Money Moral Dilemma: Should I return the overpayment?

markyinireland

What has happened to the world? Are we all so money mad that we will see someone get in trouble and lose money so we can keep money that we should not have been given in the first place?

If this poor guy has made a genuine mistake, give him his money back, it's NOT YOURS, IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU IN ERROR. If he's gonna be out of pocket and get in trouble over an innocent mistake you should do the right thing and allow him to at least save his pocket.

Remember, as far as the law is concerned this is theft. Once you become aware you have been given too much change, if you do not make reasonable efforts to repay the overpayment you are guilty of theft in the eyes of the law. Never mind the ethics of it.

So for goodness sake people, we can be money savers, without being moneygrabbers or moneyworshippers.

But, just to be sure, before you pay it back or allow it to be taken back, check that the call is genuine, ask for the exact figures etc. and make sure that you are not being fleeced.

THen if it is genuine, GIVE IT BACK, you will not be out of pocket and you will feel good about it, i'd put money on it!!

ma-ri-ella

Joseph_Farthing wrote: »

I used to work for Tesco (retail and internal security) and this seems way out. Till reports are checked daily and staff error is never shifted on to the customer.

Either this is a manager going off script quite badly and asking an assistant to make the call, or the assistant is taking matters into their own hands.

I recommend ignoring this one!

its maybe not owned by tescos-in my local tesco the travel stand is a concession. if it cd be proved i would do the decent thing and pay it back

attemptingmoneysaving

First time on - sorry if I am replying to the wrong person or something.

If you have been given money that isn't yours rightfully, yes, you should return it, that shouldn't be in question, and I am hugely relieved at the number of people on here who've said the same thing. Thank you.
I would, though, be careful about who I actually returned it to - you should be able to go into the store/ concession where you got the money from and have the manager there be aware of it and deal with it.

zeegoman

Why is this a moral dilemma? You have received something that you were not entitled to, as the result of an honest mistake on the part of an employee, who stands to suffer as a consequence.

VoucherMan

When Tesco refund all the people they've overcharged I'd consider repaying.
Until then not a chance.

Sooler

MSE_Lee wrote: »

Should I return the overpayment?

No ... once you leave a store errors in change can not be corrected.
You should check your change before you leave a store.
Works both ways ... if the store gives you too little change or too much.
It would be correct for the employee to be in trouble with his boss, who would it benefit if he was able to cover up such mistakes?

Sooler

MadMom wrote: »

If you have received money that you are not entitled to ...

How do you know if you did ... just taking the store workers word for it? Not even the store manager or head office, not even in writing!:eek:

The dilemma should be ... the bloke who works down the shop phoned to say he gave me too much change the other day and wants me to give him some cash, also trying to persuade me not to make any mention of it to his boss.

Sooler

MSE_Lee wrote: »

Over a week later, I was contacted by the employee who served me, to say he had accidentally done the cash passport redemption twice, overpaying me by £65.

It's a SCAM!!!

normindurham

I'd say NO! TESCO are huge and can well afford it, and lets face it if the boot is on the other foot - in my experience anyway, ([1], 4" nail through sliced loaf - denied by them; [2], splintered piece of wood in large wrapped lump of cheese - denied by them; [3], wife cut her tongue on chip of glass from inside neck of glass marmalade jar - not just denied by them, they accused us of doing it to get compensation from them), so I say take then for whatever you can get!!

mandi_moo

If you can see that you have been over paid then pay it back.

If you are aware of it and therefore have no reasonable excuse not to pay it back, otherwise you are falling into the relms of Theft:


Theft Act 1978
Theft (Amendment) Act 1996
Basic definition of theft
1.--

(1) A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and 'thief' and 'steal' shall be construed accordingly. (2) It is immaterial whether the appropriation is made with a view to gain, or is made for the thief's own benefit.

Basically meaning that if you now have the intention to keep it and not to return it then it could be classed as theft.

I know that some people are of the opinion that Tesco makes millions of pounds etc etc but at the end of the day, thats not a reasonable excuse for retaining the money.
The circumstance of the victim (Tesco on this occassion) is irrelevant. Its the action of the offender/suspect thats will be viewed.

On a personal note, I have had dealings with Tesco when purchasing a TV. I paid too much (as some notes had stuck together when I was paying). They traced me via the TV Licence detail I had to give them and they paid me back the overpayment of £40.00).

Some may think that the Lad at Tesco is just trying to pull a fast one but the young lady who returned my money couls just as easily put it in her back pocket.... not everyone in this world is out to get you