Unauthorised deductions and ACAS uplift: former employee awarded £34,597
A former employee of T33 Holdings Ltd has been awarded £34,597.88 after the tribunal found the company made unauthorised deductions from wages, failed to pay notice pay, and unreasonably failed to comply with the ACAS Code of Practice.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Case details
Key facts
- The claimant was employed by T33 Holdings Ltd from 1 October 2021 to 24 March 2023.
- The first respondent made unauthorised deductions from the claimant's wages totalling £26,888.52.
- The first respondent failed to pay notice pay of £987.23.
- The first respondent unreasonably failed to comply with the ACAS Code of Practice.
- The claims against Bahadir Telli were dismissed.
- The first respondent's counterclaim was struck out as vexatious.
Timeline
-
Employment started
Claimant began employment with T33 Holdings Ltd.
-
Employment ended
Claimant's employment ended.
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Hearing
Employment Tribunal hearing held at Hull by video.
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Judgment issued
Corrected judgment issued by Employment Judge Miller.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether T33 Holdings Ltd made unauthorised deductions from the former employee's wages, breached contract by failing to pay notice pay, and whether the company unreasonably failed to comply with the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
The outcome
The tribunal ruled in favour of the former employee on the claims for unauthorised deductions and breach of contract. The company was ordered to pay:
- £26,888.52 for unauthorised deductions from wages
- £987.23 for breach of contract (notice pay)
- £6,722.13 as a 25% uplift for unreasonable failure to comply with the ACAS Code
- Total: £34,597.88
The claims against the second respondent, Bahadir Telli, were dismissed. The company's counterclaim was struck out as vexatious.
Lessons & takeaways
- Employers must ensure that any deductions from wages are authorised by law or contract, or have the employee's written consent.
- Failure to pay notice pay when due can result in a breach of contract claim.
- Unreasonable failure to follow the ACAS Code of Practice can lead to a 25% uplift on compensatory awards.
- Employees with less than two years' service cannot bring unfair dismissal or redundancy claims, but can still pursue claims for unauthorised deductions and breach of contract.
A case about wages, notice pay, and the ACAS Code
This case shows what can happen when an employer fails to pay what is owed and ignores basic procedures. The former employee worked for T33 Holdings Ltd for just under 18 months. During that time, the company made unauthorised deductions from wages totalling over £26,000. When the employment ended, the company also failed to pay notice pay of nearly £1,000.
The tribunal found that the company had unreasonably failed to comply with the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. This led to a 25% uplift on the compensatory award, adding over £6,700 to the total.
What the employer could have done differently
T33 Holdings Ltd could have avoided this outcome by ensuring that all wage deductions were properly authorised, paying the employee's notice pay on termination, and following the ACAS Code when dealing with any disciplinary or grievance issues. The company's counterclaim was struck out as vexatious, indicating that it had not been pursued properly.
Why this matters for similar claims
This case is a reminder that even employees with less than two years' service can bring claims for unauthorised deductions and breach of contract. The ACAS Code uplift is a powerful tool for tribunals to penalise employers who unreasonably fail to follow good practice. For employees, it highlights the importance of keeping records of pay and any grievances, and seeking advice early if deductions seem wrong.
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