Which of the following is NOT a permitted method of service under CPR 6.3?

• A. Personal service
• B. Email to the defendant's solicitor
• C. Fax or other means of electronic communication
• D. First-class post or Document Exchange

Answer: (B)

Under CPR 6.3, service of a document must be effected by one of the methods that ensures it is brought to the recipient’s attention. The standard options you can rely on are personal service, service by first-class post (to the correct address for service), and service by document exchange. Electronic methods are allowed, but only in particular circumstances: they must be permitted by practice direction or by agreement between the parties (or a court order). Email to the defendant’s solicitor isn’t automatically a permitted method of service; it requires express consent or specific authorization. Fax or other electronic means are generally covered when such consent or directive exists, so they can be permitted. Therefore, emailing the defendant’s solicitor is not a universally permitted method of service under CPR 6.3, making it the correct answer to the question.