Now we are being ridiculous, Jury Service

@Asylum (47893)

Manchester, England

August 9, 2017 5:36am CST

On arrival home from hospital yesterday I noticed that a letter had been delivered during my absence. When I opened the letter I got a real surprise. I could not believe that I have been summoned for Jury Service. Since my voice is still extremely bad, my brother telephoned the number on the letter to explain why I could not attend. Typical bureaucracy, he was told that a telephone call was not sufficient. He was told that I should complete the two page document and return it. Gradually I am returning to a state of weariness and serious pain, which may be due to the chemotherapy wearing off. Without my brother I would have struggled to complete the form, which seems totally unnecessary. In all it did not amount to a serious problem, although I find it hard to credit that notifying the authority of my inability to attend due to cancer was classed as insufficient. The letter mentioned a fine of £1000 for failure to attend or supply an adequate reason. I wonder if they would actually have arranged for me to be arrested and taken to court.

33 people like this

34 responses

ElusiveButterfly

@ElusiveButterfly (45940)

• United States

9 Aug 17

I received a notice that I was being considered for jury duty and had to make out a questionnaire. When we are notified that we are selected for jury duty, we need to attend at least the first session. I would suggest that if you are selected you bring a doctor's note stating that you are not in good health and cannot serve. Crazy that we have to go to such lengths to prove when we can't serve. Big gentle hugs to you.

5 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

I spoke to my neighbour, who has known several people in similar situations. He is convinced that I would have automatically been fined for failure to attend.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (458091)

• Switzerland

9 Aug 17

The authorities are so blind and silly. I know that many try to avoid Jury Service, but in case of health problem they can easily check with the hospital, without annoying those who are sick.

3 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

That was exactly what I was expecting, but it seems that the sole responsibility is mine.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

@LadyDuck We still lead the way in Britain.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (458091)

• Switzerland

9 Aug 17

@Asylum It seems that for stupidity all countries look alike.

1 person likes this

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@celticeagle (159029)

• Boise, Idaho

9 Aug 17

I would hope that your condition would be enough and that the court would not purse it further.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

My condition should be adequate for me to be excused, but it is still necessary to submit the form.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

@celticeagle All authorities are addicted to forms.

1 person likes this

@celticeagle (159029)

• Boise, Idaho

9 Aug 17

@Asylum .....Oh, yes those forms. LOL

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@TiarasOceanView (70035)

• United States

9 Aug 17

Dirty sods...thats all I have to say about them with their freaking forms and rubbish.

3 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

Sadly the law upholds such actions and if they chose to fine me I would be legally obliged to pay.

1 person likes this

@TiarasOceanView (70035)

• United States

9 Aug 17

@Asylum Yes dirty sods all of them.

1 person likes this

Happy Lady and Freya the Catblog Cat

@Jackalyn (7559)

• Oxford, England

9 Aug 17

That's so ridiculous. You would think all you needed to do was say and send a doctor's note as evidence at most.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

Apparently not because they insisted that completing the 2 page form is all that will be accepted.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

@Jackalyn Then they would probably just issue a fine.

Happy Lady and Freya the Catblog Cat

@Jackalyn (7559)

• Oxford, England

10 Aug 17

@Asylum And if you did not have someone to help with the foem and were too ill?

1 person likes this

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@Srbageldog (7716)

• United States

9 Aug 17

You should be able to get a doctor's note excusing you from jury duty. It seems like they always send their summons at the most inconvenient time. I think having cancer is more than sufficient reason not to attend.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

I would be quite incapable of attending, so I shall not be there under any conditions.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

@Srbageldog The courts would be reluctant to be harsh since it would make sensational news.

@Srbageldog (7716)

• United States

10 Aug 17

@Asylum Surely the court will understand. I hope they don't make things too difficult for you.

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@Blondie2222 (28611)

• United States

9 Aug 17

Yes you probably would have been fined if you did not attend or reply back. I went to my jury duty when I had it and we got dismissed as the party pleaded guilty. But atleast your brother helped you fill it out and hopefully that is good enough for them.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

It shall have to be because I am certainly not prepared to make any further attempts to appease them.

@Blondie2222 (28611)

• United States

9 Aug 17

@Asylum Yes i don't blame you & you shouldn't have too.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)

• China

9 Aug 17

They went so far as to put on an air of "business is business" without so much as considering your condition.It is hardly too much to say they have no human feelings.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

I have to agree with you entirely.

