Document text
Letter Before Claim — Unpaid Final Pay
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[EMAIL] · [PHONE]
[FORMER EMPLOYER'S FULL LEGAL NAME]
For the attention of: [DIRECTOR / HR / PAYROLL CONTACT]
[EMPLOYER'S REGISTERED OR TRADING ADDRESS]
[DATE]
Sent by: [EMAIL TO … AND RECORDED DELIVERY, REFERENCE …]
Dear [NAME],
Letter before claim: unpaid wages of [£ TOTAL] for my final pay period
I worked for you as [JOB TITLE] from [START DATE] until [LAST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT]. My final pay was due on [USUAL PAYDAY / DATE STATED IN CONTRACT], but [I WAS NOT PAID AT ALL / I WAS PAID ONLY £ AMOUNT].
1. What I am owed
Item Period or basis Amount
Basic pay [DATES WORKED], [HOURS OR DAYS] × [RATE] [£]
Overtime / commission / bonus [DETAILS AND CONTRACT CLAUSE] [£]
Holiday pay for untaken leave [DAYS] × [DAILY RATE] [£]
Less amount already paid [DATE] −[£]
Total owed (gross) [£ TOTAL]
2. Why it is owed
These sums are wages within section 27 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Where an employer pays less than the wages properly payable, the shortfall is treated as a deduction (section 13(3)). You may make a deduction only if a statute or a written contract term given to me beforehand allows it, or if I agreed to it in writing before it was made (section 13(1)–(2)). [I HAVE NOT SIGNED ANY SUCH AGREEMENT / THE CLAUSE YOU RELY ON DOES NOT COVER THIS.] The sums are also due under my contract of employment dated [DATE], clause [NUMBER].
3. What I ask you to do
Please, within 14 days of this letter, by [DATE]:
pay [£ TOTAL] gross, less only lawful tax and National Insurance, to [BANK ACCOUNT ENDING …];
send me a final payslip and my P45;
if you dispute any part, explain in writing which items and why, and send the documents you rely on (timesheets, written consent, contract terms).
4. If you do not pay
If I do not receive payment or a full reply by that date, I will notify Acas for early conciliation and then present a claim to the employment tribunal for unlawful deduction from wages, or issue a claim in the county court for breach of contract, without further notice. I am willing to discuss settlement through Acas conciliation.
Yours faithfully,
____________________
[YOUR FULL NAME]
Enclosed: [CONTRACT, LAST PAYSLIPS, TIMESHEETS, RESIGNATION OR DISMISSAL LETTER]
For me
[ ] Date the final pay was due: [DATE]
[ ] Tribunal limit: 6 months beginning with that date (3 months if before 1 October 2026) — last day [DATE]
[ ] Acas notified on [DATE], certificate number [NUMBER]
[ ] County court instead (England and Wales): 6 years for a contract claim