Guides › Work and Employment › Employer Not Paying Your Wages: What to Do
Employer Not Paying Your Wages: What to Do
If your employer has not paid you what you are owed, start by checking your payslip and contract, then ask payroll to put it right straight away. If that does not work, raise a formal grievance. The legal claim is called an unauthorised deduction from wages, and it goes to an employment tribunal after you tell Acas. For pay that was due on or after 1 October 2026 the time limit is 6 months minus 1 day from the date you should have been paid.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Right to Be Paid
What Counts
Any pay you are owed is covered: wages, overtime, commission, holiday pay and sick pay. Employees, workers and agency workers can all claim for unpaid wages. source
Deductions Must Be Allowed
An employer can only take money from your pay if the law allows it (such as tax and National Insurance), your contract allows it, or you agreed in writing first. source
Getting It Back
Talk, Then Grievance
Speak to payroll first and show your evidence. If it is a mistake you can ask to be paid straight away, not at the next pay day. If not, raise a formal grievance. source
Tribunal Claim
You can claim unauthorised deduction from wages at an employment tribunal. You must tell Acas first. The limit is 6 months minus 1 day from the date you should have been paid if that was on or after 1 October 2026, or 3 months minus 1 day if it was before. source
If You Miss the Tribunal Deadline
Citizens Advice says you can usually make a claim for unpaid wages in the small claims court instead. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 monthsTribunal time limit (minus 1 day)For pay due on or after 1 October 2026
- 3 monthsTribunal time limit (minus 1 day)For pay due on or before 30 September 2026
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check your payslip, contract and bank statement and work out exactly what is missing.
Step 2 of 5
Ask payroll in writing to pay it now. Keep a copy.
Step 3 of 5
Raise a formal grievance if it is not fixed.
Step 4 of 5
Tell Acas you want to make a claim, before the time limit runs out.
Step 5 of 5
If it is not settled, make a tribunal claim using your Acas certificate number.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Acas Helpline
Free and confidential. 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Acas Early Conciliation
You must tell Acas before you make most tribunal claims. It is free.
Citizens Advice or Your Trade Union
Free help to check your case and work out what you are owed.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Do not resign over unpaid wages before getting advice: it can be harder to get your money if your employer is in money trouble.
Rules here are for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and industrial tribunals; see nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- citizensadvice.org.uk/work/pay/problems-getting-paid Checked 15 October 2026
- gov.uk/understanding-your-pay/deductions-from-your-pay Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/contact Checked 8 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/early-conciliation/how-early-conciliation-works Checked 8 October 2026