LRD guides and handbook June 2016

Law at Work 2016

Chapter 13

What happens to the ET1 Claim Form? 


[ch 13: pages 458-459]

First the tribunal office checks the Form ET1. The form will be rejected if:


• you have not used Form ET1;


• there is no tribunal fee or completed “Help with fees” form;


• there is no Acas Early Conciliation Certificate reference number;


• information is missing, for example, the name and address of the employer;


• the tribunal has no power to consider it; 


• the claim is in a form that “cannot sensibly be responded to or is otherwise an abuse of the process” (rule 12).


Claimants have a right to ask for reconsideration of a decision to reject the claim within 14 days.


Assuming the Form ET1 is not rejected, a copy is sent to the employer who is invited to respond by completing a Response Form known as Form ET3. A copy also goes to Acas, who owe a continuing duty to offer free conciliation services throughout the life of the claim.