I've been overpaid by my employer, WWYD?

[Whattodowithoverpayment]

I work on a minimum-wage, zero-hours contract for a huge multinational company. I've just opened my latest payslip and they've overpaid me by around £750. I can see that whoever processed the payment has miscalculated the hours I worked last month. If the company was smaller I'd fess up, but they definitely won't miss £750. I'm flat broke and the money will mean so much to my family this Christmas. But I'm worried they'll find out and make me pay it back. What should I do?

It's theft if you keep something that's not yours.

It doesn’t matter how much you’d like to keep it. It’s not yours to spend.
FFS where are your morals?

This happened to me. They noticed eventually and I had to pay it back. They refused installments too. So you could keep it but I would put some aside each month for when they ask for it back. They always notice eventually, sadly.

That happened to a friend of mine, she said she hadn't noticed she'd been paid too much and eventually agreed to pay it back at a very minimal amount a month, since it was their error. If it's paid straight into your bank account it's easy to 'not notice'.

Firstly do not spend it. If your employer notices and requests it back you will have to repay it. Legally they have 6 years to request it be paid back.

If you think they may not notice then open a new savings account and put the money in there. That way you have it should they request it back. If they don't then it is yours in 6 years time.

I agree that all the people telling you how immoral you are have never been truly skint. I’d keep quiet if it’s a big company, if it’s noticed arrange a repayment plan.

Yes they will notice, yes you legally have to tell them. Yes it can be gross misconduct and you know it’s not yours and someone may have made a mistake, and you don’t tell.

Absolute nonsense!

They have 7 years to claim it back OP, if it’s not the sort of money you can guarantee you’ll have lying about to pay back if asked then it’s not worth the stress it’ll cause you. There’s also a solid chance that it’s already been noticed but your Manager didn’t notify them of the error until after the cut off date for this month, so will just be deducted in your next pay.

They will probably notice, and you will look like an idiot when they do as you will have clearly kept the money on purpose. Stealing from your employer is a shitty thing to do, Christmas or not

You can't spend it. They may realise soon or in a frw weeks and then you will be out of pocket next month when they ask for it back.

I can see the temptation when you are broke - but you won't look good if it comes to light. Just send wages/HR an email asking if it's correct. It might be holiday pay or repayment of emergency tax or something.

I'd just wait and see what happens but don't spend it.

Tell them because they will find out

They will notice. They will ask for it back. It will look very very bad that you said nothing. If I wanted to keep my job and reputation I would raise it now.

It might be overpayment of tax and therefore a redund. I was refunded £320 in Sept and £550 4 weeks ago. All legit tax overpayment refunded to me.

This happened to someone I know, they had to pay it back over several months and really struggled to pay it back as by that point, they’d forgotten about it and had to limit their everyday spending to repay it.

If you’re ’flat broke’ and going to waste the money on Christmas then how do you intend to pay it back in the new year when they notice?

Tell them.
Set aside so you don't spend it. (You might as well earn some interest before they get it back).

This happened to DH. He spoke with the Finance dept straight away and paid it back immediately. Another colleague didn't and, despite knowing it was an over payment, spent it all and ended up having to do a repayment schedule over a number of months (which they were super bitter about). Do the right thing as it will just cause more stress in the future.

Your contract will likely state that you’re responsible for checking your payslip is accurate.
Make sure what’s in your bank matches your payslip for starters. If it does, drop an email to HR flagging the issue. You will want this resolved in this tax year, otherwise it will get complicated. Also, check your pension contribution which might also be too high. Given you’re a 0 hours, if you don’t usually have a pension deduction, it might’ve tipped you into Auto Enrolment which may / may not be something you want long term.
Nothing good comes of lying, you’re probably one of many, and it won’t go unnoticed.

For those who need a morality lesson it’s wrong to keep money that isn’t yours and that’s not being sanctimonious. I promise.

They will notice and will get the money back through your next paycheques.

I had this in the summer, and didn't realise. I had an email from Payroll, and they offered the opportunity to pay it back over a few months - luckily I didn't need to do this.

So while I would say, you don't have to notify them, they will absolutely find out and you will have to pay it back. They might be more lenient as it's Christmas and it's much easier to accidentally overspend, but I wouldn't count on it.

I would put it in a savings account and stay quiet. If they ask for it back you hand it over and say you thought it was a Christmas bonus.