Jury duty

[Innermagic]

Don't know if it right place to post but
I've been sent a jury citation but I'm a self employed sole trader, would I be able to apply for an excusal on the basis that it would cause me financial hardship.

Don’t think so. You can apply to defer but not to be excused completely, otherwise no one would ever do jury service.

www.gov.uk/jury-service/delaying-or-being-excused-from-jury-service

You can however claim some costs:

www.gov.uk/jury-service/what-you-can-claim

Don't worry you can get £30 a day you won't lose out at all will you😕
Stupid isn't it!
Seriously, can you defer it to the time of year when you are less busy?

You get up to £60 a day but you have to prove you usually earn that or more
You get £5 a day food allowance (don't need to provide receipts)
Is your work something you can do later in the day or weekends while you are doing jury service?

As a sole trader not being available during normal business hours for a week or more could mean that you lose your business completely 😕
I don't think the jury service is going to compensate for that is it?

Thanks for replying, I will phone tomorrow when there open and enquire.
My problem is if I wasn't picked for jury service on the day I can't just return to work cause I would have no appointments if you see what I mean.
As far as I'm aware your only compensated if your sworn I as a juror

You can apply to defer but not to be excused completely, otherwise no one would ever do jury service
One might think so but actually lots of people actively want to do jury service for those whose employees will give them time off work it could be a nice break from the normal job and one which means no financial hardship

I totally get the need for people to do this Civic Duty but I feel they need to update the jury service system so that it reflects modern working practices and enables people to do their duty without causing them hardship

If I was employed I would have no problem doing it. It's just a huge inconvenience as I have to close my appointment book but may not even be needed

I'm in the same position as you I am a self-employed sole trader who is just been summoned for jury service
If I do it I will have to shut down my business for the time that it carries on
I will lose clients so it will cost me more then just the amount that I might earn in a day whilst carrying out my normal business
If I'm there for four hours I can claim £34, but when I take into account time needed to travel to and from the court that's my whole day used up so I can't carry on any business in that day and I will lose clients

My other half has been called for jury service, I didn't realise how low the amount you can claim back is 😮 he earns over twice the daily amount, are we just supposed to suck it up?!

I just deferred. I’m a sahm and h is self employed. We can’t afford to hire a nanny to care for the children. It would have to be a nanny as childminder wouldn’t want two weeks only and the school request a term notice for clubs. Nor do we have family or friends to care for free. I just got the letter confirming reasons were valid.
Personally op send the form back asking for deferral due to financial hardship. Give plenty of detail so they can see that you are not lazy etc then take it from there. I wouldn’t bother to call. Just write. Sent letter with proof of posting.

My step mum managed to be excused on the self employment grounds because as you say it just doesn't work financially

As far as I'm aware your only compensated if your sworn I as a juror angry

Nope. Any day or half day you are available for jury service is compensated.

Some employers will pay throughout jury service - they don't have to but they may, depending on the company and their practices

I know a farmer who has been called up twice and has never had to do it.

MrsPear, deferring means you still have to do it within a year.

OP, I think if you are self employed you can probably argue the case for being completely excused (if you’ll lose clients etc). What do the notes that come with the letter say? I think there are some other useful threads on here which I looked at when I was called. I ended up deferring until a less inconvenient time so I can’t advise on getting excused though.

Thanks, may as well write and asked to be excused or deferred. I would have child care costs as well,hadn't even thought of that.

You can claim for additional
Childcare costs also

DH just received his today for March 2018, he is self employed and this will be his second time.

What's the likelihood he will be excused?

I was called when I had no access to childcare that I could pay for to be reimbursed (over Christmas when nursery was shut). My DH had to use his annual leave and mine (teacher) was spent in the court. So as a family, we lost out. However, losing out financially to the point you could, wouldn’t be reasonable. Send a letter back and hopefully you’ll be excused. If not, the judges can let you off once you’re there if they agree with you.

Letter says to reply within 7 days, it's taken 4 to get here! Lol

He is going to try, all the faffing with cancelling appointments and trying to claim it back tiny amount will have an impact on our household.

What letter?
(Worked for me)

You have to return part of the letter to confirm.

Again, what letter?

Wow that's rough, where I live, self employment is a valid reason for excusal (as is being a teacher).

hopping- just checked and it says return parts 3 & 4. I'm wondering if every council/city has a different format.