This topic was closed on 10 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 09 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

Thank you all once again for some fantastic advice. I can confirm that I have never had any warnings in the past from my employer, either verbally or written, and, up until it became clear that he was avoiding paying me for the additional work I had undertaken for him, our working relationship was harmonious and friendly. My work has always been to the highest possible standards and even through the last few difficult months I have remained conscientious and diligent with respect to dealing with our clients and their requirements. And although I have occasionally used the internet it has in no way impeded the workflow or impacted upon his business in any way. I feel sick to the stomach to think that at the end of every working day my employer has been jumping on my computer and searching for so called 'evidence' to use against me in this way in an effort to try to avoid his liabilities. I am now looking at all the facts that have been posted here and I will shortly post what actions I think I should take at the next meeting. I look forward to more constructive comments then Thank you all for giving me hope when all looked like gloom and doom Barry

Thank you all for your fantastic words of wisdom and advice, and for that great link. The meeting I had on Friday was left open ended for further discussions upon our return in the New Year and I now have a feeling that this meeting might not go exactly to my employers plans There are No policies in place to determine any use of internet, email or telecommunications whatsoever. With the knowledge that the monitoring of my usage may be an infringment of my Human Rights might well be a total surprise to my employer, and one that I intend to use to maximum effect. With regard to the £1500 owed to me for the design job I undertook, there was no written contract for this...just a verbal agreement. The job was satisfactory and was subsequently printed, delivered and paid for by our client. My employer did make a small 'token' payment to me in September this year of £200.00 whilst confirming that he would do everything he could to settle the balance ASAP. Thank you all once again and if you have any further advice on how best to approach the meeting in the New Year I would be very grateful. Barry

Thankyou for your prompt replies. Your comments and advice are greatly appreciated. The Company I work for does not have a policy, either written or indeed verbal, relating to the personal use of the internet. In fact the company doesn't even have a company handbook setting out any rules or regulations. It is a very small business with only 7 staff in total and the owner has been very slack on policies and paperwork in general. I've being employed there for over 6 years and neither I, nor any of the staff, have a written Contract of Employment. I'm convinced this whole incident is related to the monies he currently owes me and he is trying his best to wriggle out of his responsibilities. I know him to be an extremely frugile ('tight as a ducks A**' in other words) man. There has never been an issue with personal internet use prior to this and I am convinced that he was aware that it occurred. In fact I have seem him doing the self same thing...but then he does own the company. Are there any written laws, rules or regulations that anyone can suggest I read on this matter as I really do wish to be fully prepared when I return in the New Year. Thanks once again.

I was called into my employers office today at 3.30 (just before breaking up for Xmas @ 4.30!) and told that my internet access had been logged over the previous 3 months and that because he had evidence that I had used it during the working day that I was going to be dismissed for Gross misconduct! Does anyone here know the law on this? I work as a designer/production manager for a small printing company for over 6 years, and spend my day tied to a computer. I admitted that I had logged on occasionally during the day (hard to deny it when presented with printouts, ha ah) but it wasn't ever for very long and only then when I was waiting for another task to be completed by my computer. My work was never compromised. The sites I accessed were nothing out of the ordinary...ebay, CAG, holidays etc etc. I believe the motive for his action was to try and avoid paying me for a massive design job that I worked on in my own time, on his behalf, and with agreement between us that I would be paid separately to my salary. This amounted to £1,500 and I have been waiting for this for over a year now. At the end of every month since then I have asked whether he would be able to pay this and each time he has said that his cashflow was tight and that he would sort it as soon as possible. Now, I have been very patient with him over this but I finally had a serious chat with him at the end of last month and he promised that he would pay this money before xmas. (Does anyone see a connection yet? Thought so!) When he called me into his office I was expecting some good news and a healthy cheque for my bank manager so I was knocked sideways by this accusation and the consequences so I'm afraid I let the side down by not standing up and fighting. I left the office with my chin on the floor. But now I've had time to think it through I now have my fighting head on again and I would like to return after xmas armed with facts and figures so if anyone has any advice I would be very grateful. I wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, Barry

I have 2 cases, against Woolwich and Barclaycard that are both due to be heard in court on 07/03/07. My claims each contain a sum of £100.00 for my time spent researching and preparing the case. Barclays are now very keen to settle (obviously, they are running out of time here!!) but they are stating that I am not legally entitled to claim for my time and that, if this should reach court, the Judge would rule my claim as invalid under the Civil Procedures Rules. Can anyone advise my legal position on this part of my claim so that I can legally tell them to shove it up their A***e. Thank you. Barry

Hi, I have 2 cases in court at the moment, 1 versus Woolwich and the other against Barclaycard. Both entered acknowledgements but only Barclaycard put in their defence. I applied to the court for judgement against Woolwich and obtained Judgement by default. I gave them 2 weeks to pay me and after that period of time had passed I sent an email to the solicitor named on the form advising that they had 2 days to pay the judgemment prior to me applying for a warrant of execution. 2 days later I received correspondence from the court stating that my judgement had been in error and that they had a received defence from Woolwich. It also included an Allocation Questionnaire. But the worrying part is that the Judge had ordered that upon receipt of my Allocation Questionnaire there would be a Consolidation Hearing for both cases! Now I'm fuming about this! How can the courts accept a defence so late that it overthrows a judgement? Anybody got any ideas where to go from here? Barry

Hi all, I obtained judgement by default on 30th October (Woolwich didn't enter a defence in time). How long should I give them to pay me before I send in the bailliff? Baz