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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what happens if you can't afford to do jury service?

257 replies

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 04/09/2018 09:43

Let me start off by saying that I always thought I'd like to do jury service one day.

Now I've discovered that not only do my employers not pay you when you're on jury service, the rates courts pay you for loss of earnings are paltry - the sum I'd get for the first 10 days would be less than half what I'd actually lose, and rates from day 11 are still less than my wages so I couldn't actually afford to do it www.gov.uk/jury-service/what-you-can-claim

Can you refuse to do jury service on the grounds that you can't afford the loss of earnings? I'm single and have rent to pay, for context.

OP posts:
AgathaMystery · 04/09/2018 09:46

My husband had a similar issue many years ago. If was for coroners court. He wrote a VERY polite letter to her outlining the problem (me student him only wage earner) and offering me in his place Grin we got a lovely letter back and he was excused.

NonJeNeRegretteRien · 04/09/2018 09:48

You can defer. Definitely explain your circumstances.

I got two call ups in as many weeks. Two different courts!

Hellohah · 04/09/2018 09:48

With my employer, you still get paid. Then you claim from the court and inform employer who deducts the amount from jury service from next month's salary, so you don't lose any money.

Not sure if all employers are the same, but worth checking with HR.

Parkrunner25 · 04/09/2018 09:51

You can defer, but no, you can't refuse.

The UK legal systems (there's more than one as there's more than one country in the UK) work on the principal of "innocent unless proven guilty". In cases which require a jury trial "proven guilty" is achieved by a jury of your peers being convinced "beyond reasonable doubt" that the evidence presented to them shows your guilty.

In order for everyone accused to have the right to this, it means that others in society have the responsibility to serve. People are called for jury service, rather than it being filled by volunteers in order to attempt to get a wider cross section of society on each jury.

YolandaTheYeti · 04/09/2018 09:53

I wonder what they would do if a sahp was called up... Bring the kids along?? Ok probably not.

My former colleague wrote to them when she was asked to do it, explaining she was heavily pregnant and having a difficult pregnancy. She didn’t want to spend the whole week feeling dreadful in court. They excused her.

DancingDot · 04/09/2018 09:53

You may be able to make a claim on your home insurance (if you have it). Check out this article -

Home Insurance Pay Out for Jury Service

Parkrunner25 · 04/09/2018 09:53

Further to the above, you can ask to be excused, but you can't "refuse" as such.

Cheeseaddict1 · 04/09/2018 09:55

My employer deducted the allowance I got from the court from my salary so I was no worse off. I thought this was fairly standard practice so it's worthwhile checking.

Thesearmsofmine · 04/09/2018 09:59

I think about this because I am a SAHM and home ed so no idea what I would be expected to do with my children if I was called up.

teaandtoast · 04/09/2018 09:59

You lose your contract and your family is poorer for 6 months, in our case anyway.

Satsumaeater · 04/09/2018 09:59

I guess in the end you can weigh up whether the fine for not doing it is more than you'd lose in earnings. I suppose for some people it is worth paying the fine.It's "up to" £1000, no idea whether they normally levy the full amount.

Obviously you have a criminal record too, but if someone came to me for a job and said they'd refused to do jury service because they couldn't afford to go without pay, I'd judge their ex-employer more than them.

BiteyShark · 04/09/2018 10:05

Definitely check your home insurance. My employer fortunately pays full for jury service but I did notice once that my home insurance also covered my 'pay' if my employer did not.

Hoppinggreen · 04/09/2018 10:07

I got called a few years ago and to do it would literally have meant not paying the mortgage at the time due to a perfect storm if circumstances, and that’s without thechildcare issue
I got out of it but I’m not saying how on an open forum - all I will say is that the letters aren’t sent recorded!
I always wanted to do it and would have loved to but I love my house even more

Original poster
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 04/09/2018 10:08

Maybe I should write the following letter to the courts.

