Who has signed their N180 DQ? If it is just. an initial and last name and a paralegal, you should send the following email to info@dcblegal.co.uk and CC. yourself:
Subject: Claim [insert claim number] – N180 DQ signed by [insert signatory details]: authority to conduct litigation, signature validity, and regulatory notice
Dear Sir/Madam,
I refer to the Directions Questionnaire (N180) filed/served in this matter. The document is signed by [insert name as shown, e.g. “X. Surname”], position stated as [insert position, e.g. “Paralegal”], and purports to be signed on behalf of the Claimant’s solicitor.
Please confirm by return:
1. The signatory’s full name (forename and surname), their role, and whether they are an authorised person within the meaning of the Legal Services Act 2007 with current rights to conduct litigation (provide SRA or CILEX number and practising status). If not authorised,
2. The precise exemption relied upon under Schedule 3 of the Legal Services Act 2007 that permits this individual personally to conduct litigation and sign this document in these proceedings (if relying on a court order, provide the sealed order; if relying on an enactment, identify it precisely).
For the avoidance of doubt:
• Preparing, signing, filing, or serving an N180 DQ is an act of conducting litigation, a reserved legal activity.
• Practice Direction 22 requires the signatory’s full name and capacity when signing on behalf of a party; initials only are not sufficient for verification of authorisation.
• Following Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025], unqualified employees may assist but cannot themselves conduct litigation unless authorised or exempt.
Action required:
• Confirm the above within 7 days.
• If the document was not signed by an authorised (or exempt) person, re-file and serve a compliant version personally signed by an authorised individual, with their full name clearly stated.
Costs and regulatory notice:
If the document was signed by a person not authorised or exempt, or must be re-filed/served to correct the signatory’s identity/status, I, as a litigant in person, will treat this as unreasonable conduct. In line with Mazur and CPR 27.14(2)(g), I will invite the Court, in its discretion, to order the Claimant to pay the Defendant’s costs caused by your firm’s irregular conduct, and, if appropriate, to consider wasted costs against representatives.
Further, carrying on a reserved legal activity without entitlement is a criminal offence under the Legal Services Act 2007. If any unauthorised conduct of litigation has occurred, I will report the matter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority without further notice and reserve the right to place this correspondence before the Court.
Yours faithfully,
[Full Name]
[Postal Address]
[Email]
Having received your own N180 (make sure it is not simply a copy of the claimants N180), do not use the paper form. Ignore all the other forms that came with it. you can discard those. Download your own here and fill it in on your computer. You sign it by simply typing your full name in the signature box.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673341e779e9143625613543/N180_1124.pdfHere are the answers to some of the less obvious questions:
• The name of the court is "Civil National Business Centre".
• To be completed by "Your full name" and you are the "Defendant".
• C1: "YES"
• D1: "NO". Reason: "
I wish to question the Claimant about their evidence at a hearing in person and to expose omissions and any misleading or incorrect evidence or assertions.
Given the Claimant is a firm who complete cut & paste parking case paperwork for a living, having this case heard solely on papers would appear to put the Claimant at an unfair advantage, especially as they would no doubt prefer the Defendant not to have the opportunity to expose the issues in the Claimants template submissions or speak as the only true witness to events in question.."
• F1: Whichever is your nearest county court. Use this to find it:
https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/search-option• F3: "1".
• Sign the form by simply typing your full name for the signature.
When you have completed the form, attach it to a single email addressed to both dq.cnbc
@justice.gov.uk and info@dcblegal.co.uk and CC in yourself. Make sure that the claim number is in the subject field of the email.
