Horizon Claim

[b789]

Tell the court now.

Do not wait until July. If you know you cannot attend on 20 August 2026, you should notify Nottingham County Court as soon as possible, explain briefly that you are unavailable on that date, and ask for the hearing to be relisted. That is far better than sitting on it and raising it later.

That will not annoy the Judge. Quite the opposite. Courts expect parties to raise genuine availability problems promptly. Leaving it until after the trial fee deadline or close to the hearing is what causes irritation.

So the answer is: notify the court now, copy Gladstones in, keep it short and factual, and attach any brief proof of unavailability if there is any.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am the Defendant in the above claim.

I write regarding the hearing listed for 20 August 2026 at 10:00am at Nottingham County Court.

Unfortunately, I am not available on that date and therefore respectfully request that the hearing be vacated and relisted for the first available alternative date after 20 August 2026.

I apologise for any inconvenience caused. I am notifying the Court as soon as possible upon becoming aware of the issue, so that this can be dealt with in good time.

A copy of this email is being sent to the Claimant’s solicitor, Gladstones Solicitors.

Kind regards,

[full name]
Defendant

[postal address]
[email address]

If you have proof of the clash, attach it and add one sentence after the second paragraph: "I attach brief evidence of my unavailability".