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What to do if you’re being discriminated against

Speak to the person or organisation

If you feel you are being discriminated against, you may want to see if you can speak informally to the person or organisation first. They may be unaware of the problem, and may be prepared to offer an apology or compensation.

If the problem happened at work, there may be grievance procedures you can use. See ‘how to resolve a problem at work’ for more information.

• Discrimination - what are your rights?

• How to resolve a problem at work (employment section)

How to write a formal letter of complaint

For other types of discrimination, you can write a formal letter setting out your complaint. If you’re writing to a company or organisation, ask for a copy of its complaints procedure, so you know who to write to.

In your letter, give details about:

• what was said or done (or what hasn’t been done)
• who was involved
• any money it has cost you

Include copies of any documents supporting your complaint, such as receipts, and details of any money you’ve lost. For example, if you’ve had to rebook a holiday with another company, include copies of the receipts.

What you can ask for in your complaint letter

Your letter should also say what you would like to happen. For example:

• an apology
• changes to the way they do things
• money as compensation

If you’re disabled, you can ask for ‘reasonable adjustments’. For example, a shop may have to move displays from the entrance so wheelchairs can get in - see ‘access to everyday services’, below.

If you send your letter by post, use recorded delivery so you have proof that your letter was delivered.

• Access to everyday services (disabled people section)

Getting information using an equality complaints form

If you think you have been discriminated against you can use an official form to ask for information from the person or organisation responsible. There is also a form they can use for their reply. There are two sets of forms available that cover:

• unlawful treatment, for example, discrimination, harassment, victimisation complaints
• pay equality complaints

You don’t have to use these forms but it may help you to get answers you need.

You can use these forms if the unlawful treatment happened:

• on or after 1 October 2023
• it started before 1 October 2023 but continued after that date

If the unlawful treatment happened before 1 October 2010, use the 'What to do before the Equality Act 2010' link below for advice.

• What to do before the Equality Act 2010 Opens new window

• What to do under the Equality Act 2010 Opens new window

• Complaining about unlawful treatment - advice and further information Opens new window

Getting help solving a dispute about discrimination

If you don’t get a response to your letter, or you’re unhappy with the result, you can get help from a mediation service.

Mediation is when someone helps two sides work out a solution to a dispute. Both sides need to agree to use the service.

What happens at mediation?

Watch a video on how mediation can help you solve a dispute

• Video: what happens at mediation?

There is a free mediation service for discrimination problems, called the Equalities Mediation Service.

To use this service, your complaint must be about discrimination:

• at work
• in education
• in facilities or services, for example shops, air travel or banks

If you would like to use the Equalities Mediation Service, you can contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

• Contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission Opens new window

• Video: what happens at mediation?

Help solving discrimination disputes at work

Other organisations provide mediation services for work disputes. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) can also help you settle a dispute with your employer using schemes known as ‘conciliation’ and ‘arbitration’.

Follow the links below for information on different ways of solving a dispute about discrimination at work.

• Mediation in workplace disputes (employment section)

• Conciliation in workplace disputes (employment section)

• Arbitration in workplace disputes (employment section)

Help solving disputes about discrimination in education

If you think a school or local authority has discriminated against your child, you may be able to use an independent mediation service. This will be provided by the local authority.

The school or local authority can give you details of the local service.

• Learning and your rights (disabled people section)

• Find your local council Opens new window

• Mediation services for special educational needs disputes Opens new window

Getting free legal advice on discrimination

If mediation doesn’t work, you still have the option to go to a court or a tribunal. This should be a last resort if all the other options fail.

You can get free advice on taking legal action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which specialises in equality law.

• Contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission Opens new window

What to do if informal discussions or mediation don’t work

Going to a tribunal over discrimination at work

If you’ve been discriminated against at work, you could take your case to an employment tribunal.

In some cases, an employment tribunal can award compensation or ask the employer take steps to stop the problem happening again.

• Making a claim to an Employment Tribunal (employment section)

Going to court over discrimination: goods, services and facilities

Some discrimination cases are dealt with in the courts. These include cases involving:

• services provided to you
• housing
• schools (apart from discrimination because of disability)
• associations or private clubs

The court can:

• award damages - which could include compensation for hurt feelings
• make an injunction - an order to stop someone breaking the law, for instance by making them change a policy
• make a declaration - a statement that says you have been discriminated against

• Making a court claim for money: an introduction (money, tax and benefits section)

Going to a tribunal over disability discrimination in a school

If your child has been discriminated against by a school because of a disability, you can take a case to a tribunal. The tribunal is called the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

The tribunal can order the school to do anything reasonable to put right the discrimination. However, it can’t order the school to pay financial compensation.

• Appealing against a special educational needs decision Opens new window