Small Claims Court - Asking Questions?

Skyhigh

Does anyone know who I can call to ask some simple questions before I start a small claims action?

I've got my honeymoon in August ( a year late!) and I want to find out if I can notify the court of specific dates that I am 'unavailable' to attend a hearing (or similar).

No where online or in the books I've got/read mention this.


* I've already got a good book but it mentions nothing of notifying the court about specific dates to 'avoid' - how to do it, or when in the process you can do it (if you can).

Horace

If you want to make a claim in the small claims court you can do it online with moneyclaimsonline.gov.uk - 99% of the time you don't actually have to go to the court yourself.

terryw

If you make an application to the court for any type of hearing then enclose a letter with dates that you are out of the country so that they can arrange a suitable date. If you don't it will cost you to arrange another hearing date (about £75 from memory).

However, as Horace says above, very few cases actually reach court.

Premier_2

Should the matter proceed, you will be sent an Allocation Questionaire (basically asks some questions to clarify the claim to the court)

Section F asks you to specify any dates within the next 4 months that you (or your witnesses including any expert witness) are not able to attend a hearing.

But to be honest, if you haven't started the claim yet, you'll probably be back from Honeymoon before they even send you the Allocation Questionaire.
I would estimate October-November for a hearing if you raise a claim today. (but it will vary by court workload)

Skyhigh

Fantastic replies guys - really helped clarify things for me.

Have to be sure that I avoid causing us to cancel another honeymoon!