Paid extra from work - advice!

flower_chops

Hello,
I got a payment of £113 from my old work and as I was to understad it I wasn't due anymore pay. Obviously it's lovely to have the money but do you think it's wise to not spend it in case they ask for it back?

PeachPickle

Unfortunately, I think you have to expect them to ask for it back! I had the same thing happen once, and they did come back for it.

And this month I've been overpaid It's listed as backpay, but I think it's a mistake so I'm gonna ask my boss about it. I did just get a payrise so thought it might be backdated, but I'm not taking any chances with it!

And there's the chance it is yours to keep, better to know for sure

cattie1

i think they can ask for it back, but when i was working for a company i left on the friday-then there was a fire on the sunday destroying all the computers etc etc:eek:
so as they had no computer the just went off some files they could find (which i was still on) i got paid for 4 weeks after i had left-after 2 weeks i rang to explain that i had left and they shouldn't be paying me byt the lady i spoke to was very rude and told me to call later, so out of spite i decided not too!:rolleyes:
my bro in law was a manager there and when they eventually realise hetold me they said i had to pay money back:mad: -i explained i'd already rang but they didn't want 2 know and so i told him i thought the money was the holiday pay and my week in arrears that i had worked!!!
i never had to pay the money back!:D
so to cut a long story short! i'm sure if they overpay you it is their fault and you don't have to pay it back-if i am wrong someone will come along and correct me!!
although it depends how honest you are really!;)

inkie

Yes, if you are overpaid, they can claim it back - even if it is there fault. The thing that complicates things in this situation is that the OP is no longer an employee and so cannot be clawed back through salary. Come clean and tell them, we would all be on their backs if they had underpaid us and we were out of pocket. Do the decent thing and ask them to check whether they have paid you right - you may find that you entitled to the money after all, as you may have done your sums wrong.

saubryn

Is it possible the money you got was holiday pay?

I would keep hold of it - as in don't spend it, but ring to query it first. When I got 'mistakenly' paid for one job several months after leaving, it turned out it wasn't a mistake

Best to stay safe though.

flower_chops

I'm due my P45 from them which they said would come with my final payslip. I got my July payslip but no P45 with it, so I'm wondering whether it could be a bonus I didn't realise I was getting or something...might have to use it to pay rent but next month I'm in a position to give it back if they need it!

Boomdocker

I think this is more of a moral issue. Would you be so willing to keep quiet if you were underpaid and it was their fault? Probably not.

For peace of mind get in touch and ask, you might even be pleasantly suprised then at least you can enjoy it with a clear conscience.

Regards.

flower_chops

Thanks for all the replies. I do indeed have a moral conscience and wouldn't spend what wasn't mine. I only have to wait til Tuesday to find out anyway. My old employers had real problems with sorting out my last payment (Payroll department not too hot) which is where some confusion may have arisen you see.

Will hold on til Tuesday when I can phone them and ask.

Zammo

My advice would be to spend it on scratchcards and Greggs pasties.

cattie1

Zammo wrote:

My advice would be to spend it on scratchcards and Greggs pasties.

:rotfl: what excellent advice!

hjb123

I would contact them to check what it is - chances are it would be meant to come to you - unless you would normally have received this amount? Is could easily be holiday pay - as another poster has already suggested. If your exemployers say that they want you to pay it back you could try getting them to let you pay in installments?!