Can someone else handle a small claims mediation call on my behalf

PBG003

Hi all,

I’m a defendant in a small claims case in England and have reached the stage of completing the N180 Directions Questionnaire.

I would prefer not to conduct the mediation call myself due to anxiety, so I wanted to check whether it is permitted for a representative to handle the mediation entirely on my behalf.

Section E1 of the N180 asks for the contact details of the person attending the mediation appointment. Am I able to provide my representative’s details there, or do I still need to include my own details and notify the court or mediation service in advance?

If anyone has experience of this process, how strict is the Small Claims Mediation Service about the named defendant being present? Is prior authorisation sufficient, or is the defendant expected to be available at least at the start of the call?

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.

Le_Kirk

Yes, that is perfectly acceptable; make sure you brief the person taking the call that they do not need to discuss the case nor "give a summary of your defence", they purely make an offer of £ZERO

Blessdays

Yes, you can have someone attend on your behalf, but in practice the mediator will usually still expect you to be available on the day (even if just by phone) in case any decisions need to be made.

From what I’ve seen, the person representing you can handle the discussion, but they won’t be able to agree anything without your authority, so it’s worth being contactable.

If anxiety is the main issue, you could let the mediation service know in advance – they’re generally quite accommodating and may be able to adjust how the call is handled.

Umkomaas

Presumably this is in respect of a parking charge? If so, which parking company and who are the solicitors representing them? The progress of cases can vary dependent on which entities are in play. We can guide you.

ChirpyChicken

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81979863#Comment_81979863

no decisions need to be made

its a 2 minute phone call , all you say is zero offer and thats it

or you just miss/ignore the call, it makes no difference

Coupon-mad

Totally agree @ChirpyChicken

James_Poisson

Surely the mediation call is just a simple phone call a bit like phoning to cancel a contract with a supplier no stress at all, how will you get on if it goes to court?