Help/Advice Directions Questionnaire (Form N180) not available within the next 6 months

Elias_01

I have been following the newbies thread and have just received the Directions Questionnaire (Form N180). I have one week to complete this form. 

As the defendant and the registered keeper I am currently not in the country and do not expect to be back within the next year. I am therefore unable to attend a court hearing within the next 6 months.

I made it known in my defense that I am however the am the registered keeper of the vehicle but was not the driver or the keeper at the time the ticket was issued.

Please can you let me know what options I have available to me?

Gr1pr

Download the PDF from MCOL, fill it in, add the unavailable dates etc to it , email it as a final PDF to the correct email address at the CNBC in Northampton 

Elias_01

Thanks Gr1pr - I cant confirm when I will return, this could be sometime next year. What happens then?

KeithP

Tick the 'Yes' box against question E4 on your N180 and then complete the detail in the other E4 box.

Coupon-mad

Could you attend a remote hearing by video? If so, add that as a comment somewhere but make it clear which weekdays would not be possible (e.g. if work would prevent it).

If not, state that it will have to be 2025.

Say the same thing in your covering email.

Grizebeck

Depends on the courts.
You may be lucky to get a hearing this year in some London courts....

Elias_01

One last question, can the driver be a witness? I.e the driver had right to park in a residential space?

KeithP

Elias_01 said:

One last question, can the driver be a witness? I.e the driver had right to park in a residential space?

That might not be wise.

Once the Defendant wins the case against them, there is nothing to stop the Claimant redirecting their sights and firing a claim in the direction of the named driver.

Elias_01

I have received notice of allocation to small claims (hearing), I had mentioned I am not in the country and can not attend currently. I did mention this can be done via video call. What do you recommend?

Elias_01

On the notice it says:

”Unless the claimant does by 3pm on 18th November 2024 pay the court the trial fee of £59 or file a properly completed application (i.e one which provides all the required information in the manner requested) for help with fees, then the claim will be struck out with effect from 18 November 2024 without further order and, unless the court advises otherwise, you will also be liable for the costs which the defendent has occurred.”

what does this mean exactly?

Umkomaas

Elias_01 said:

On the notice it says:

”Unless the claimant does by 3pm on 18th November 2024 pay the court the trial fee of £59 or file a properly completed application (i.e one which provides all the required information in the manner requested) for help with fees, then the claim will be struck out with effect from 18 November 2024 without further order and, unless the court advises otherwise, you will also be liable for the costs which the defendent has occurred.”

what does this mean exactly?

They have to pay the £59 trial fee (or apply for help with costs - only really applies if they have little to no income, won't apply to a PPC) by 18 November or else the case will be struck out - finito. 

You haven't told us which PPC and which solicitors are representing them, some do occasionally fail to pay the fee.  But, you should work on the basis that the trial fee will be paid.