Jury service - self employed

dmxdave

Hi folks, anyone any advice please? I have been called up for Jury duty. Only thing is I was made redundant earlier this year and have now become self employed.

I need to plan what I am doing a week or so in advance and this is not going to be easy, or I will loose income.

Anyone been in the same boat?

Cheers

zppp

dmxdave wrote: »

Hi folks, anyone any advice please? I have been called up for Jury duty. Only thing is I was made redundant earlier this year and have now become self employed.

I need to plan what I am doing a week or so in advance and this is not going to be easy, or I will loose income.

Anyone been in the same boat?

Cheers

HM Courts Service have published information here which states;

Self employed jurors

If you are self-employed, a loss of earning certificate for self-employed jurors is available from the jury manager at the Crown Court. Some evidence of loss of earnings or additional expenses incurred must be obtained, e.g. a copy of a previous tax return; a letter from an accountant stating average weekly income , an authenticated letter from someone who would have offered work, quoting the remuneration. Please note that although letters from accountants stating the average weekly income can be accepted, the court will not reimburse any charges made by the accountant to provide this information.
Without a supported certificate, or other satisfactory evidence, payment other than for travel and subsistence will not be made.

liz-paul

I'm no expert but when my husband did jury duty & was self employed it was 'tough luck'! He had to go once a week for 6 weeks & ended up not being selected at all but those one day a weeks really screwed things up for him. The loss of earnings claims are for fairly small amounts I think but can't remember. My only advice is to turn up on your first day & ask the person in charge of you all (can't remember official title) if they can excuse you due to special circumstances. From watching other people when I did mine I would recommend trying to ask first before everyone gives it a go. Good luck, it's a bit of a pain in the bum! You may find that the loss of earnings amounts do cover your earnings but you can only claim for the days you are at court not days that you can't work because you couldn't commit to jobs IYSWIM?

hethmar

We were told £50 max a day - a ridiculous amount these days.

steveymp

Talk to your GP, explain the situation, if he/she is nice a wee certificate is written and problem is solved;)

You could explain to your GP the stress and strain having to do this jury service will incur;)

Mind you that only puts it off for a year or so and they will come back again:o

kltoddie

I wrote off and got an exemption - explained that I was a self employed sole trader with no other employees, how it would cause financial hardship and potentially put the future of the business at risk.

KT

rjr1

I did exactly as the poster above and also sent off a letter from my Accountant supporting this.

I got an excemption from the court quickly and without any fuss.

hazelc56

I was requested to do jury servive a few months ago..there was a section on mental health and i answered accordingly ...no more questions asked.I wasnt bluffing or anything but the point is i wasnt asked to explain it any further.I think i understand why!!!!!!!

tilerbob

dmxdave wrote: »

Hi folks, anyone any advice please? I have been called up for Jury duty. Only thing is I was made redundant earlier this year and have now become self employed.

I need to plan what I am doing a week or so in advance and this is not going to be easy, or I will loose income.

Anyone been in the same boat?

Cheers

I am just off jury duty and if I'd known that the capped payment includes Self employed then I'd have found a way to get off !!!!!!:mad:

ballyblack

As the aphorism goes;

"the problem with juries is that they are generally composed of the 12 people too stupid to get out of jury duty."



.

McKneff

tilerbob wrote: »

I am just off jury duty and if I'd known that the capped payment includes Self employed then I'd have found a way to get off !!!!!!:mad:

Its all explained in the paper work which is sent to you when you get your selection letter, presumably you didnt read it thoroughly.

Failing that, there is a website which could have been accessed.