Published 23 July 2021
Last updated 9 January 2024 — See all updates
Horizon was the former accounting system used by the Post Office.
Between 1999 and 2015, a number of Postmasters experienced
shortfalls in cash and stock in relation to the data produced by
Horizon. As a result, Postmasters were required to make good the
shortfall.
In some cases, this led to bankruptcy, where some postmasters may
have petitioned for their own bankruptcy or were subject to a
bankruptcy order on the petition of a creditor. The Insolvency
Service and the Official Receiver, acting as trustee in
bankruptcy, continues to assist former Postmasters impacted by
bankruptcy and we are working closely with the Post Office and
the Department for Business and Trade to ensure that claims for
compensation are paid as quickly as possible.
Bankruptcy and claims for compensation are a complex area and we
are helping claimants understand whether their bankruptcy orders
can be cancelled and signposting appropriate advice.
There are a number of official schemes
offering compensation.
If you wish to know more about claiming compensation directly
from the Post Office, please
click here.
Bankruptcy / adjudicator or sequestration orders
If you have been subject to a bankruptcy / adjudicator or
sequestration order, resided in England, Wales, Scotland, or
Northern Ireland, and believe you were impacted by the Horizon
discrepancies and have not yet been in contact with the
Insolvency Service, please contact us via our dedicated
inbox: Horizoncases@insolvency.gov.uk.
Please ensure you provide the following information:
- full name;
- date of birth;
- contact details;
- court / bankruptcy reference number relating to your
bankruptcy (if available);
- where your bankruptcy / adjudicator or sequestration order
was made, i.e. England/Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and
- a brief overview of how you were affected.
If you were subject to a bankruptcy / sequestration order in
Scotland or Northern Ireland, we will forward your details
to the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If an Insolvency Practitioner has been appointed as your Trustee
in bankruptcy or you were subject to an Individual Voluntary
Arrangement (IVA), please direct any queries to the Insolvency
Practitioner appointed.
If you are currently subject to a Debt Relief Order and within
the 12-month moratorium period, please contact the Official
Receiver dealing with your case.
If you have previously contacted the Insolvency Service on this
matter via the Horizon inbox referenced above, we are currently
working through the enquiries received and you will receive a
response in due course.
