I Falsified an expenses claim, so now what

[feelprettyawful]

sorry long explanation, but decision is whether to come clean or not...

Normal practice at my work is we pay in advance out of pocket for travel expenses & claim back later. This worked fine until sudden trip cancellations due to covid.

I tried to get refunds for everything covid-cancelled but then to keep the repayment claim applications simple, on one item I claimed full price rather than the 3 different partial refund claims I could have done for same value. Difference from auditors' viewpoint is about £40 out of Account A that I was actually refunded for and should have claimed out of Account B. I don't know if I still have all the original tickets etc. but I may have images of them. And emails showing partial refunds, etc.

Auditor is asking for proof I tried to get refunds on everything. I either come clean about the falsification using my partial/failed real claims to refund.. or ... try to keep up the lies. I am half tempted to come clean & if I lose my job and career that might have its own merits, anyway, although it would upset a lot of people and put me in poverty, I suppose.

It matters to me that I have worked about 300 hours unpaid this year. All the time I spend trying talking to auditor is also unpaid hours. I understand that The auditor won't give a shit about my unpaid hours and neither do I suppose will most MNers. I am net out of pocket still, technically, just £4 or so.

Irk. How fucked am I?

Lie.

I would tell the truth.

So are you up £40 is is it just an allocation issue?

I would lie too

Tell the truth. You'll be reminded of what you should have done but I very much doubt there'll be any serious consequences in current circumstances, where everything's been made so complex.

If you haven't benefited financially then it shouldn't be too serious. Coming clean is best under those circumstances.

Definitely don't tell the truth if you would like to keep your job( if you don't want the job though.....)

Act thick

I second acting thick

Third for acting thick

I third acting thick, tell the truth with wide-eyed innocence as if you didn't realise you were doing anything wrong

Another hand up for acting thick, look totally confused when they explain what the issue is.

Yep. Act dumb. You haven't really done much wrong so just act as though you didn't know they'd refunded full price.

I would act thick and take the slap in the wrist.

Thanks for replies.

I don't think I can maintain lies.
So confused / thick is probably my only strategy.
I can definitely kick this into January, but...
Not knowing how it will all workout will nicely ruin Christmas break.
I am not quids in. I am £4 net out of pocket on all the cancelled trips across both accounts. There were multiple transport options, parking, hotels, that got part-refunded. It was complicated. The accounts closed end of March so I had to move very very quickly to get claims in or no chance to make claims at all.

Never under any circumstances will I buy anything out of pocket again for work.

Don't worry op the fact you are actually out of pocket works in your favour.

I'd be wary of coming clean or acting thick if the organisation might be looking for a cheap way of dismissing someone.

I'd say you'll look again for proof, mention the hundreds of hours unpaid work and wait. Don't confirm one way or the other. It may be a sample check and the auditor might just need to complete a certain number before a deadline. Your colleagues may give them what they need.

Good luck.

Another suggesting you act thick and "keep looking" fo what they are asking for.

Definitely act thick. I’ve approved expenses in a few different jobs and it’s so easy to get it wrong when dealing with complicated travel and partial refunds. It happens so often. Obviously I don’t know about your company but this wouldn’t be a big deal at anywhere I’ve ever worked, especially if the issue is only £40 billed incorrectly internally. The fact you’re actually down £4 also shows you’re also not trying to pull a fast one! I really wouldn’t worry about it.

Why didn't you claim correctly in the first place and save this grief

Act thick and ask them to explain the problem.

Then "understand" and offer to rectify with their help.

Really like Moneuxly's solution but can't do the quote thing.

I also agree with acting thick - especially if you are out of pocket then it does sound like you're a bit thick (I don't mean that in a mean way, but rather it's all very confusing so make sure to confuse them as best you can).

Difference from auditors' viewpoint is about £40 out of Account A that I was actually refunded for and should have claimed out of Account B.

So how is this a lie? You claimed out of a different account? Or you actually lied about the amounts you're claiming? You're not being very clear about what you actually did.

If you did actually lie / claim more than you are entitled to claim, you need to tell the truth. If not and you're found out (which it sounds like you're about to be), it's effectively stealing from your employer and gross misconduct. Immediate dismissal if they want to play that card. Tell the truth and beg for forgiveness.

Another vote for act thick. You didn't realise you made a mistake, but wait until they bring the mistake to your attention.

Especially as you haven't exactly gained anything from this!