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The 1 October letter gave them 7 days. That expired on 8 October. As of today (13 October) they’re already in default. You can go straight to the court with your short letter and exhibit your 1 Oct letter. However, I suggest a brief 'chaser' email giving them 24 hours to comply to:

Email the following to info@dcblegal.co.uk and CC yourself:

Subject: Claim [court ref] — N180 signed “DCB Legal Ltd”: 24 hour chaser

Dear Sirs,

Further to my email of 1 October 2025, you have not provided the required confirmations regarding the N180 Directions Questionnaire that was signed “DCB Legal Ltd” with no named signatory.

Please provide within 24 hours:

1. The full name and position of the individual who signed/approved the N180 filed with the court.
2. That person’s regulator and practising details (SRA/CILEx number) confirming they are an “authorised person” with rights to conduct litigation (Legal Services Act 2007, s.12 & Sch.2 para 4).
3. If not authorised, the precise exemption relied on (LSA 2007 Sch.3) entitling that individual to sign/file the N180.

As already set out, preparing, signing and filing the N180 are reserved steps in the conduct of litigation (LSA 2007 s.12; Sch.2 para 4). CPR 2.3 and PD22 require the individual’s name and capacity on a court document signed by a representative. Supervision does not authorise an unqualified employee to take reserved steps. See Mazur & Anor v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB). Carrying on a reserved legal activity without entitlement is an offence (LSA 2007 s.14).

Absent a compliant response, without further notice, I will place this correspondence before the court, invite appropriate case-management directions, and seek costs for unreasonable conduct under CPR 27.14(2)(g).

Yours faithfully,

[Name]
[Address]
[Email]

If they don't respond within 24 hours, you can email the following to the CNBC at DQ.CNBC@justice.gov.uk and CC CaseProgression.CNBC@justice.gov.uk, info@dcblegal.co.uk and yourself:

Claim: [court ref]; Parties: [C] v [D]

For the attention of the Court — Civil National Business Centre (pre-allocation)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write regarding the Claimant’s N180 Directions Questionnaire filed in this matter. The signature block is completed simply “DCB Legal Ltd” with the “legal representative” box ticked, but no individual signatory is named.

On 1 October 2025 I requested the Claimant’s solicitors to: (i) identify the signatory; (ii) confirm their regulatory status and entitlement to conduct litigation; or (iii) specify any exemption relied upon. No response was received. Following that failure, I issued a further 24-hour final notice on [date], expressly drawing attention to the non-response. There has still been no reply.

Submitting, signing and filing an N180 are steps in the conduct of litigation (Legal Services Act 2007, s.12; Sch.2 para 4). Where a representative signs a court document, the individual’s full name and capacity must be shown (CPR 2.3(1) and PD22). Unauthorised employees may not take reserved steps merely under supervision: Mazur & Anor v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB).

Accordingly, before allocation I invite the Court, pursuant to CPR 3.1 and/or the Court’s general case-management powers, to:

1. Direct the Claimant within 7 days to:

a) identify the individual who signed/approved the N180; and
b) file and serve either (i) their regulator/practising details confirming they are an authorised person with a right to conduct litigation; or (ii) the precise statutory exemption relied upon (LSA 2007 Sch.3).

2. In default, treat the N180 as irregular and require the Claimant to re-serve a compliant N180 signed in the full name of an authorised (or exempt) individual stating their capacity and firm.

3. Reserve the issue of costs, with liberty to me to apply for costs of and occasioned by this issue under CPR 27.14(2)(g) if unreasonable conduct is found.

I will provide the Court with my 1 October letter and the 24-hour notice upon request or at the next stage.

Yours faithfully,

[Defendant’s name]
[Address/email

Hello again,
We had no response our email Subject: Claim [court ref] — N180 signed “DCB Legal Ltd”: 24 hour chaser - so we then followed the next step, only yesterday.

We have now been given a mediation appointment for a phone call on 21 November between 9.30 and 12.30. Guessing that was already in the pipeline.

It says "You will need to briefly explain your claim or defence to the mediator. You should prepare for yourself a brief summary of the main points." and "Your appointment will last for around one hour from the point at which the mediator calls."

I thought we just had to say we have already entered our defence and offer £0. Does that conclude the mediation?

Do you know if anything is likely to be resolved before that due to the claimant's DQ not having a named representative?

Many thanks

Yes we did. Nothing further yet other than the mediation appointment. Thanks

If you search the forum for “mediation” you’ll find lots of advice.

https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/g24-ltd-pcn-ccj-exceeding-stay-duration-homebase-bishop/msg97701/#msg97701 just one example of many.

You do not need to refer to your defence other than to state that you stand by it, the claimant has it, and you won’t discuss it further.

Hi, sorry to keep bothering you all, really aprreciate your helo. I am very anxious about this and there is a lot of information on here so just want to make sure what I have found applies in my case. Is this what I need to do / say:

"For the mediation call, the only requirement is for you "attend" the call. It is not part of the judicial process and no judge is involved.

This is what I advise you to say when you receive the call from the mediator:

“Before I set out my position, please confirm from the claimant’s side:

• the full name of the person attending for them;
• their role/position at their legal representative’s firm; and
• whether they hold written authority to negotiate and settle today.

Please relay that back to me before we continue.”

After the mediator calls back...

If identified and authority confirmed:

“Thank you. I’m content to proceed on that basis. My settlement offer is £0, or I invite the claimant to discontinue with no order as to costs.”

If no/unclear authority:

“Please record that the claimant’s attendee has not confirmed settlement authority. My position remains that liability is denied and my offer is £0, subject to prompt approval by an authorised solicitor if they choose to discontinue.”

All you need to know is the name and the position of the person acting for the claimant and report that back to us. It will be over within minutes. Complete waste of time otherwise."

That's all still applicable.

Mediation in these cases is usually pointless and seldom takes more than a few minutes.

Are you the defendant? If so, you are handling the matter yourself and have no need to delegate to anyone else.

My understanding is that form is for those who are assigning someone else to handle mediation for them (a lawyer for example).