Compensation scheme for Group Litigation Order case postmasters

Registration

On 10 February 2023, the Department for Business and Trade opened registration for the GLO Compensation Scheme. Claimants’ legal advisors are invited to fill out the Registration Form available here and return it to glocompensation@beis.gov.ukglocompensation@businessandtrade.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Application form and guidance

The GLO Compensation Scheme is now open to applications. Claimants’ legal advisors are invited to upload claims onto the Dentons Direct platform. We have published supporting documentation including guidance, principles and a Q&A with more details on the scheme.

If you are a GLO claimant and are not currently legally represented, you are urged to engage lawyers now.

Three firms of lawyers – Freeths, Howe & Co and Hudgells Solicitors – have agreed not to make any charges to claimants for work on this scheme: they will be paid by government at rates which we have agreed with them, which are set out in the Tariff of reasonable costs available on this page. Other firms can access the same rates.

You should not engage any firm which asks you for money now or later, or which offers a ‘no-win, no-fee’, conditional fee or litigation funding agreement.

If you do choose to represent yourself you will receive a link to the Dentons Direct platform to upload your claim. A postal address is available if you do not have access to the internet.

Background

In 2019 a number of postmasters who had taken the first legal action against the Post Office over Horizon received £43 million plus legal costs in a settlement.

However, much of this money was swallowed up by the associated costs of funding their case, and they were ineligible for the Historical Shortfall Scheme (HSS) that was subsequently set up to compensate other affected postmasters.

As a result the government confirmed in March 2022 that it would create a new scheme to ensure the GLO group has access to similar levels of compensation to their non-GLO peers.

In September 2022, the Minister for Small Business asked the GLO postmasters for their views on the options for delivering additional compensation: we have published a summary of their responses.

In December 2022, the Secretary of State for Business announced the intended process for compensating GLO postmasters.

GLO Compensation Scheme Advisory Board

The independent advisory board oversees the scheme. It has no role in individual cases, but monitors the overall progress of the scheme, ensuring that the process is working well and identifying any blockages.