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What to do if…
you are told you must attend an appointment with an official caseworker within 24 hours

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Pause before sharing information or travelling. Verify the appointment through an official route you find yourself, then either confirm you will attend or ask to rearrange in writing and keep proof.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t share bank details, passwords, one-time codes, photos of ID, or scans of documents just because someone sounds official.
  • Don’t pay an urgent fee, fine, or release payment to secure the appointment or avoid arrest.
  • Don’t ignore the message if it could relate to bail, licence, probation, immigration, social services, a court, or a tribunal.
  • Don’t travel to an address you cannot verify as a real office location.
  • Don’t use only the phone number, email address, or link in the message to verify it.
  • Don’t get pulled into a rushed discussion about allegations or your side of the story; keep the first contact to identity, logistics, and what your rights are.

What to do now

  1. Work out which organisation may be involved.
    Look for clues in the message or any paperwork you already have: probation or offender manager, police, court or tribunal, prison resettlement, immigration, local council, or social services. You do not need to solve the whole case now; you need the right route to verify the appointment.

  2. Verify the contact using a trusted route you control.
    Find the organisation’s official website, a main switchboard, a court or tribunal contact page, a local council contact page, your police force website, or a number from previous paperwork you already know is genuine. Ask whether the named person, team, reference number, and appointment request are real. If they cannot verify it, stop using the original number, email, or link.

  3. Ask for the appointment details in writing.
    Ask for the date and time, full address, office or team name, broad reason for the meeting, what to bring, and any reference or case number. Save the message, call log, voicemail, email, envelope, and screenshots.

  4. If this may be probation, licence, bail, court, or tribunal-related, contact the relevant office immediately.
    Use a verified route and say: “I have been told I must attend within 24 hours. Please confirm whether this is genuine and what happens if I cannot attend.” If you cannot make it, ask to rearrange straight away and keep proof of your request, such as an email, text from a verified office line, call log, travel disruption notice, work rota, or medical evidence.

  5. If the police want you to attend, clarify the status before answering questions.
    Ask: “Am I under arrest, or am I being asked to attend voluntarily?” If police want to interview you about a suspected offence, ask for legal advice before answering questions. The exact process and rights notice can differ across the UK, so use the official rights route for where you are and say clearly that you want legal advice.

  6. Reduce the chance of a preventable no-show.
    Confirm the exact address, entrance, time, expected length, and whether you need photo ID. Check travel time and set alarms. If you need an interpreter, disability adjustment, support with reading, or another practical arrangement, ask the verified office now.

  7. Bring only what has been verified as needed.
    Usually bring photo ID, the message or letter, reference numbers, and any documents the verified office specifically asks for. Bring original sensitive documents only if the verified office says they are needed, and keep them with you unless the office explains why they must be handed over.

  8. If it looks like a scam, stop engaging and report it safely.
    Keep the message and note the number, email address, link, payment demand, or address used. Use the official fraud-reporting route for where you are; Report Fraud covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and Police Scotland gives separate reporting advice for Scotland. If the message claims to be HMCTS, use HMCTS guidance on suspicious calls, emails, and texts.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether you agree with the underlying case, allegation, decision, or assessment.
  • You do not need to give a full statement over the phone, by text, or by email.
  • You do not need to gather every possible document tonight; focus on verification, written details, and avoiding a preventable missed appointment.
  • You do not need to solve the whole situation in one meeting; the first aim is to keep yourself safe and keep your options open.

Important reassurance

A “within 24 hours” message can feel designed to make you rush. Taking a short pause to verify the person, office, address, and purpose is a normal safety step, not a refusal to cooperate.

Scope note

These are first steps only for the next few hours. Once you confirm who the appointment is with and why, later decisions about what to say, what to provide, or whether to challenge anything may need specialist help, such as a solicitor or an advice service.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, immigration, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Procedures can vary by agency and across the UK, so use verified official contact routes before sharing information, paying money, or travelling.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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