Company refunded too much money and now want it back

[Blueturtle2]

A couple of months ago I bought some items from an online company and returned some of them. The company has just discovered that they accidentally refunded too much money to me, and now want me to pay back the excess. I had not noticed that they had refunded too much, and I have made financial decisions since then based on how much money was in my account, thinking that was correct as a statement of how much money I had. The amount the company wants back is nearly £140.

On the one had, I can see that the company feels I should pay them this money so that their accounts are in order. On the other hand, it was their mistake, and if they hadn’t made it, I would have made different decisions about my money since then. Do you think I should return the money to them?

[Chasingsquirrels]

Yes of course you should return it.

[Chilver]

Yes, you should return it. However, you can suggest that you return it on a payment plan instead of in a lump sum

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

If you'd overpaid them by £140 would you expect it back or would you suck it up as your mistake?

[unmarkedbythat]

You should return it, yes, but see if you can arrange a plan.

[tearinyourhand]

Yes, you should return it.

You're blaming them for making a mistake and not noticing, whilst simultaneously saying that you didn't notice. Checking your bank statement and spending accordingly is your responsibility. You knew the value of what you had returned to them, so if you didn't notice, that's on you.

[TheQueef]

You should have already returned it.
If you didn't notice the extra £140 sounds like you can afford to repay it.
Can't believe you spent it.

[rottiemum88]

If your financial position was such that you didn't notice an extra £140 in your account that you shouldn't have had, what's changed now that means you can't afford to pay the same £140 back? Ultimately, it isn't your money. You got away with it for so long and now they've asked for it back. Offer an instalment plan if you really can't afford to pay it back in one go, but this isn't an ethical issue, it's a legal one.

[ChaChaCha2012]

People rarely notice when they are given too much money, but always do when they're given too little!

[Redcrayons]

If you accidentally paid them twice you’d expect them to give the money back, though? How is it different?

[nicerbeing]

Someone who can't afford to repay £140 would absolutely have noticed an extra £140 dropping into their account.

[RiaOverTheRainbow]

If you'll struggle to pay the £140 right now, contact them about paying in installments.

[PapercraftNinja]

I absolutely think you should return the money to them

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Of course you should repay it.

If you are so cavalier with money that you don't notice that £140 has erroneously been credited to your account then you clearly arent on a very tight budget.

[BiggerBoat1]

How is this a dilemma? Of course you have to return it. The money wasn't yours to spend.

[northbacchus]

I can believe you didn’t notice the extra £140 if your circumstances have changed or your finances have been somewhat up and down!

I’d possibly see if they can arrange a payment plan for you to pay it back slowly or if you can forgo anything in order to get it dealt with! Personally, I’d want it out of the way as soon as possibly so I’d be doing the latter. I don’t think there’s any situation where you can avoid paying it back, that won’t have bad consequences for you.

Hope you find a solution soon OP!

[stillsomewhatsheldonesque]

You made financial decision to spend it. You will have to make more to pay it back.

It may have been their mistake but it was never your money.

[Graciebobcat]

I would pay it back, but as it was their error I would suggest paying it back in four monthly instalments of £35, if you can afford that.

They might disagree, but just ask for the bank details and set up a standing order, then you can control it.

[Iamthewombat]

On the other hand, it was their mistake, and if they hadn’t made it, I would have made different decisions about my money since then

Good luck with this defence.

I work in finance. At various points in my career I’ve had to intervene when employees left and the payroll team continued to pay them in error. The excuses for not having notified us of the overpayment and not being able to pay it back were hilarious.

They always tried the “well it was YOUR mistake” and “I’ll be in financial hardship if I have to pay it back” defences. I could have written the script. Then they would move on to the more fanciful excuses (“I’m his twin brother”/ “he’s on a ship in international waters”/ “I’ve given it all to a man I met on the internet”).

It never worked. You don’t have a leg to stand on.

[swannin]

I'm fed up of these posts...people like to forget that someone's livelihood is based on these "companies" and just because you are a customer and a singular person does not mean that you have a financial upper hand...if you owe money then you owe money OP! Regardless of whey they are a company or not! Ffs!!

[Greysparkles]

Bullshit you didn't notice!
People who are on such a tight budget would notice immediately if they were £140 up

Just suck it up and pay it back

[OneKeyAtATime]

'I made financial decisions '...so you plan your purchases depending on what you have. Good.
How come you didn't notice that you had been paid extra if you are so cautious? Come on!

[Graciebobcat]

It's a bit different with an employer/ employee situation @Iamthewombat, there may be a contract and an agreement between the employer and employee which may deal with repayment of overpaid salary. Even then my expert legal advice to your employer would be to stop being so fucking crap and sort out your payroll systems properly.

This is a business and customer, there is no such contract and even if they have terms and conditions on their website, they may not be enforceable as businesses may try, but actually legally they can't just make up shitty and unfair terms against individual consumers.

[TheQueef]

Me as well Swanin it's dishonesty plain as that.
If the delivery came and they had left a wallet you wouldn't just help yourself and this paying in instalments because it was THEIR mistake! No, there is no agreed financial penalty you can't just decide to impose terms

[OMGisthisforreal]

Of course you must pay it back as indeed you would expect anyone to pay you back if you had been overcharged!
You really have to ask?

[ChelseaCat]

Yup, you definitely should pay it back