Guide
How to reopen a defaulted OATH hearing before the 75-day window closes
A missed hearing turns into a default judgment at a higher penalty. You get one free do-over — if you act inside 75 days.
Missed your OATH hearing? You have one chance to undo the default — and only 75 days. Here's exactly how to request a new hearing, and how DailyDog keeps the clock from running out.
When this applies
You received a decision finding you in default on an ECB/OATH summons (you didn't answer or appear by the hearing date), and the missed hearing was within the last 75 days.
How it's normally done — and how we make it easy
| Step | The usual way | With DailyDog |
|---|---|---|
| Learn you defaulted | Wait for a mailed decision — easy to miss | Alerted the day the record shows a default |
| Know the deadline | Nobody tells you the 75-day clock exists | A live countdown, with escalating reminders |
| Find the form | Dig through the OATH site | One tap from the summons |
| File it | Re-key summons number, name, dates | Pre-filled from your report |
| Track the new hearing | A sticky note | Auto-created deadline + reminders |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm the default and find the missed hearing date
Look up the summons and confirm the decision was entered by default. Note the missed hearing date — the 75-day clock runs from that date, not from when you found out.
- 2
Open OATH's Request to Reopen a Default (online)
Use the official OATH Request to Reopen a Default form. A letter or phone call won't do — it must be the OATH-issued request.
- 3
Submit within 75 days
If OATH receives the request within 75 days of the missed hearing date, it grants a new hearing automatically (48 RCNY §6-21(e)). You get only one reopen per summons, so don't waste it on one you simply mean to pay.
- 4
Actually attend the new hearing
Reopening only buys you the hearing you missed. Show up (or send a representative) with your evidence — an accepted Certificate of Correction is the strongest. Missing it again finalizes the default.
Before you start — have this ready
- The summons / ticket number (10 characters).
- The missed hearing date — the 75-day clock runs from it.
- Evidence for the new hearing you'll get (proof of correction, an accepted Certificate of Correction, photos).
Who to contact
What to ask
Ask for a Procedural Justice Coordinator — it's free and they explain the reopen process and your options (they can't argue your case, but they'll make sure you file correctly). Have your summons number and missed-hearing date in hand.
See if this is on your building
Check any NYC address free — then let DailyDog track the deadlines so none of this sneaks up on you.
Frequently asked
- How long do I have to reopen a defaulted OATH hearing?
- 75 days from the missed hearing date. Requests received within that window are granted automatically; after it, reopening is discretionary and usually denied.
- How many times can I reopen the same summons?
- Once. You get a single reopen request per summons, so use it deliberately.
- Does reopening erase the penalty?
- No — it gives you back the hearing you missed. You still have to win or resolve it there; but a default penalty is typically higher, so reopening can lower what you owe.
Verified 2026-07-06· Informational only, not legal advice · Confirm current requirements on the city's official portal