Directions Questionnaire

Directions Questionnaire – N180

This guide is designed for claims in the County Court that are allocated to the Small Claims Track ( normally for claims under £10,000 ).

Once a Defence has been entered in a case the court will need to find out certain information to enable the case to proceed. The N180 Directions Questionnaire (Small Claims Track) is a part of that process. The form will be sent to you by the court although you can download a copy here.

The court will tell you when the form needs to be returned by. It is important you keep to this deadline to prevent sanctions against you.

If you do not respond

Your Defence may be struck out if you fail to file and serve your Directions Questionnaire on time. This will enable to Claimant to ask for a Default Judgment which will result in a CCJ being awarded against you.

If you get a CCJ:

  • bailiffs might be sent to your home or business
  • you might have problems getting credit, such as a mobile phone contract, credit card or mortgage
  • It may affect your job – particularly if you work in finance

Completing the Questionnaire

A1 tick yes for mediation, you need to appear to be trying to be reasonable and it is also incumbent upon you to try to settle the claim without need of a hearing. Any agreement via mediation is binding, but not classed as a CCJ.  Mediation takes place by telephone and you won’t be in a conference call with them or their solicitor. It’s a one hour appointment where the mediator will ring you to get your views and then ring them for theirs. It will go back and forth throughout the hour to try to settle it.

B is self explanatory, just your contact details.

C1 tick yes, you don’t want to be in the other tracks with their costs implications. Costs in the Small Claims Track are limited if you lose as long as their is no unreasonable conduct and therefore staying within it protects you should you be unsuccessful.

D1 you should put the name and address of your local court (find here) and one of the following reasons:
Claimant: “Claimants Preferred Court pursuant to CPR 26.2A(4).”

Defendant is an individual: “Defendants Home Court pursuant to CPR 26.2A(3).”
Defendant is a company: “Defendants Preferred Court pursuant to CPR 26.2A(4).”

D2 complete appropriately dependant on whether you intend to bring expert witnesses.

D3 put 1 if just you intend attending a hearing on the day. If you have witnesses or are being accompanied by someone then state the number of them, but always remember to add yourself in the figure placed in the box.

D4 is self explanatory, dates of Holidays, special events or business trips you might have to take. Also whether you need an interpreter and if you do for which language.

Make a copy, send the original to the court and serve the copy to the Claimant or their solicitor at the address for service on the original claim form as the order with it will direct “and serve copies on all other parties.”

We now feature a number of specialist consumer credit debt solicitors on our sister site, JustBeagle.com – If your case is over £10,000 or particularly complex it may be worth a chat with a solicitor, often they will be able to help on a fixed fee or CFA (no win, no fee) basis.