Jury service/computer literacy

England and Scotland have separate legal systems.

older housewife-type women may have had part-time jobs but we must remember that not all work is office based. there is much manual work, outdoor physical work, roadsweeping, refuse collection, grounds maintenance, cooking, cleaning etc. many of these may not involve computer use, or barely any written work. and that's another thing; some people are barely literate in any language, and since computer use is generally based on written input, they can be put off even trying. it's too steep a hill. i have heard of adaptation for blind and disabled people that turn spoken words into text, but i think you have to be quite computer savvy to attempt those. there are vast areas that are terra incognita to me.

I don't think it's right to compel anyone to use online communication. Some folk just don't like using computers. I know 70 year olds whose children do all their online shopping banking etc. Maybe in the near future everyone will but I don't think we've reached that stage yet.

Hello again Espee between us we seem to have cleared up this mystery in that different rules apply in England and Scotland. Why this should be I have no idea, it would be better if their was a standard approach across the UK. I agree that not being given the option to respond by post in Scotland (which I was in England) is not helpful to anyone who is not computer literate.

People must have led a very sheltered life if they are not even vaguely computer literate in their early 70s. My late DM was using her laptop for online banking and shopping right up until Alzheimer's took it's grip when she was 86.

I'm 59 and all of my computer skills have been self taught with odd insight from daughters. It is quite amazing just how many aspects of life are online. I quite surprised myself this month when I navigated a pre recorded video interview!
Interviews may not be applicable to all but many things are. Online shopping,including grocery shopping. I've recently booked a repair with British gas in minutes online. I did wonder if they could come a bit earlier so I called them,gave up eventually.! I'm sure there are as many techno savvy people who are in their 70s,80s and 90s but for those that are not it does make life harder sometimes.

Thank you Espee I was quoting directly from a jury summons that I have recently received from HM Courts and Tribunals Service in England. Someone else posted to say that the upper aged limit in Scotland is 71 years so perhaps that is where you live.

Silverlining
I have an "older" neighbour who was given an iPad. All was set up for her to use FB of which she is perfectly competent.
During conversations we have and I mention the internet she says ooh, I don't want non of that business
I've given up trying to explain ?

Agree there must be a nUmber of older people who don’t use computers.
I was called to go to London earlier this year in the first wave. I didn’t want to travel in on bus/train/tube was isolating as an older person. I filled in the form enclosed to say I couldn’t do it.
I had thought it was 70 and am older, but it’s been extended to 75 so hope they don’t call me again. I did it once and that was enough.

Sorry Judy54 your information is incorrect. According to my citation “if you are over 71 you have the right to be excused Jury Service”. As I am over 71 it must mean they can call you but you can opt not to attend.

I can assure you there is no alternative to email offered. Why would I start a thread without double checking?

It says categorically “Please note that at this time we are not able to accept postal applications for excusal”.

Hello Espee The Jury Summons says you can either reply by email or complete the enclosed form and post it. There is a tick box to say I don't have a computer or I find computers difficult to use. So there is an alternative to replying my email. It is unusual to be summoned if you are outside the age range which is 18 to 76 years. I hope that this helps.

I am 77, I do not know any women younger than me who were housewives all their lives, they all worked, some only part time, nothing demanding, but my generation of women worked.

It reminds me of a workmate's mother who decided that she could not cope with decimilisation and never handled money thereafter. She was 55 at the time. Twenty years later she was widowed and her son had to spend every weekend doing a round trip of 200 miles to do her shopping for her and deal with all bills because she just refused to compromise or make life easier for other people.

M0nica the age in Scotland is over 71 to be exempted but clearly they still ask as I qualify for exemption.
I know a few neighbours who are not online and would be intimidated by the thought of having to send an email.
Admittedly they are widows who were housewives all their lives.

I thought you were excluded from jury service if you are 70/75, not sure which.

There is column on the voter registration form that you get each years, which you should have checked and ticked.

Personal computing has been around for 30 years, I would expect anyone under 70 to be able to use a computer, even if it is just a smart phone.

I have every sympathy for older people struggling or not using IT. But 70 or younger I would need to know why they hadn't learnt something at some time.

A local library will help to send an email and I’m sure a neighbour would also do it for somebody.

I have always attended, can’t say I enjoy it as you get messed about so much having to phone in every day putting your life on hold, inexplicably being told they are appointing a new jury when the trial had started etc. Never ever got to the stage of having to find anyone guilty or not guilty.
I’m not doing it this time. Could mean months of socially distanced being cooped up with others who might be the type to not give a damn about being careful.
Anyway they gave no alternative to email. Things are changing.

My sister in her 70s rang up and was removed from the list , she had enjoyed her few stints up to that