Jury Duty

MCLF

I've been called twice for jury service. At the time it would have caused severe financial hardship, so I wrote explaining this. Both times I was excused.

If I hadn't been excused, we worked out it was cheaper to pay the fine.

I wasn't trying to get out of it, just couldn't afford to. My husband would love to do Jury Service but has never been called.

gregg1

bryanb wrote: »

You can defer it, but only once.

It has to be an extremely good reason to defer. Financial hardship is not normally accepted as a reason. My son did jury duty recently and we were told this by the Jury Office. They said they have toughened up on this recently as too many people were requesting deferrals but you could still try, you may be lucky. I think most firms just deduct any amount you receive from your pay. You fill in a form stating your loss of earnings after the your service has ended and then submit it to your company's payroll dept and they do the rest.

skivenov

As I understand it, the £62 isn't taxable, so it's about the same as paying income tax on a £90 shift. 5 of them a week isn't bad going really.

missprice

I have always wanted to do jury service and never been called, shame cos right at the moment having just been made redundant on Friday gone I could do with the money:T

can they call me please with a 10 week stint, would give me some time to find another job at least:)

DUKE

When I did jury service in the 80s my company paid me. You can claim travel & meals if you need to. Someone once told me that they refused to do it as it was their birthday, whether this was true or not I don't know. Perhaps your husband can ask his company if they'll pay him.

Just had a thought, the longer the trial goes on the more money they pay - this used to be the case anyway. But most trials would only last a few weeks at the most. My first case lasted a week, the second pleaded guilty at the last moment so we sat about for a week.

Svenena

missprice wrote: »

I have always wanted to do jury service and never been called, shame cos right at the moment having just been made redundant on Friday gone I could do with the money:T

can they call me please with a 10 week stint, would give me some time to find another job at least:)

I thought you could only claim for loss of earnings? I didn't think you got paid if you don't usually have an income. Could be wrong though!

I'd love to do it, but at certain times of the year it would be really difficult for me, because no-one can cover my work when I'm not there, so it just wouldn't get done.

Does anyone know the chances of an individual getting called in any given year?

sammyjammy

Svenena wrote: »

I thought you could only claim for loss of earnings? I didn't think you got paid if you don't usually have an income. Could be wrong though!

I'd love to do it, but at certain times of the year it would be really difficult for me, because no-one can cover my work when I'm not there, so it just wouldn't get done.

Does anyone know the chances of an individual getting called in any given year?

You're right, if you are retired or not claiming benefits and not working you don't get paid, you jsut get the lunch subsistence 9which given it has to cver tea and coffee throughoout the day is wholly inadequate, you're only allowed to leave the building at lunchtime). If you're claiming JSA you have to sign off and they pay you the equivalent of your benefit.

missprice

sammyjammy wrote: »

You're right, if you are retired or not claiming benefits and not working you don't get paid, you jsut get the lunch subsistence 9which given it has to cver tea and coffee throughoout the day is wholly inadequate, you're only allowed to leave the building at lunchtime). If you're claiming JSA you have to sign off and they pay you the equivalent of your benefit.

as it was only Friday gone that I was made redundant, I am not yet claiming any benefit
darn it:)

oh and I have yet to be asked to actually do jury service
darn it:)

thats actually a shame that benefit claimants cant claim the larger amount

just had a look at the amounts allowed and they are pretty ridiculous to say the least.
also if there are no catering facilities you have to pay for your food daily and claim it back after duty
up to 10 hours a day you can get £5.71 for food, presumably you have to spend that much first.
if it was a JSA claimant how the heck do they pay this up front?

luxor4t

I was excused about 17 years ago as I was unable to organise suitable childcare. I was then a SAHM and could not find a childminder prepared to take three children before/after school for an unknown, but probably short, period. They've not asked me since - I'd be happy to do it now.

sammyjammy

missprice wrote: »

as it was only Friday gone that I was made redundant, I am not yet claiming any benefit
darn it:)

oh and I have yet to be asked to actually do jury service
darn it:)

thats actually a shame that benefit claimants cant claim the larger amount

just had a look at the amounts allowed and they are pretty ridiculous to say the least.
also if there are no catering facilities you have to pay for your food daily and claim it back after duty
up to 10 hours a day you can get £5.71 for food, presumably you have to spend that much first.
if it was a JSA claimant how the heck do they pay this up front?

At my court they had a canteen specifically for Jurors and you got a plastic card already loaded with the money on it. It sounds like quite alot but given its £2 for a cup of coffee, £4 for a sandwich and 75p for a packet of crisps it doesn't go far.

Be careful what you wish for, I always wanted to do Jury service and got my wish six months ago, case lasted 8 weeks and it was boring, traumatic and tiresome. I think everyone thats done it says never again and those who haven't really want to.