A KIDDERMINSTER woman who helped her boss plan weddings is waiting to see if she has made a successful claim for £1,500 unpaid wages.

Nicola Hobday, of Claughton Court, told a Birmingham employment tribunal she worked for Garry Howling, trading as Only Brides of Redditch, on a self-employed basis but exclusively for his business.

She said couples wanting to marry sought advice and help from Mr Howling's business on his website.

"Although I worked from home as a self-employed person dealing with the administrative side of the business, I worked only for Mr Howling for £7.50 an hour and did not work for anyone else," Miss Hobday told the tribunal.

"But after six months I stopped working for him because I was not getting my full wages. Two cheques bounced. The cheques were presented again on the morning I stopped working for him and he cancelled them. I am owed £1,500 in unpaid wages and holiday pay." Miss Hobday's claim was for the unlawful deduction of wages.

Tribunal chairman, Jill Kelly, told Miss Hobday, however, the tribunal had failed to reach a decision about awarding her the money because they could not decide whether she was classed as a worker or as self-employed.

"We shall have to discuss the matter in private at a later date and notify you of the outcome, " said Miss Kelly.

"If we decide you were a worker then another hearing will be arranged to decide the award. If, however, we decide you were self-employed then the claim will not succeed."

The hearing was considered to be a "test case" because another woman who attended the tribunal said she was owed several thousands of pounds by Mr Howling's business and was waiting to make a similar claim.

Miss Hobday said afterwards: "If my claim is dismissed then I shall take Mr Howling to the small claims court to get my unpaid wages that way".