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What to do if…
you receive a jury summons but the name or address details are wrong

Short answer

Don’t ignore it: use the official reply route on the paperwork (or contact the bureau/court named on it) and clearly correct the mistake so you’re not treated as a non-responder. In England & Wales you’re normally expected to reply quickly (often within 7 days of receiving it), so act promptly.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t assume “it’s wrong” means you can bin it — systems can still mark it as “no response”.
  • Don’t pay anyone who phones/texts claiming you “owe a fine” for missed jury service — that’s a common scam.
  • Don’t give personal/financial details to an unsolicited caller “from the court”, especially if they pressure you to act immediately.
  • Don’t complete or sign anything pretending to be the named person if it isn’t you.
  • Don’t rely on turning up on the day to fix admin errors if you can correct them in advance.

What to do now

  1. First, identify which UK jurisdiction the paperwork is for (the process differs).
    • England & Wales: typically HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) / Jury Central Summoning Bureau, often pointing to a GOV.UK online reply service.
    • Scotland: usually a jury citation from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS), with the court that cited you named in your citation pack.
    • Northern Ireland: usually a jury notice (and later a summons) via Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS), with a “Form of Return” process.
  2. If it’s for you, but the name/address details are wrong: reply using the official method and correct them there.
    • England & Wales: reply online or by post as instructed. If you’re using the online reply service, you’ll usually enter details as printed on the letter and then you can correct mistakes during the reply.
    • Scotland: respond as instructed in your citation pack (often via the “Respond to Citation” online portal). If anything doesn’t match you, contact the court that cited you using the details in the pack.
    • Northern Ireland: follow the “Form of Return” instructions; if your address has changed, you’re typically asked to attach a short letter telling the Juries Officer your new address.
  3. If it’s not for you (wrong person): treat it as misdelivered official mail.
    • If the envelope is unopened: mark it “Not known at this address / Return to sender” and put it back into the postal system.
    • If you already opened it: don’t fill it in or call pretending to be them. Use the sender’s official contact details on the letter to say: “This person does not live at this address.”
  4. If you received it late because it went to an old/wrong address: say that clearly. Include one simple sentence in your reply/contact: “I only received this on [date] because it was sent to [old/wrong address]. Please update your records.” Keep it factual.
  5. Use only trusted contact routes from the paperwork (or GOV.UK/SCTS/NICTS sites), not numbers from unsolicited calls. If someone contacts you demanding immediate payment, gift cards, crypto, or bank transfers: stop the call. Handle everything through the official reply service or published court/bureau contacts.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out why your details were wrong today.
  • You do not need to update every record (electoral register, DVLA, council records) before replying — replying/correcting the summons comes first.
  • You do not need to decide now about excusal/deferral — first confirm the record is corrected and your response is logged.

Important reassurance

These mix-ups are common (moves, name changes, record lag, similar names). The safest move is simply to respond through the official route so the system stops treating it as “ignored” and the correct details are captured.

Scope note

These are first steps only — aimed at preventing escalation and avoiding scams. If you’re told there’s already a missed response on file, follow the instructions you’re given and consider getting independent advice if anything is unclear.

Important note

This is general practical information, not legal advice. Always follow the instructions on your own paperwork for your part of the UK, and use the official reply/contact routes shown there.

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