2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (73444)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

9 Aug 17

Bureaucracy has always been a complicated thing. I believe they never understand the human side of things. Hope it all works out for you and you get through the thick sculls.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

I expect no more difficulties.

2 people like this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

9 Aug 17

Oh good grief @Asylum . That is insane.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

I thought so too and expected to be automatically exempt once my brother had notified them.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325758)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Aug 17

Bureaucracy simply has no idea sometimes has it? I hope you manage to get out of this senseless scenario without any disadvantage.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

Now that my brother has completed and returned the form it should be a formality, although I cannot even be sure of that.

2 people like this

@andriaperry (116860)

• Anniston, Alabama

9 Aug 17

Its crazy! I know one man that cant read well and they almost insisted that he come anyways. Waste of time and tax dollars.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

Also quite unreasonable to impose a £1000 fine for non compliance.

1 person likes this

@thelme55 (76476)

• Germany

9 Aug 17

I hope you will be exempted for that service. If that document is not enough, you can go to the first meeting and explained to them about your illness. Praying that your health will be okay soon.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

I may even have a hospital appointment on that day.

2 people like this

@thelme55 (76476)

• Germany

9 Aug 17

@Asylum Yes, you might have. Take care.

1 person likes this

@dollaboy (6048)

•

9 Aug 17

This sounds so ridiculous

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

Typical bureaucracy.

2 people like this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Aug 17

that is quite crazy. some of the things laws put us through make no sense

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

This definitely surprised me because I assumed that a telephone call would suffice.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

@bunnybon7 He would also be unable to complete a form.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Aug 17

1 person likes this

@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)

• Pamplona, Spain

10 Aug 17

I agree with OceanTiara Koale. Totally silly to expect you to go to do Jury Service. I received mine when I was in Hospital and the Doctor wrote and told them that if they had a Delivery Unit there I could attend and give birth there instead. Dirty sods and they always turn up at the wrong time. Hope the Doctor writes them a letter explaining everything it would not fair at all for you to have to be there suffering like that. Fingers crossed that they come to their senses and let you off as they really should shame on them.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

I would be unable to attend, but they could issue a £1000 fine for failure to attend. Hat alone could worry some people in similar situations.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Aug 17

@lovinangelsinstead21 It may be an idea for me to ask the Christie hospital.

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@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)

• Pamplona, Spain

10 Aug 17

@Asylum My Family Doctor excused me with a scathing letter to them as they did not want to bothered that I was having a baby at that time. He got me off the Jury Service but they never said they were sorry or anything like all the worry I was going through and on top of that it was in Dudley not in Wolverhampton either so I would have had to travel miles out every day. Your Doctor should be very supportive and stand up for you just saying.

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@velvet53 (22528)

• Palisade, Colorado

22 Sep 17

What is happening to this world? Isn't a phone call explaining the situation good enough anymore. Why do they have to make things so hard for people.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

22 Sep 17

I thought exactly the same when my brother telephoned them.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

25 Sep 17

@velvet53 Yes, like most authorities.

1 person likes this

@velvet53 (22528)

• Palisade, Colorado

25 Sep 17

@Asylum They just love being in control of peoples lives.

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@garymarsh6 (23393)

• United Kingdom

13 Aug 17

Absolutely ridiculous. I guess they get all kinds of excuses for people trying to get out but they want written proof. It does not bode very well does it that they can't take your brothers word for it. Talk about insensitive.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Aug 17

It would not have been added if they asked for further details and confirmed it with the hospital.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Aug 17

@garymarsh6 Maybe they just want an excuse to fine someone £1000.

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@garymarsh6 (23393)

• United Kingdom

13 Aug 17

@Asylum Exactly. It is so stupid.

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@Jeanniemaries (8237)

• United States

10 Aug 17

Perhaps a note from your doctor would have been enough. Honestly, that phone call should have been all that was necessary. You could have been in the hospital and missed it entirely...what then?

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

11 Aug 17

The thought did cross my mind that if I was still in hospital and unaware of the Jury summons I would probably have been automatically fined.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Aug 17

@Jeanniemaries They do not think, they simply follow the routine.

1 person likes this

@Jeanniemaries (8237)

• United States

11 Aug 17

@Asylum Wow, what are they thinking?

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@tzwrites (4835)

• Romania

9 Aug 17

I think notifying them of your illness should be enough. This bureaucracy is ridiculous.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Aug 17

They insist on everyone pedantically adhering to their guidelines and appear to make no allowances whatsoever.

1 person likes this