In Hunwicks v Royal Mail plc the EAT upheld a tribunal's decision that Miss Hunwicks' ignorance of time limits and reliance on incorrect advice did not amount to factors sufficient to justify the exceptional step of extending time in her favour so as to enable her to submit her disability discrimination claim. Miss Hunwicks' claim (the relevant facts of which arose prior to the coming into force of the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004) was distinguished from previous authorities as the notional three-month deadline had already expired before any question of Miss Hunwick being misled by her union arose. The union's mistake therefore had no causative effect, there was no need for the Chairman to put this point into the balance in the way indicated by the authorities and there had been no misdirection when he failed to do so.