More flexibility to deal with errors in EC numbers on Claim forms
[ch 1: page 9]The Acas EC procedure has been modified to allow for more flexibility in handling minor errors, with an EC conciliator now able to contact the parties to give them the chance to correct errors on the Acas EC Notification Form at any point during the EC period.
In addition, ET rule 12 has been changed to allow an ET judge to accept a Claim form with a mistake as to the Claimant or Respondent name if it would not be in the interests of justice to reject the claim. (Under the old rules, judges could only accept a Claim form with this kind of error if it was “minor”).
Rule 12 has also been changed to add a new rule 12(2ZA) that allows an ET judge to accept a Claim form with a mistake as to an EC number, again where it would not be in the interests of justice to reject the claim. Claim forms that miss out the EC number altogether must still be rejected.