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Original poster

I have been overpaid at work

19 replies

bapplebanana · 03/10/2023 10:50

I have been overpaid at work, I thought the extra money was a back payment for a pay rise, but that is not the case and won't be on my pay slip until December.
I have spent most of the extra money, and had a chat with a colleague today about how nice it was to get that extra cash this month, and then realised that I was the only one who had it and I'd made a mistake thinking it was back paid pay rise.

I've been to see HR, they said it was their error and it would come off next months pay slip.

I'm going to really struggle next month, now- is there another way I could pay it back/ how can I word this? Thank you- it's about £400

OP posts:
BelBabe · 03/10/2023 10:53

Depending on how flexible they are you could offer a repayment plan say £50 a month? Or ask if there's anyway that payment could be taken in lieu of the backdated pay in Dec.

Things like this really annoy me, it was their mistake so really they should work with you to resolve it. You had genuine reasons to believe it was a legitimate payment, it's not like you took the money and never said anything

BelBabe · 03/10/2023 10:57

Sorry in terms of how to word it something along the lines of.

'I recieved this payment believing it was my backdated pay, therefore I spent it accordingly. To pay back the full amount out of one paycheck will leave me facing substantial hardship.
I propose a payment plan of £50 per month commencing from this month's pay for the next 8 months.'

Original poster
bapplebanana · 03/10/2023 12:17

Thanks, do you think that is reasonable to ask?

OP posts:
Disorganisedmess2023 · 03/10/2023 13:03

bapplebanana · 03/10/2023 12:17

Thanks, do you think that is reasonable to ask?

Definitely

nevynevster · 03/10/2023 13:07

Rather than paying back over such a long time, just get them to offset against December payslip when you will get the back pay. Then it's all sorted quickly

Turfwars · 03/10/2023 13:12

bapplebanana · 03/10/2023 12:17

Thanks, do you think that is reasonable to ask?

Absolutely.
I had similar with my job, at the time I was on a lot of variable expenses so didn't spot it until a month later. Then when I told the payroll person, they didn't take it for several more months despite repeated reminders, so it was coming up to Christmas when their supervisor spotted it in a review or something, and so I just said that it was a bit unfair that my Christmas would now screwed getting a massive deduction in my November payslip because of a July fcuk up by payroll. Thankfully they agreed and spread it out over 4 months.

ArcticLingered · 03/10/2023 13:15

It's completely reasonable to ask. Look at it as an interest free loan!

You do have to pay it back, but you should have the option to set the repayment terms - i.e. how much each month.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 03/10/2023 13:19

If you're going to struggle because of their mistake then ask them to deduct it from your salary over X number of months.
This is totally reasonable.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 03/10/2023 13:20

My place overpaid me by 4,700 over a few years -they accidentally put me on the wrong scale and I hadn't a clue. I'm repaying it at 20 a fortnight Grin

Lovelyautumncolours · 03/10/2023 15:05

Where I work it is completely reasonable to pay back over X number months. As others have said it is their mistake.

HermioneWeasley · 03/10/2023 15:06

Definitely ask to spread the cost- I’m surprised they haven’t offered

Original poster
bapplebanana · 03/10/2023 15:58

I've asked, thank you!

OP posts:
Ihateslugs · 03/10/2023 16:39

I was overpaid after a promotion when teaching, I had no idea as my pay was made up of several different elements so I just took the take home pay to be accurate. I think I owed over £2000 by the time the LA payroll contacted me. I was asked how I wanted to repay it back, as a lump sum or monthly deductions. I complained as it was their mistake but reluctantly agreed to pay monthly starting in six months time.

I kept a much closer eye on my payslip after that so soon noticed that no deductions were being made! I just ignored it, waiting for payroll to get their act together and ended up leaving the school and LA without repaying anything! I did wonder for several years if they would come chasing me but as I now live over a hundred miles away, have changed my adddress and phone number and over 15 years has passed, I doubt very much that I can be compelled to pay up!

Original poster
bapplebanana · 04/10/2023 09:29

They're just replied and said along the lines of - no, it will all be deducted from October, keep the extra money back this month

I've already spent most of the extra money, next month I'm barely going to be able to cover bills- is there anything else I can do

OP posts:
nevynevster · 04/10/2023 09:35

bapplebanana · 04/10/2023 09:29

They're just replied and said along the lines of - no, it will all be deducted from October, keep the extra money back this month

I've already spent most of the extra money, next month I'm barely going to be able to cover bills- is there anything else I can do

That seems very unfair of them. Just ask if they can recoup in December?

MuggleMe · 04/10/2023 09:39

"I've spent it in good faith, you're causing me hardship". Is there a union?

DRS1970 · 04/10/2023 09:46

I had a similar issue in the distant past. I was just honest and asked if I could spread the repayments. Point out you have done them a favour by highlighting the overpayment to seal the deal.

Thewizardbinbag · 04/10/2023 09:47

Can you return anything you bought to get some of the money back?
If they refuse to budge on their stance then start thinking of how to get some of it back to help you next month.

But that’s a back up. Call your union rep, email HR again to repeat that you spent it in good faith as you believed it was a legitimate payment so you don’t have it to use next month. If they take the full amount back then they will leave you in financial hardship and this is their error, not yours so you need them to find a solution which doesn’t leave you in difficulty and then propose the payment plan again, or suggest they take it from December when the pay rise would be given.

Original poster
bapplebanana · 04/10/2023 12:13

I have a FANTASTIC union rep at the school, I don't know why I didn't think of them first. Thank you, will email now

OP posts:
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