Overpayment

[Ostagazuzulum]

Work have overpaid me. Two years ago for one month. My pay is variable and can be complicated with enhancements and unsocial hours so I didn't notice. It wasn't enough that I'd wonder where the extra money came from....when I get overtime the dates for submission can be random so it's hard to keep track of when it's paid so it's easily
Done to miss an overpayment.

They've done an audit and realises I owed £150 from a month a couple of years ago.

They want it paid back next month. I said no as it's too much to be deficit in my pay in one go. They came back and suggested I pay it over two months. That's still a lot for me to lose (no onetime in the last year so am on basic salary) in one go. Especially with school
Hols and childcare costs over 6 weeks.

Obviously I know the money isn't mine but what is a fair way to pay it. I've suggested £20 a month as I wouldn't notice that. Is that reasonable?

Payroll have admitted this is their clerical error.

£150 2 years ago? My company would either write it off or let you pay it over 6 months.

If it was last month and the error was picked up straight away then it would all be deducted the following month.

Whether or not they can take it back without your agreement will depend on what it says in your contract of employment.

I would suggest sending an email to your manager, Payroll and HR asking for a full breakdown (including the gross and net amounts) of the overpayment. Then make sure you agree with the overpayment.

This happened to me once - they came back to me years later telling me I’d been overpaid. My pay was also variable as we’d receive random amounts for having working overtime etc, but I had actually double checked with payroll at the time as it was still more than I’d been expecting. Because I had called to query the extra amount at the time I received it, and they told me it was correct and that I was entitled to it at the time and therefore I had spent it in good faith, I appealed and was successful and did not have to repay it. Luckily I’d noted details of the phone call and kept them.