Overpaid by previous employer, should I have to pay it back ?

Forwandert

Austinhead wrote: »

In dec my old boss called me, explaining he had made a big mistake and realised that I was still getting paid. He said the council would be contacting me to request the money back. He apologised and confirmed that I would be hearing from the council for them to get the money back. The next day I got another payslip and another £500 pay into my bank account.

What happened to this payment, did you pay it back or do you have it to pay back when requested?

Austinhead wrote: »

Hi,

Hoping someone can offer some advice here. I was working in a school last year (non-teacher). I only worked PT and earnt £500 a month.

In the summer holidays I sent in my resignation letter, this was accepted and it was agreed that my finish date would be 1st Sept.

I rcvd a further 4 months salary by mistake. When the 1st payslip came through I wondered whether I was perhaps entitled to it, couldn't remember the date I started, or whether holidays impacted things, anyway, I smiled and took the money. I rcvd a further 2 payslips and pay for Oct and Nov. Now, i'll be totally honest here, my current job only pays £500 a month, which I can't live off and i'm really struggling financially. Given it was my sons birthday in Oct, my daughters in Nov and then obviously Christmas (plus major car issues and car tax in Dec) I spent the money. I know I should have contacted the school and that it would catch up with me, but i could really use the money

In dec my old boss called me, explaining he had made a big mistake and realised that I was still getting paid. He said the council would be contacting me to request the money back. He apologised and confirmed that I would be hearing from the council for them to get the money back. The next day I got another payslip and another £500 pay into my bank account.

Sure enough I now have a bill just short of £2000 which I clearly do not have.

I suppose my question is, should I have to pay this money back?. I didn't make a mistake, I told the school and have it in writing that they accepted my resignation and the finish date.

Any advice you can offer would be very helpful, as yet i've not responded to councils request for the money.

Thanks.

BTW I have now used the budget brain to get my finances in check and am being very strict with myself.

Just adding this incase the first post goes..

lucylucky

Austinhead wrote: »

Wow your just too funny, my sides are hurting with the pain !!!.

FYI I have a hons degree in Physics.

And a remarkable lack of common sense.

Austinhead

OK, enoughs enoughs, someone tell me how to delete this thread.

lucylucky

Austinhead wrote: »

OK, my boss phoned me and apologised because of his !!!! up. He did not bollock me for not contacting the council !!. As far as he is concerned this is out of his hands, and he has told me to deal directly with the council regarding paying it back.

When I worked there I was praised many times for my efforts, and asked to stay by many members of staff. Getting a reference will NOT be an issue !.

I can't believe so many people think i'm such a complete !!!! because of this, you know nothing about me or my background, all I did was ask for some friendly advice :mad:

It's only £2k, which for me is a !!!!! load of money, but in terms of the councils budget, and probably compared to what some peoples household income on here is, it's nothing. We are not talking about £50k that i've stolen. No need for the responses that tell me that it makes no difference how much it is, it's the principal !

All we know is what you have posted which is that you were happy to take and spend money that was not yours.

Anything else you want to add?

Iris_Blue

This happened to someone I knew (local gov too) and he received about £1500 over the year after reducing his working hours and still getting paid for his original hours. He swears he didn't know about it (yeah yeah). Anyway..he has to pay back about £20 p.m now until it's paid off. Just say you haven't got it and then will agree a payment with you.

Edit It is the headmasters fault too..he didn't inform HR/payroll!

Austinhead

lucylucky wrote: »

All we know is what you have posted which is that you were happy to take and spend money that was not yours.

Anything else you want to add?

Interesting interpretation, and I thought that i'd asked whether I had to pay money back that i'd been paid by mistake ?!

Sambucus_Nigra

Austinhead wrote: »

Wow your just too funny, my sides are hurting with the pain !!!.

FYI I have a hons degree in Physics.

If it was a bank rather than a school; they would be egging you on to keep the money as the greedy b'stards deserved it.

Austinhead

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

If it was a bank rather than a school; they would be egging you on to keep the money as the greedy b'stards deserved it.

*like*

I suspect your right, perhaps I should have omitted that it was a school, but in the interests of being honest and giving everyone a clear picture (which I know some will find ironic) I told it like it was.

Wellery82

I know two people who were overpaid money when they left, neither paid it back, and neither were ever caught up with. Luck of the draw i guess.

My personal thoughts are good luck to them

hermum

Austinhead wrote: »

OK, my boss phoned me and apologised because of his !!!! up. He did not bollock me for not contacting the council !!. As far as he is concerned this is out of his hands, and he has told me to deal directly with the council regarding paying it back.

When I worked there I was praised many times for my efforts, and asked to stay by many members of staff. Getting a reference will NOT be an issue !.

I can't believe so many people think i'm such a complete !!!! because of this, you know nothing about me or my background, all I did was ask for some friendly advice :mad:

It's only £2k, which for me is a !!!!! load of money, but in terms of the councils budget, and probably compared to what some peoples household income on here is, it's nothing. We are not talking about £50k that i've stolen. No need for the responses that tell me that it makes no difference how much it is, it's the principal !

At that point though you hadn't held onto £2k of the schools budget. You knew that it was wrong.
To the school it's not much, a dinner lady for most of a year, a classroom assistant for a few hours a week for the school year. A couple of computers. Crossing Patrol.
Nah, not so much at all really is it.
But at least you can sleep well tonight in the knowledge that your kids had a good Xmas.
I really don't think that you will get the responses that you desire from the majority of us.