Dear Courts,

I have a two year old, Bruce*, who is adopted. Owing to his traumatic start in life, he has only two secure attachment figures in his life, myself and my father, who is unable to look after him full time due to his own caring responsibilities. As he has a great deal of anxiety and can sometimes exhibit challenging behaviour, I am unlikely to be able to find suitable daycare for him. Even if I could find suitable daycare, I could not afford to pay for it due to the reduced income involved with doing jury service. Normally this is not an issue as I work from home.

Therefore, please may I be excused from jury service.

Yours sincerely,
AvocadosBeforeMortgages

Every word of the above is true, except the name. What I've failed to mention is that Bruno is a dog Grin

OP posts:
Sockwomble · 04/09/2018 10:08

"I wonder what they would do if a sahp was called up... Bring the kids along??"

They can claim ( up to a certain amount) for childcare but there is also the option of deferring. My son is disabled so I wouldn't be able to do it whilst he still living at home.

ApolloandDaphne · 04/09/2018 10:08

I was called when mine were tots. I found a childminder who was willing to take them for the period i would be needed. I was gutted when i was dismissed after the first day. I so wanted a week of being in court and getting an hour for my lunch!

listsandbudgets · 04/09/2018 10:09

I think you'll need to write and explain. Dont hold out too much hope though. I met several people when doing jury service who were losing money by being there. I was lucky that my emplyer continued to pay me. I took in a packed lunch every day after tje first becaise the food in cafe where you could spend allowamce was vile. I had a nice surprose at the end though when all the unused lunch allowance landed in my bank account! They also allowed reasonable costs for child expenses

Write and ask

Sandstormbrewing · 04/09/2018 10:11

You can be excused if you have child care commitments but they ask that you specify when you would be available - i.e. if a partner has the kids for a set period or your child will be able to fend for yourself. Otherwise they call you again every 1 - 2 years, depending on the age of your kids. You can keep deferring though.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 04/09/2018 10:14

One of my biggest fears is being called for jury service. I have a complete hatred of being stuck in a room and not being able to leave. I think if I ever got picked I would write and say I can't do it because I'm really racist or something (not true) and try and get out of it that way.

Santaclarita · 04/09/2018 10:16

Please don't lie to the court. They take a very dim view to it if they find out.

Just tell them you can't afford to do it.

AnnPerkins · 04/09/2018 10:17

Send your letter and ask for an exemption. I was called when DS was a baby, and by coincidence my friend whose DD was born on the same day as DS was called at the same time.

Friend wrote asking for an exemption because she was breastfeeding, I asked for a deferment for the same reason. They agreed both. I was called again a year later.

UpstartCrow · 04/09/2018 10:18

''Wages during jury service
Your employer can choose whether or not to pay you during your service. If they do not you can claim for loss of earnings from the court.''

www.gov.uk/jury-service/taking-time-off-work

Quietwhenreading · 04/09/2018 10:19

You lose your contract and your family is poorer for 6 months, in our case anyway.

I’ sorry to hear that Toast

I’m a contractor and have jury service insurance. It wouldn’t cover me for a trial that was months long but it would cover me for a few weeks.

Most decent employers will allow contractors off for a week or so for jury service just as they do employees.

PolkerrisBeach · 04/09/2018 10:20

Lots of employers will top up - DH's company certainly does. £65 a day is a lot less than he earns. £65 a day is equivalent to £23,725 a year, so anyone earning over that who isn't getting subsidised by an employer will be losing money.

Do we really want only low paid people on juries?

IrmaFayLear · 04/09/2018 10:20

I must say that I have done jury service and far from being a torture, I found it a really interesting experience, and so did my fellow jurors.

I got excused the first time as dd was not yet at school. When she was at school she went in the after-school club. But in fact most days the case finished early so there was no great drama.

People I know have been excused for being pregnant, having small children, being self-employed (eg window cleaner), having an illness etc.

Ds was not excused for being a student. He had to provide his holiday dates and he is actually doing it at this very moment!!!

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