Work overpaid me by a couple of hundred when i left

flaminglee50

Hi, ive just come on here to get some views of this problem. I am an 18 year old student and in spetember i handed in my notice to my centre manager at the leisure centre where i worked as a lifeguard for 2 years and she accepted it. When i then got back home in mid december i found out that they had continued paying my wages and they rung me up saying they wanted it back. They have offered for me to pay it bak in small installments but it seems kind of unfair to me. I have spent a bit of this money as i thought i was using my overdraft, i have many transactions taking place in my account with student loans, maintanance grants, bursaries, money from parents. The last thing i want to worry about is paying off this debt whilst im trying to concentrate on my studies. Am i llegally required to pay it back?
They have admitted it was their fault but they want me to pay it back in small installments.

CLAPTON

gosh you are a very luck student to have so many sources of income you didn't notice the salary coming in by mistake.

yes, you have a legal duty to pay it back and paying back in small installments seems very fair.

Millionare

You have to pay it back. and they are offering it to be paid back in installments which is a good thing.

Think of it being the other way around, you accidently pay someone, they acknowledge you overpaid or made a payment by mistake but they keep the money.

Your not going to be a happy bunny.

CLAPTON

flaminglee50 wrote:

i wouldnt say im a lucky student, i get other sources of income but im still going to be in fifteen grands worth of debt when i finish..... its just a little something they give you to try and make you feel a little better.

what course are you doing and where?...i'm surprised that if you're receiving bursaries and income from parents that you need to be 15,000 in debt at the end of your course.
maybe you should consider posting your SOA here and people will help you mange your spending.

iceicebaby

Hiya

You are obliged to pay the money back as it isnt due to you. If it went as far as court you would be made to pay it back. Be thankful they have agreed to you paying it in instalments, they are within their rights to demand the overpayment back in full

emzig123

CLAPTON wrote:

what course are you doing and where?...i'm surprised that if you're receiving bursaries and income from parents that you need to be 15,000 in debt at the end of your course.
maybe you should consider posting your SOA here and people will help you mange your spending.

Unfortunately that is the amount of debt that students are likely to be in, with the new 3k top up fees. Most students now get a bursary of some description but that doesn't mean it's a big one!

Millionare

flaminglee50 wrote:

i cant think of it being the other way round because this is meant to be a professional business and i handed my notice personally to the centre manager and she said that was fine and that she would cancel my pay! this just causes me loads of hassle which isnt my fault. It is all completely their fault.

Monetary errors are made in businesses all the time, whether in a Professional business or not.

Unfortunalty for you have noticed and are entitled to their money back. Luckily they have offered you to pay back in installements.

matty_c608

I found this:

http://www.menshealth.co.uk/index.php/v2/Q_In_my_last_two_pay_cheques,_I%E2%80%99ve_been_overpaid._I_should_give_it_back,_but_when_I_think_about_the_amount_of_unpaid_overtime_I_do,_I_think_may_be_not._What_do_you_think%3F

However, there is a way of keeping that unearned cash, but it’s not simple. If you can firstly show that the overpayment was the company's fault, secondly, that it was reasonable for you not to know that you were being overpaid and thirdly, that you have acted to your disadvantage on the assumption that the salary payment was correct (i.e. you’ve spent it all) then you may be able to claim the overpayment is not recoverable by your employers.

ftbworried

CLAPTON wrote:

what course are you doing and where?...i'm surprised that if you're receiving bursaries and income from parents that you need to be 15,000 in debt at the end of your course.
maybe you should consider posting your SOA here and people will help you mange your spending.

It's not so inconceivable. Imagine....

Income (annual):
Student Loan = ~£3000
Bursary = £1000
From parents = £1000?
Holiday job (6 weeks at £200 a week?) = £1200

income total = £6200

Outgoings (annual):

Rent + bills @£80 a week = £4160
Food @ £20 a week = £1040
Socialising/clubs activities @ £20 a week = £1040
Books/stationary/course trip costs (average at £10 a week?) = £520

Outgoings total = ~£9700

Deficit = ~£3500

....over a four year course = £14,000 and that's on a sociallising budget of £20 a week, which - lets face it- is frugle for a student.

So I'd hold up on giving the OP a hard time about the prospect of coming out of uni in debt. Faced with £12,000 fees over a 4 year course, many people have no choice.

flowerofscotland

Have you checked your contract of employment? Mine has a clause covering this situation and yes overpayments have to be returned. You could look at it as an interest free loan as they only want it back in installments.

katecheshire

This happened to my daughter where she was overpaid but it was not clear for about 5 months as her salary was always in arrears. Eventually she got a letter and she negotiated monthly repayments. As she said 'well I have had the money'. Just remember you may want a reference from this employer when you get your next job. You would be best keeping on the right side of them.