How to Complete an N180 Directions Questionnaire

HMCTS publishes the current N180 Directions Questionnaire for disputes being considered for the small claims track. The form is sent with a Notice of Proposed Allocation, usually after the claimant confirms that the defended claim should continue.

The notice states the return date and the court receiving the form. That receiving court may be different from the court that issued the proceedings. The current N180 also states that a completed copy must be sent to every other party in the case.

Read the Notice of Proposed Allocation and all pages of the N180 before answering it. The live notice controls the deadline, destination and any directions specific to the claim.

The Directions Questionnaire comes after the Defence and before allocation. The normal sequence is:

1. The defendant files a Defence.
2. The claimant confirms whether the claim will continue.
3. The court sends the Notice of Proposed Allocation and N180.
4. Each party completes the questionnaire by the stated date.
5. Each party sends the completed N180 to the court and every other party.
6. The court considers allocation, mediation and hearing directions.
7. A Notice of Allocation or another court order sets the next deadlines.

CPR 26.4 allows the court to require directions information and make an order if a party does not comply. Missing the questionnaire deadline can therefore put the Defence at risk even though it was filed on time.

The November 2024 N180 is divided into sections A to G. A private parking defendant should answer the form from the facts of the defended claim, not from a generic example.

Settlement and mediation

Section A explains settlement and the free Small Claims Mediation Service. Money claims for £10,000 or less are normally referred to mediation unless an exclusion applies. A willingness to mediate does not amount to admitting the Parking Charge.

Contact details

Section B records the name, address for service, telephone numbers and email address. These details must be current because the court and mediation service will use them for notices and appointments.

Track and paper determination

Section C asks whether the small claims track is appropriate. Section D asks whether the claim can be decided on the papers without a hearing. Where the claim contains disputed facts, such as what the signs said, who was driving, whether payment was made or what happened at the site, explain why oral evidence may be needed rather than ticking a box without reasons.

Mediation arrangements

Section E identifies the person attending mediation, their contact details, dates they cannot attend during the next three months, interpreter requirements and vulnerability or support needs.

Hearing arrangements

Section F covers the preferred County Court hearing centre, expert evidence, the number of witnesses including the defendant, dates that witnesses cannot attend, interpreters and reasonable adjustments. Use the official Find a court or tribunal service to identify the nearest hearing centre that deals with money claims. The court makes the final venue decision. Expert evidence requires the court's permission and is unusual in a straightforward parking claim.

Welsh language information

Section G records whether evidence and documents will use Welsh, English or both. The form must then be signed by the person completing it or an authorised legal representative.

Keep the N180 consistent with the filed Defence. For example, a Defence based on disputed signs or events at the car park may require the defendant to give oral evidence. The witness count should include the defendant and any other person whose evidence will actually be relied upon.

Prepare these records before completing the form:

• the Notice of Proposed Allocation and blank N180;
• the filed Defence and acknowledgment;
• the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim;
• the defendant's current contact details;
• dates the defendant or essential witnesses cannot attend;
• the preferred hearing centre and reason for the request;
• any interpreter, vulnerability or reasonable-adjustment requirements; and
• contact details for the claimant or solicitor receiving the copy.

The N180 is case-management information. Do not attach a new Defence, witness statement or full evidence bundle unless the court specifically requires it at this stage.

The most important choices are not parking appeal grounds. They concern how the defended claim will be managed.

A request for a paper determination should be considered carefully where credibility or disputed events matter. A judge deciding only from documents cannot ask the defendant questions about what happened. The current N180 specifically invites reasons where a party says the claim is unsuitable for determination without a hearing.

The preferred venue should be supported by a practical reason, particularly where the defendant is an individual. The court makes the final transfer and allocation decision. Dates to avoid should cover genuine commitments within the periods stated on the form, and any support requirement should be described clearly enough for HMCTS to act on it.

Worked Parking Claim Example

For a standard claim against one individual defendant, the answers may look like this when they match the Defence and the defendant's actual circumstances:

• C1 - track: Yes, the small claims track is appropriate.
• D1 - paper determination: No. The claim involves disputed facts and evidence about the parking event, signs and contractual terms. The defendant wishes to give oral evidence and answer the judge's questions.
• E - mediation: Give the defendant's current phone number and email address, then list any genuine dates when the defendant cannot attend during the next three months.
• F1 - hearing centre: Name the nearest County Court hearing centre that handles money claims and explain that the defendant is an individual requesting their nearest court.
• F2 - expert evidence: No, unless genuinely required and permission will be requested from the court.
• F3 - witnesses: One where only the defendant will give evidence. Include every additional witness who will actually give evidence.
• F4 - unavailable dates: List the defendant's and essential witnesses' genuine unavailable dates during the next nine months.
• F5 and F6 - support: State any interpreter, vulnerability or reasonable-adjustment requirement. Do not leave a genuine support need undisclosed.

This is an example, not a set of universal answers. The completed N180 must remain consistent with the filed Defence, the people giving evidence and the defendant's real availability.

Complete your N180 online by answering the case-management questions. The helper fills the official HMCTS N180 in the browser and downloads it for review and signature. It does not send the form to the court or the claimant.

Parking Mate UK prepares the N180 from the court notice, Defence and customer instructions. The completed response should identify:

• whether the small claims track is appropriate;
• why an attended hearing is needed where facts are disputed;
• who will attend mediation;
• the preferred hearing centre and reason;
• the correct witness number;
• dates to avoid;
• whether expert evidence is requested; and
• any interpreter or accessibility support required.

The customer must review every answer because the customer is the defendant and knows their availability, witnesses and support needs. The N180 should not introduce a position that contradicts the Defence.

The current form instructs the party to return it to the address shown on the N149A Notice of Proposed Allocation. It also requires a copy to be sent to every other party in the case.

Use this filing sequence:

1. Confirm the claim number and defendant details.
2. Complete and sign the N180.
3. Send it to the court named on the N149A by the stated deadline.
4. Send the same completed copy to the claimant or its solicitor at the address for service.
5. Retain the sent email, certificate of posting or online acknowledgment.
6. Keep the completed form with the court claim record.

Do not assume that sending the N180 only to the claimant is enough. Do not use an old court address where the Notice of Proposed Allocation provides a different destination.

The court may refer the claim to small claims mediation, allocate it to the small claims track, request more information or issue directions for the hearing.

The Notice of Allocation normally states the hearing arrangements and deadlines for paying any hearing fee, serving witness statements and exhibits, and providing documents to the court and claimant. The wording of that order must be followed exactly.

If the claimant discontinues, retain the Notice of Discontinuance. If the claim continues, add every court notice to the same case record so that the next document and deadline can be prepared from the live order.

Allocation places the claim on the track and timetable selected by the court. In a typical private parking claim, the order may direct the parties to attend mediation, exchange witness statements and documents, pay any applicable hearing fee and attend a small claims hearing.

Do not assume every court uses identical wording or dates. The defendant should read the complete order, record each obligation separately and confirm whether the court requires documents by email, post, online upload or another method.

The mediation guide, witness statement guide and hearing guide explain the next stages while the live allocation order remains the controlling instruction.