Claimant v Celos Wines Limited
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found that the claimant's detailed commission calculations, which matched invoice records and spreadsheets, were accurate. The respondent's calculations were poorly explained, lacked proper documentation, and failed to adequately support the asserted deductions. The tribunal was persuaded that unauthorised deductions totalling £4,477.38 had been made from the claimant's commission payments.
Withdrawn by claimant at the outset of the hearing and dismissed on withdrawal.
Facts
The claimant worked as a sales representative selling wine on commission from November 2020 to January 2024. She alleged that the respondent had made unauthorised deductions from her commission payments totalling approximately £4,477.38. The claimant maintained detailed spreadsheets cross-referencing her sales invoices with payments received. The respondent disputed the claim, alleging various deductions were necessary for unauthorised wine bottles and returns, and made serious allegations about the claimant's conduct including that she had started working for a competitor.
Decision
The tribunal found in favour of the claimant. The judge was impressed by the claimant's detailed and precise record-keeping, which clearly matched invoices and spreadsheets. By contrast, the respondent's calculations were poorly explained, appeared to be rough third-hand copies, and failed to adequately support the claimed deductions. The tribunal awarded the full amount of £4,477.38 for unauthorised deductions from wages.
Practical note
Meticulous record-keeping is crucial in commission disputes: detailed contemporaneous records that cross-reference invoices will significantly strengthen a worker's position compared to poorly documented employer calculations.
Award breakdown
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 6001290/2024
- Decision date
- 15 May 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- retail
- Represented
- No
- Rep type
- self
Employment details
- Role
- Sales Representative
- Service
- 3 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No