Employment tribunal fee refund scheme launched
24 October 2017
Following the ruling in July 2017 that employment tribunal fees are unlawful, HM Courts & Tribunals Service stopped charging fees and the government is now ready to pay refunds to the thousands of people charged.
The Supreme Court – the UK’s highest court – unanimously ruled that the government was acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it introduced tribunal fees in July 2013.
The government has announced that the first people eligible for employment tribunal fee refunds are now able to apply. Up to around 1,000 people will now be contacted individually and given the chance to complete applications before the full scheme is opened up in the coming weeks. Trade Unions are also being worked with who have supported large multiple claims potentially involving hundreds of claimants.
As well as being refunded their original fee, successful applicants to the scheme will also be paid interest of 0.5%, calculated from the date of the original payment up until the refund date.
For those who have paid Employment Tribunals fees, but have not been invited to take part in the initial stage, a pre-registration scheme has been set up so that they can register an interest in applying when the full scheme is rolled out. Those who wish to do so can register by email: [email protected] or in writing – further details are available on GOV.UK.