Urgent help please VCS Claim form received

Bellaandme

I have now received the Directions questionnaire through the post. Should I be specifying that I wish the case to be heard on paper at this stage? I can't see any appropriate sections to provide this information although it does ask which court we would prefer the hearing to take place?

Coupon-mad

I wouldn't, not this early.

Ask for an oral hearing at your local court and state (working day) dates or weeks that the D cannot attend.

Then it will all proceed as normal and if the D then wants a paper hearing (which is not recommended here on the forum!) they can alert the local court to that a couple of weeks before the hearing.

Bellaandme

Thanks Coupon-mad. I know it's not ideal a paper hearing, but the sums don't add up for OH to take time off work for a hearing, plus he would literally have a meltdown if he had to go in a court room...

I figured it couldn't hurt to have a go through the papers rather than just pay. If we lose, is there still a chance that we will have to pay less than what they are asking for now?

Coupon-mad

If he loses he'd pay under £200 in our experience. No CCJ, nothing bad. Scam over.

But no need to ask for a hearing on the papers now.

IN FACT, it will make the other side rub their hands in glee and they will up their game and are then more likely to put in a decent WS. Don't let them think it will be a paper hearing. As I said this can be done 2 weeks before a hearing, no worries, by letter to the local court at the time, after Christmas probably.

Bellaandme

Thanks Coupon-mad, will complete the DQ as advised and await the next stage...

KeithP

Bellaandme wrote: »

...he would literally have a meltdown if he had to go in a court room...

Have a look at this video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n93eoaxhzpU

Bellaandme

Hi everyone
We have just received our court date which is 22 March. Not great timing as I will be on half term break next week. Could someone please direct me as to what I need to do at this stage to prepare? The plan is still to hear the case on paper as the OH is working away although I was advised not to mention this yet. Many thanks!

Redx

WS + EXHIBITS stage ( + skeleton argument and costs order ) are all covered in that NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread, post #2 , plus various links from it

please study it again


there is more on your court order form than just the date of the hearing

Bellaandme

Thanks Redx will check the sticky thread. I was just a little unsure as to whether our procedure is different as we won't be appearing at court. If it is the same until I notify that we won't be appearing I will follow the advice on the thread

Redx

same advice up until a week or two before the hearing , so get your papers ready and submitted (usually 2 weeks before)


then a week before or two weeks before at the most , you write to the court and the claimant informing them of a non-attendance and wanting it to be heard on papers only


so you still have to get these pre-court stages completed and submitted , regardless of attendance or non-attendance