Jury service expenses are ridiculous

It is odd who is called. My partner and I, mid 50s, have never been called. Not have our siblings or their partners. If we were called,we both cross our fingers it would be me rather than him as my employer will pay but will ask you to request withdrawal from long cases; not sure how that even works?! My partner is self employed. I’m unclear on how he could
claim anything as sometimes he has contracts, sometimes not… if the call came
at the wrong time it would be hugely costly both short and long term.

I deferred for work related reasons and online you had the opportunity to set the deferral date . The latest I could defer was a full year This does then at least give you the chance to get something in place for the next year.

Its ludicrous, there's only a small pool of people who can actually afford it. It doesn't even cover min wage as expressed by pp. Your only option really is to just keep trying to defer it

There's another way to get out of it. I told them I don't believe in the justice system in the uk, therefore I'd be forced to vote not guilty. Excused for life.

Never really considered it as I've not been called, and don't think I know anyone who has. But it seems as though our justice system is not working terribly well if we're largely excluding whole groups from partaking? So if you commit a crime, rather than be judged by a jury of your peers, you'll be judged by a jury of non-self-employed people who don't have young children or demanding jobs, who are rich enough to afford to judge you. That somehow doesn't seem right.

We either believe that jury’s should be composed of a proper cross section of British people or we don’t.

if we do childcare should be paid for and all people should be compensated for what they actually earn. If self employed like I am I should be compensated for what I would have earned going on an average of the previous years salary. If PAYE you provide a payslip.

anyone who can’t actually get childcare should be exempt. Very few places (I don’t know of any) are going to take a kid ad hoc.

I'd have to defer, because I can't afford it - those expenses are less than half a days pay, but in any case, none of the local courts are wheelchair accessible enough for a disabled jury member.

Which pisses me off because I would actually love to do it and it really worries me how skewed juries end up being when you think of all the people who defer/are excused for a variety of solid reasons that COULD be eradicated by making courts more accessible and remunerating people appropriately!

I deferred too or excused can’t remember. They needed me at court for 9am. Nursery opened at 8am the earliest and I couldn’t get to court on time after dropping him off. I purposely had to change my work hours to accommodate this too. No one else to drop off as my husband starts at 5am.

I’ve been called up a few times with small kids and been deferred each time without fuss due to breastfeeding / childcare issues. A few years ago my FIL was called up around the same time as his 70th and was granted deferral as 70 is the cut off, which I found a bit annoying as a retired sound of mind person without any commitments seemed like the ideal candidate instead of calling up parents with small kids!

Yes for those who are self employed it is a palaver. I was only able to do it because my boss agreed to bridge the gap between what I could claim from the court and my wages. I don’t know what I would’ve done otherwise - I was off on a 3 week trip travelling across the US the week after and was heavily relying on the final wage before I went to provide my spending money. I think I actually cried when I read the amount the court would pay, and then my employment contract clause that stated it would be unpaid from their side. I was just lucky that my pleas of financial distress were heard by a kind boss.

Another frustrating aspect is there’s a strong chance you will spend most of it sat in the communal waiting area. It can be days until you are called, or you might not be called at all. Alternatively you may be like someone I know and get stuck on it for five months. Nightmare.

I don't understand what you are saying?

If it falls in half term, when he doesn't attend nursery, you'd presumably also not be earning during 9-5 (because you'd be looking after two children).

Its not necessary to compensate both. If you'd usually be working, its compensating you for loss of income, from which you pay your childcare as usual. If you wouldn't be working but thus have additional childcare expenses due to doing jury duty rather than caring for a child, it compensates those.

For employed people the £69 isn't taxable, so its equivalent to more like £100 pre tax, which is about minimum wage for a normal 8 hour working day.

It does seem a bit unreasonable that the £69 is taxable as business income if you are self employed.

Ask to be deferred. £64 a day is a piss take. Are these 1993 rates?! Most people (before travel costs and food) will earn £100 a day minimum, (and that is minimum pay!) 8 hour day (full time) at £12.21 an hour is around £100, plus there will be food and travel costs. So where are they getting £64 from...?

Some earn much more! How the hell can they not pay minimum wage? (PLUS costs for travel and food.) This needs revising, and bringing out of the 20th century! People should be offered a minimum of £150 a day, if they are on minimum pay, and if they're on a higher wage, they get that much money.

I am so glad I have never been called for jury service. I pray I never am!

I do wonder about juries - some of ours had already decided before hearing any evidence although got an earful from other jurors and others didn't take it seriously - again got an earful.

Give them a phone call. Probably some idiot hasn’t read your letter properly.

This is my experience of jury service too!
The concept of a fair hearing is absolute bollocks. The general public are not to be trusted with people’s lives.

Just another type of tax on being a UK resident I guess

I know several people who have been called regularly and we have a theory that if you do it the first time with no quibbles then they know you are a safe bet! My sister has been called several time as she just does it. My father was called once and couldnt do it as he was out of the country when he was due to serve, so deferred. Then his deferral was cancelled and he has never been called since, and is now too old to be called. He would love to do it now!

Sister says he should be grateful to not be called as it was so boring! They had one "open and shut" case that took one day and the rest of the time she spent reading her book on a very uncomfortable chair.

3 adults in my household 2 of which have done jury service. Not me as I have a MH illness so wouldn’t be able to (my MH problems and ptsd due to violence men/criminals).

In both cases of jury service I was really worried about safety as cases with violence.

in one case employer paid full wages no loss of earnings. In other case my poor DS had to get there by public transport which was 2 buses 2 trains and his employer did not want him to even go let alone pay him any wages. He’s on a low income and jury service meant he used up all his savings.

Do not ask to defer!! You’ll have to give them dates when you can do it- and you’ll be in the same position.

Ask to be excused. This is really important.

I did this, I wrote that the amount wouldn’t cover my wages and childcare and that one of my children was not in childcare and that I can’t just book in random childcare at an unknown place for unknown dates. I also wrote my husband was self employed so he couldnt do it. I also said I was the only person who did my job- so same would apply to you being self employed. I also mentioned I had to do the school run for my eldest.

needless to say I was excused 🤣

This happened to me - almost to the day! You can only defer once (or when I deferred in 2020 it was once) but almost exactly a year later was when I was called. I deferred based on bf a newborn with no childcare.

I believe you can appeal their refusal. But you will probably need to provide proof.

It’s odd how it’s done. You’ve been called 4 times whereas I’m 43 and never done it and really want to!

It doesnt affect UC (I had to look this up when I was called) and you are excused job seeking requirements while serving but you have to give your job coach proof of being called. There are special arrangements made after 8 weeks in the unlikelihood of a trial going on that long.

No. UC claimants are excused from work related activity while on jury service.

I've managed to get to my late 50s without it and have been called for the first time next month.

I wrote with evidence to tell them I had fractured my ankle and could I defer - no! 🙈

No idea how I am getting there as I can't drive yet, and even if I could do the bus I can't walk the 1km from the bus station to the court. They said they won't pay for taxis.