Overpaid in final salary payment

deutsch

What would you do? Tell them or leave it?

viktory

Of course I would tell them - and then pay it back. Employers can and do chase for overpayment of wages.

darich

If not repaid, you'll always be wondering when they will come looking for it.

But if you pay it back, the matter is closed and you'll look honest and truthful in the employer's eyes.
It may be a final payment but it's not a good idea to burn bridges - you never know what fate can throw at you.

SarEl

darich wrote: »

If not repaid, you'll always be wondering when they will come looking for it.

But if you pay it back, the matter is closed and you'll look honest and truthful in the employer's eyes.
It may be a final payment but it's not a good idea to burn bridges - you never know what fate can throw at you.

Plus, since they can come looking for it at any time in the next six years, they will come looking for it when (a) you have forgotten all about it and (b) you can least afford it. It's a rule of nature

freakyogre

Tell them straight away, I wouldn't even think twice about it.

Vader123

If they underpaid you and noticed but didn't tell you, how would you feel?

Vader

MyRubyRed

You need to tell them. Many companies run a regular payroll audit as a matter of course so they'll see the discrepency and it won't do your reputation any good when you have to lie and say you didn't notice the overpayment

view

Hi, how do you know that you were overpaid? Did you receive a letter with your final salary payment detailed? Could it be that you had annual leave that you were due to be paid?

Uncertain

Golden Jill makes a good point.

Obviously it is hard to disagree with all those who say tell them and pay it back. I just hope they would as "honourable" as they want you to be!

A compromise it to raise some query about the amount. HR departments are often breathtakingly arrogant and will respond sharply along the lines "of course we are right". This still doesn't entitle you to any any overpayment but it make it harder for them to come back later!!

If you do decide to take this option (or keep quiet) then do keep the money to one side just in case!

pinkshoes

Are you 100% sure you have been overpaid? Did it include any holidays not take, or bonus?

If you are 100% you have been overpaid, then tell them you think you've been over-paid, and what you think it should be, and are they sure they are correct. They might reply back saying that they believe they are correct (so you can keep it!), or they might reply thanking you for pointing out the error, in which case you can then pay it back.

shikoku

I would do this, put the overpayment aside, in a separate account if possible, and leave it there where it will gain you a little interest; it will also be there in full to hand back as necessary.

At the end of 6 years it will be Statute Barred as a reclaimable debt and all yours.

My last employers never paid me the right amount but were so *unpleasant* the first time I drew their attention to an underpayment that I left it after that not wanting to draw attention to myself and just kept my own records with a view to a Subject Access Request - which would have had them wetting their pants - after I left followed by a claim for any shortfall.

As it turned out they overpaid me far more often than they underpaid, including the final salary payment which was far in excess of what I was actually due - holiday pay I hadn't accrued etc.

Because they lost my good will when I discussed it with them previously I have done as above.