Mr Soheil Houshangifar v AI Forge London Ltd — 2024

Mr Soheil Houshangifar brought a claim for unlawful deduction from wages covering arrears of pay and unpaid annual leave. The respondent's response was late and contained no substantive defence; it effectively accepted that payment was in arrears and said it wished to settle once funding was obtained. No explanation was provided for the late response after the tribunal invited one, so the case proceeded undefended.

On the figures, the tribunal accepted that the claimant was paid £27,000 gross per year, or £2,250 per month. It found that he had not been paid for December 2023, January 2024 and half of February 2024, giving a gross sum of £5,625, and then gave credit for £2,865.56 received from the respondent on 29 May 2024. That left £2,763.44 unpaid salary owing. The tribunal also accepted the claimant's calculation of 2.5 days accrued but unpaid annual leave at a daily rate of £103.85, producing £259.62.

The tribunal held that the unlawful deduction from wages claim was well founded and ordered payment of the two net sums, plus provision of pay information showing the deductions for tax and national insurance. The claimant had also sought compensation for financial losses said to have been caused by the unpaid wages, including moving costs and credit card charges and interest, but he did not have documentary evidence at the hearing. That part of the claim was stayed under section 24(2) ERA 1996 and would stand dismissed on 17 January 2025 if there was no request for a further hearing and no application for reconsideration. The tribunal also said the claimant could not recover for mental distress.