OK, so I didn't go back to work after my maternity because they couldn't offer me part time. I had taken the enhanced maternity package where I agreed I would repay the small amount of extra money if I didn't go back for 6 months.
They said they wanted my entire maternity pay back, plus my pension contributions from during Ordinary Maternity Leave.
I looked it up because I was sure they were wrong and said "no, you can only ask for the non-statutory maternity pay back, I am legally entitled to receive the statutory. I should keep my pension because I am counted as employed while on ordinary maternity so I shouldn't pay it back".
I spoke to the Union and I sent the HR Dept the guidance from the government website and I worked out myself what I had to repay because they just couldn't seem to understand what I was getting at. They kept asking for the whole amount I had received back (LOADS more than what I calculated I had to repay). I really felt like I was banging my head against a wall.
I got a couriered letter from a laywer on Christmas Eve saying that they would accept my figures purely to get the matter over and done with although they still effectively thought I was stealing from them, but I had to pay within 3 days. At Christmas!
I was pleased at first when I saw they had a lawyer involved because I thought s/he would have checked their figures and told them they were wrong, but the letter just said "X Employer tells us that you owe..."
I was really annoyed by this point and my Union Rep said I shouldn't pay anything and let them take me to court and make fools of themselves, but I thought I didn't want the hassle and I'd repay what I'd worked out.
I wasn't 100% confident my figures were entirely accurate, but it could have been too much as easily as too little, if you see what I mean.
So, I thought that was that. Now I get a letter from my pension company saying that they've taken off a whole year's service because my work told them I hadn't been employed during this time!
I just want to cry I'm so cross and upset!
I don't know whether to go to the CAB or pay for a solicitor. I keep doubting myself and wondering if I am going completely insane but I keep checking and I'm sure I'm right!
Argh.