Work overpaid me by a lot, now they're messing me about

[RoriBori]

hello, I hope someone can help me at least, I'm losing my mind here.

I've only worked for current employer for 7 weeks (I am currently 10 weeks pregnant) they're aware of my pregnancy too. After my 2nd week there, I got paid, £1500, instead of the £200 odd I should have been paid. In the past 5 weeks, I've never been faffed around so much!

I reported my overpayment immediately, which the manager apologised as he'd inputed my hours wrong (how is that even possible), and he SAID he spoke to payroll. Apparently, they told him they'd recall the money. Fab, I thought, no problem.

Well, here we are, 5 weeks later, the money still in my account, and now my universal credit has been cut to £0, my food vouchers have been cut also (I have a 2 year old daughter). So because of his mistake, my families livelihood is at risk. I spoke to him AGAIN this morning, and he's told me to just use the money!

Basically what I want to know is, if I use this money (even though it's not mine!) like he has told me to, and they try and claim it back and I can't pay the full amount, can I do something about that? I've been really sick with this pregnancy and have actually now been written off work with stress because of this, and I'm very tempted to quit, but I have no idea if I can do that with owing them money (even though it's not my fault he didn't check). I'm honestly not sure if I'd not told him he'd have even noticed

I'm sick with worry and stress, doesn't help my mums poorly too and I'm high risk! Please any advice would be great.

Have you got that in writing from him? Copy in HR on the email

@Bushkin

Have you got that in writing from him? Copy in HR on the email

Yes. Technically, even though you've done ever right, it's not your money so you shouldn't use it. But - I understand you may need to use it , as due to your (it seems) incompetent manager this has severely affected your ability to pay for food etc. email this manager, outline what has been said between you (with dates, if possible) and explain the consequences you have had. Your employee should offer a repayment plan. Hope it gets sorted for you OP.

Do not spend the money unless you have it in writing that he's said that.

Does your payslip match what has been paid into your account? Have you kept all communication relating to this to email? Always follow up phone calls with an email to confirm what was discussed.

I'd bypass your manager & go straight to payroll for an update, assuming it's an internal payroll department - if they outsource it's unlikely they'll speak to you without permission from your employer.

As it was their mistake & this has caused you financial hardship they can't demand the money back in a lump sum & would have to agree an affordable repayment plan.

@Bushkin I don’t have an email, but I do have a text, so I do have it written. He also advised to move it into another account (which I’m not doing). I think he may be in trouble lol

@JenniferWooley thanks for commenting, I have attempted to contact payroll but they only go through management apparently The overpayment also matches my payslip, as I said, I genuinely think if I didn’t say anything no one would have noticed. He’s texted this to me, so I do have it in written form at least

I’d put it all in an email, confirming what you’ve been instructed to do and the impact this has had on you. Then send it to him asking him stating ‘please response if this is not your expectation’ or similar

I really don't think you should spend the money. You'll be worrying forever about when and how they're going to claim it back.

Do you have an HR contact? Or employee relations helpline? Or another manager? Or an area manager?

I strongly advise you put all this down in writing, dates, messages from manager, including the ramifications it's had regarding UC etc. send an email (or letter to HO if no other comma available) asking them to respond by 25 Feb latest so that you can work out your family budget going forward.

Are you in a union?

Definitely send an email to your manager detailing what's happened so far, copy in payroll & HR if you have emails for them, and ask him to confirm the next steps and a timescale for this being resolved.

Keep future communication to email so there's a record.

He clearly hasn't told payroll and is just burying his head in the sand hoping he doesn't get caught out. I wonder how many others he has over paid.

@Gazelda So I work in a shop, I basically have nothing 😩 I did contact HR, 5 weeks ago, so that’s going well ha. There’s no other manager, and the area manager is impossible to get a hold of

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone, what I’m going to do is make a payment plan with my manager and have payroll on call while that’s being arranged, and I’m going to make those payments, while at another job because I’ll definitely be leaving this one lol.

I got paid twice in my first month at my job. So I spoke to management and they spoke to HR. Eventually after a few weeks I agreed with he to keep the double amount and be paid £0 the following month. I wanted this to ensure my tax etc was correct because if I sent it back I’m not sure how that all gets re-calculated.

DH is an accountant and says you MUST contact the actual Finance Department plus HR to sort this out. Ask for an interest free loan to help cover the losses you’ve incurred as it is their fault, not yours.

@RoriBori

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone, what I’m going to do is make a payment plan with my manager and have payroll on call while that’s being arranged, and I’m going to make those payments, while at another job because I’ll definitely be leaving this one lol.

So has the manager finally got back in touch about this? Last you posted was he told you to spend it.