Post Office receives over 700 applications so far in Horizon compensation scheme

Post Office said it has received more than 700 applications to its scheme for current and former sub-postmasters to claim shortfalls related to previous versions of the scandal-hit computer system Horizon.

The Historical Shortfall Scheme was launched on 1 May following the settlement between over 550 claimant postmasters and the Post Office in the long-running Horizon trial.

As of 8 July, the scheme has got 715 applications.

A week after the settlement, in which the Post Office agreed to pay £58 million to the litigants, the High Court ruled in favour of the postmasters, finding issues in the robustness of the earlier versions of Horizon, which had the potential to affect branch accounting.

Post Office has also initiated a review to identify cases of prosecution since the introduction of Horizon system in 1999, which may have relied on Horizon data. The review has identified around 900 such cases as of late May.

Separately, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the convictions of 47 sub-postmasters for appeal till date, out of the 61 applications it received on Horizon related cases.

The shortfall scheme is open to both current and former postmasters and the claims will be assessed by an independent advisory panel. A dispute resolution procedure is available for applicants not satisfied with the assessment outcome, providing further review stages and independent mediation.

The panel consists of Alex Charlton QC, a leading barrister with particular expertise in software and IT systems, Susan Blower, a forensic accounting partner at BDO and fellow of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and retail expert Sunder Sandher, a member of the Independent Retailer Board of the Association of Convenience Stores.

The closing date for applications is 14 August. Detail of the scheme is available at www.onepostoffice.co.uk/scheme or by emailing historicalshortfallscheme@postoffice.co.uk.

In case they do not have access to an email address, they can apply by post to Post Office Historical Shortfall Scheme, PO Box 76882, London E1W 9RR. Applicants will need to use Royal Mail as PO Box addresses can only accept post from Royal Mail and not from other carriers or couriers.