Can I change to a paper tribunal after I have my date?

Johnjoseph

Can i change my mind and ask for a paper tribunal even though I have my date for a oral tribunal, as my nerves are so bad? 

markyboy

Yes you can as i did 3 weeks before my tribunal and still won my case
All you need to do is write a letter to the tribunal centre explaining that you are unable to attend due to it causing you distress thinking about attending, and you would like the tribunal to make a decision in your absence

Misscleo

Many thanks for the info 

mikehughescq

You can do this but your best chance of winning comes if you do attend. Paper tribunal success rates are around 5 to 8% whereas oral hearings are around 48% if you attend by yourself; 60% if you go with someone else and 71% if you are represented. 

You also need to bear in mind that a tribunal can look at a paper hearing and decide either that there’s insufficient evidence for it to proceed or that the only way to decide the appeal is to see the claimant. So, you could request a paper hearing; have that agreed and then find that the tribunal onthe day feel it would be better as an oral hearing. If you then didn’t attend that oral hearing it’s odds on you will lose.