Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want my wages? How long would you wait?

28 replies

Oldteddy · 12/03/2013 21:47

I work in a small organisation with a very inefficient administrator.

My wages were considerably underpaid for January (genuine mistake in addition on the part of admin).
The administrator said she would add the amount (not disputed) due to my wages for February.
In spite of repeated reminders, she forgot to do this. fgs.

I have had no apology, just 'What do you want me to do?'
I said I wanted the amount owed this month. She said she would speak to the accountant who writes the cheques.
That was a week ago and I have heard nothing.

How long would you wait, and what would you say? I am furious tbh and don't want her now saying I am harassing her or some such.
It's nearly the middle of March, I have to wait for the cheque to clear if I ever get it, I earnt this money in January.

OP posts:
kalidanger · 12/03/2013 21:55

Good god! I would not wait. I wouldn't be scared if her either. Buck up, OP. bring it up tomorrow and set a deadline. Then go over her head if nothing happens. Forgotten wages?!

midastouch · 12/03/2013 21:58

I wouldnt wait that long id nag every day til i got that cheque, its your money!

Seabright · 12/03/2013 21:59

I'd give one final demand, in writing, which would include the fact that if it wasn't paid in 7 days a claim via the Small Claims Court will be made.

If you have to go down that route, it'll cost about £30 and the fee would be added to what they owe you, I believe.

Bluelightsandsirens · 12/03/2013 22:05

I would send a final email reminder and CC in the most senior member of staff.

I would be hauled over the coals for missing a payroll payment in the first month let alone 2 plus a cheque offer!

You could add into the email that you may incur bank charges for missing salary and your own financial commitments.

SolidGoldBrass · 12/03/2013 22:10

Yup, put it in writing and copy it to her supervisor. It's not acceptable to withhold wages like this. Depending on your contract, it may not even be legal.

Bobyan · 12/03/2013 22:11

The payroll date should be stipulated in your contract, so by not doing this they are breaching the contract. Put it in writing and if possible copy the accountant in as well. Can I suggest that you also confirm with HMRC that they are paying your tax through the PAYE system as they sound extremely dodgy.

Seabright is spot on with the small claims court, the CAB might also be able to help...

Wewereherefirst · 12/03/2013 22:13

You need to ask them to pay it by BACS, it will cost them, but you've had to wait far too long for your pay and its the least they can do.

kalidanger · 12/03/2013 22:15

My wages got forgotten once and it caused my Annual Rage. I only ever get mad on average once a year and I was free to as it was completely unreasonable and therefore I was completetly justified. I used a tone and everything. Got them 15 minutes later. I'm not sure a cheque is good enough tbh but if you're OK for your month salary then, after 3 months, it'll be a nice windfall Hmm

HugAndRoll · 12/03/2013 22:19

Submit a formal demand for repayment (use those words) in writing. Give 7 days and then submit a claim. Plenty of us here that can help with that process, I work in financial litigation and would be happy to help with wording etc.

kalidanger · 12/03/2013 22:20

OP talk of rages and small claims courts might seem a Bit Much but YADNBU to demand your money. I understand if you don't want to upset this person unnecessarily but at email at 9am requesting a response by lunch and informing her you'll be going over her head is frankly the stage this has got to.

kalidanger · 12/03/2013 22:21

going over her head that same day*, I mean.

FarBetterNow · 12/03/2013 22:27

Email the very inefficient administrator, cc in the accountant, your boss and the MD or head of the organisation and any other Tom, Dick or Harry you can think of.
Be polite, but point out that the money is now very overdue, you have financial commitments, so you cannot wait any longer and that you are asking for it to be paid by Bank Transfer before the end of the week.
Copy in as many people as possible, do not be afraid of dumping her in it as she doesn't care greatly about you.
You could have been racking up loads of bank overdraft charges by that money not being paid on time.

Thingiebob · 12/03/2013 22:31

Talk to her line manager.
I would get her into masses of trouble.
I have been a payroll administrator and I would never have behaved so unprofessionally.

Thingiebob · 12/03/2013 22:32

Yes cc everyone into it.

Original poster
Oldteddy · 12/03/2013 22:34

Thank you everyone, especially for the kind offer of help with wording HugandRoll.

We have asked to be paid by BACS before as the cheques take so long to arrive, but apparently we can't be because we have charitable status.

I will ask for the name and email of the accountant, good idea.

OP posts:
Takver · 12/03/2013 22:38

WTAF - surely in this day and age even a small organisation can do a Faster Payment online. I pay everyone that way now (employees and suppliers) and it doesn't cost anything.

lurkedtoolong · 12/03/2013 22:43

I used to work for a very small registered charity - I was literally the first employee after charitable status was granted and I was paid by BACS.

HugAndRoll · 12/03/2013 23:07

Yes that is rubbish, you can be paid by bacs. Very strange that you're not. They can certainly set up a standing order to you as you can do that from a basic cash card account (assuming you're salaried).

SolidGoldBrass · 12/03/2013 23:09

Erm, Oldteddy, do you think there is any possibility that your employer is in financial difficulties? This 'charitable status' sounds like bullshit to me (mind you, DS' dad works for a charitable organisation and, though they pay him by BACS or something, they frequently fuck up his expenses so I suppose it could just be an industry issue).

Roseformeplease · 12/03/2013 23:09

Sounds dodgy to me. Is someone skimming funds? Why the lack of BACS?

Thingiebob · 12/03/2013 23:13

They are lying. You can be paid by bacs.

kalidanger · 13/03/2013 07:20

I suspect they say a blanket "We can't do BACS" as there's a fee for it. The truth is that they just don't want to, so pretend it's impossible.

Good luck today OP This is not just an admin snafu, it's Serious Business and you're NBU to start demanding your money. Don't feel bad about upsetting people. Payroll is (should be) an emotionless list of numbers Thanks

HollyBerryBush · 13/03/2013 07:28

How would I wait? about 20 minutes.

Original poster
Oldteddy · 13/03/2013 07:34

I don't think it is a money-shortage problem, as one colleague was overpaid instead - she is very annoyed as she lost it all in tax.

And that is another thing - if the foul-up is repeated at the end of this month, after that we'll be in a different tax year.

I shall see what she says today, but my bet is that she will be 'ill' this week.

OP posts:
bigfuckoffpie · 13/03/2013 07:40

OP, I work for a charity and get paid by BACs. There was a problem with my expenses one month and I didn't get them, and I got a cheque authorised a week later.

Def go to the big boss and complain, I wouldn't even bother asking the admin again.