found under Tools > Options > Privacy.
• In Safari, cookie settings are found by clicking Safari > Preferences > Security
• In Sea Monkey, cookie settings are found by selecting Edit > Preferences > Privacy & Security -> Cookies

If the website is not permitting a login, the following errors may be given:

• “Sorry, the system is unavailable at this time. Please try again later.”
• If the Small Claims e-Filing system cannot communicate with the system which holds user login credentials, this message will be displayed and prevent the user from logging into Small Claims e-Filing.
• “There is a problem with the username and password you provided.” If the Small Claims e-Filing system cannot find a matching combination of username and password (usually caused by the username or password being inaccurate) or there have been more than three unsuccessful login attempts, the above message is displayed. Please ensure CAPS lock is not activated and the username and password provided are accurate. If the user wishes, they can call the toll free 1-888-729-1569 number to request assistance.

Website automatically logged a user out of the system

• “You have successfully logged out. Click here to return to the welcome screen.” If after a period of 10 minutes without activity, the system will terminate a user’s session. This is a security feature to log out users who forget to do so themselves. A user can simply click the login link to log back into the system. If a user was working on a document, the data entered by the user at the time of their last save will have been saved.

4. Completing a Filing

Cannot find a Claim

• “There is a problem with processing the information provided. We cannot find a match for the Claim Number your provided.”
• If a user is trying to file a document pertaining to a specific claim, the above error message may appear if an incorrect Claim Number or Identifying Name is supplied. This is a common error message that mainly occurs due to a typing error.

Unable to view a document

• “Do you want to open or save this file? Unknown File Type. Documents that are created using the e-Filing system are created in PDF format. To view PDF documents, Adobe Acrobat Reader is required. Simply visit the Adobe website and download the most recent reader. The Adobe Acrobat reader can be downloaded by visiting the following link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

5. Uploading an Attachment

Allowed attachment types

• The e-Filing system allows an e-Filing user to attach or upload supporting documentation. Attachments of the following types are allowed at this time.
  
  1. JPG
  2. JPEG
  3. PDF

File size restriction

• An attachment is limited to 3 MB in size.

Converting an attachment to JPG, JPEG, or PDF

• There are many ways to convert create/convert a document to JPG, JPEG or PDF.  Most document or image editing software programs have an ‘Export’ or ‘Save As’ functionality built in that will allow you to convert a file to JPG or JPEG format.  How you access this functionality is specific to each software program.

• Some of the most common methods to convert to a JEG, JPEG, or PDF include:
  
  
  1. File > Save As > JPG or JPEG
  2. File > Print > Select a PDF Writer (if one is installed)
  3. Press “Print Screen” on your computer, Open Paint or another Photo Editing software and paste the image into the software program. Save the picture as either JPG or JPEG
  4. Print the document or image, scan the image using a Scanner, and save the image as JPG or JPEG

Your file could not be verified to be virus free

• All attachments uploaded to the e-Filing system are scanned to ensure they are virus free. If your document cannot be verified to be virus free you will receive a friendly message which will read “the e-Filing system could not verify your file to be virus free.”  You will not be permitted to proceed with the filing of your e-Filing document with this attachment. If this situation occurs, you may chose to upload another file or run your local virus protection software on your computer to remove any viruses and re-try the upload.

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