Jury Service: I can't afford to do it!!

ExNicotineQueen

The last time I did jury service was 2 years ago. My employers never paid me for the time off and I can remember that the money you go from jury service was minimal, to the best of my recollection £20 or £30 a day but don't quote me on that.

As for claiming travel, since you are supposed to be in the vicinity of the court you are allocated, they don't pay out much for travel and as for claiming for lunches, our allowance was built onto these cards which we were given when we first started jury service and you could use in the court’s canteen. I think there was a set limit of £5 a day on there and that was to cover tea, coffee, lunch, breakfast etc. Basically if you didn’t spend it on the day, you lost your allowance and were not able to claim it as an ‘expense’ at the end of your period.

At the end of the 2 weeks I think I had to give the court all/any receipts I was claiming for and they paid up within 10 days I think. At the time it completely messed up my cashflow as I was earning £450 a week after tax in my employment and going for 2 weeks unpaid leave to getting only £100 or thereabouts a week meant I had to survive by using my savings to pay for rent etc. until my next ‘proper’ pay packet.

The only good thing was if you were given a long case lasting more than 2 weeks I think they paid out £100+ per day for you being there but that was a rarity. I spent a lot of time waiting in the jury waiting area so don’t expect to get a case on your first day. My first case was on day 6 (out of 10) and it was for a case of a 20 year old male who got caught stealing a jar of anti-aging cream from Debenhams. :rotfl: My advice would be to take a book or your laptop with you as this will help wile away the waiting time.

mellie_rosie

Can anyone be called up for Jury Service, Is it a compulsory thing?


Oh and can't you ask you work to take that day off and work a different day like on your day off?? Where I work we can do a 'budge' take a day off and work on diff day?

kulevet

I am on jury service at the moment - done 3 days but been told that I'm not needed for the next 2 days - my employer has ticked that I can't go back and work as they have already arranged cover for me - does anyone know if i will still receive the daily allowance from the courts service?

McKneff

yes you will recieve the daily allowance as your employer has ticked the box
you obviosly wont get travelling or meal expences.

MONEYMAKINGMUM

I was called for jury service and they didn't need me.
I had to go to waiting room, wait for AGES and was told they didn't need us til a few days later. Twice this happened.
Went into court once as extra jury but no-one was 'swapped' so we left again!
You may find this happens to you.
If you don't get called into court you're free to go about your day - even back to work if you wish!

dmg24

almar wrote: »

If desperate then you can say you have mental health problems... this could be a temporary problem.

Don't be so stupid.

(Aimed at almar, not the OP! )

creditcontroller

ExNicotineQueen wrote: »

The last time I did jury service was 2 years ago. My employers never paid me for the time off and I can remember that the money you go from jury service was minimal, to the best of my recollection £20 or £30 a day but don't quote me on that.

As for claiming travel, since you are supposed to be in the vicinity of the court you are allocated, they don't pay out much for travel and as for claiming for lunches, our allowance was built onto these cards which we were given when we first started jury service and you could use in the court’s canteen. I think there was a set limit of £5 a day on there and that was to cover tea, coffee, lunch, breakfast etc. Basically if you didn’t spend it on the day, you lost your allowance and were not able to claim it as an ‘expense’ at the end of your period.

At the end of the 2 weeks I think I had to give the court all/any receipts I was claiming for and they paid up within 10 days I think. At the time it completely messed up my cashflow as I was earning £450 a week after tax in my employment and going for 2 weeks unpaid leave to getting only £100 or thereabouts a week meant I had to survive by using my savings to pay for rent etc. until my next ‘proper’ pay packet.

The only good thing was if you were given a long case lasting more than 2 weeks I think they paid out £100+ per day for you being there but that was a rarity. I spent a lot of time waiting in the jury waiting area so don’t expect to get a case on your first day. My first case was on day 6 (out of 10) and it was for a case of a 20 year old male who got caught stealing a jar of anti-aging cream from Debenhams. :rotfl: My advice would be to take a book or your laptop with you as this will help wile away the waiting time.

I did Jury Service in November and any unused balance from the daily allowance was included in the cheque with the travelling expenses.

consultant31

mellie_rosie wrote: »

Can anyone be called up for Jury Service, Is it a compulsory thing?

The selection for jurors is done randomly by computer so anyone can be called and unless there is a very good reason why you can't do it, it is compulsory.

There are certain people who cannot serve and this will be explained in the 'jury summons'.

It can be very interesting but as others have said, there can be a lot of waiting around so do take a book or something to while away the time.

rachel83_2

are you allowed to take a laptop? you might want to check on that because im sure you are not allowed the laptop in the actual courtroom just the lobby/waiting area

Hermann

consultant31 wrote: »

The selection for jurors is done randomly by computer so anyone can be called and unless there is a very good reason why you can't do it, it is compulsory.
.

I think the selection is made from the Electoral Register.