Potential unfair dismissal

[Yetanothernamechange1234]

So.. I was "fired" recently from a job I've worked part time in for 12 years. Purely for reasons of hearsay..someone told
Boss I had said something mean about them....completely untrue and the person who said this had got
Extremely drunk previously (so much so I had to put her to bed) and told me the truth about her extremely abusive boyfriend (including his abnormal presences)and obviously regretted this disclosure. So I was sacked and this was only given reason... do I have a right to challenge this?

I don't understand, what relevance is the bit about your colleague getting drunk and confiding in you that her partner was abusive? What are abnormal presences?

What have you supposedly said about your boss and in what context?

She told the boss I had said she sent me nasty text messages.

His beatings; fondness for selling hard core drugs,damaging property and preferences to very young girls were the disclosures. Which I imagine she regrets and hence telling our boss lies

Did you post about this before?

Nope! It's. Been a while and I'm cross
And don't know if what they did was
Ok? Being sacked from ‭‭hearsay from someone with a wounded conscience annoys me

This does sound more than vaguely familiar

Definitely not posted about this before ..must be lots of us sacked for moot reasons!! Just wondered if id have a leg to stand on if I took this further

What grounds did your employer give you for dismissal?

Can you talk is through the process they undertook? Did meetings take place? Were you allowed bring representation? Were you told that this was a dismissible offense?

She sent me a Facebook message dismissing me and wouldn't answer any calls. The work place is covered with cctv and I can guarantee I never said anything bad..all they would hear is me defending them against the nastiness of others.

Then yes, you have grounds for unfair dismissal and should engage the services of an employment lawyer.

She sent you a Facebook message..

When were you dismissed? There are very tight and pretty much immovable deadlines for claiming unfair dismissal

As you have worked there 12 years you have protection against unfair dismissal. If you were dismissed by Facebook message without any disciplinary process that is almost certainly unfair dismissal.

Yes that's unfair dismissal. Get a lawyer

Were you actually employed by them? I.e. You were on their pay roll? Was it instant dismissal or did you serve a notice period (or paid off in lieu of notice )?

Timescales - Make sure you're aware of the 3months less 1 day deadline if you intend to lodge for Tribunal. This is a non negotiable deadline. It counts from the date your employers dismissed you, and if you served any notice it would be your last worked day (hence my question above). You don't have to pay Tribunal fees anymore.

Talk with ACAS about Early Conciliation, as you must show you've gone through the EC process if your case is accepted. Only do all this after you've sought legal advice and given them complete facts as your post is too light on detail to give accurate advice.

You were dismissed by Facebook message??!!

I really don't believe this..but if those facts are actually true then yes you have a good case for ET.

Agree with Daisy, you need to ring ACAS as soon as possible to get the ball rolling and seek legal representation.

It sounds like you were employed in a burger van or greasy spoon cafe...?

Was it cash in hand or did you get paid via payroll?

It’s definitely not a legal way to get rid of an employee of 12 years, no.

Take some legal advice.