Cases6014254/2024

Claimant v The Keyholding Company Limited

11 September 2025Before Employment Judge D WrightLondon South (Croydon)remote video

Outcome

Other

Individual claims

Unfair Dismissalnot determined

Claim filed but not pursued. Claimant failed to comply with tribunal orders to provide particulars over a five-month period despite two orders and costs warnings.

Direct Discrimination(age)not determined

Claim filed but not pursued. Claimant failed to provide basic information such as dates, who did what, and why treatment related to age, despite tribunal orders.

Unlawful Deduction from Wagesnot determined

Claim filed for arrears of pay and other payments but not pursued. Claimant failed to provide simple information about payments claimed despite tribunal orders.

Facts

Claimant filed claims in October 2024 including unfair dismissal, age discrimination and unlawful deduction of wages. Over a five-month period he failed to comply with two tribunal orders dated 26/3/2025 and 13/6/2025 requiring him to provide basic particulars of his claims. He was in Turkey from December 2024, citing his mother's operation and personal difficulties, but provided no medical evidence. The case management preliminary hearing on 11/9/2025 was ineffective due to his non-compliance.

Decision

The tribunal found the claimant in breach of orders under Rule 74(3) and awarded costs of £3,690 against him. While accepting he was unrepresented and had personal difficulties, the tribunal found no satisfactory explanation for five months of non-engagement, particularly as he had been able to contact the tribunal to apply for postponements. The costs were compensatory for the respondent's wasted preparation for the ineffective hearing.

Practical note

Even unrepresented litigants with personal difficulties must comply with straightforward tribunal orders to provide basic particulars of their claims, or face substantial costs awards for wasted preparation when hearings become ineffective.

Legal authorities cited

Arrowsmith v Nottingham Trent University [2012] ICR 159AQ Ltd v Holden [2012] IRLR 648Abaya v Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust UKEAT/0258/16Lodwick v Southwark LBC [2004] ICR 884Howman v Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn UKEAT/0509/12Vaughan v London Borough of Lewisham [2013] IRLR 713Oni v NHS Leicester City UKEAT/0144/12

Statutes

Equality Act 2010Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 Rule 82Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 Rule 74(3)

Case details

Case number
6014254/2024
Decision date
11 September 2025
Hearing type
costs
Hearing days
1
Classification
procedural

Respondent

Sector
professional services
Represented
Yes
Rep type
solicitor

Claimant representation

Represented
No