Over paid salary

Mr_P_5

Hi Guys,

Wonder if you can help?

My wife works for the NHS (and has done for 7-8 years), and just received a call from "pay role" saying that they have realised they have been over paying her for the last 3 years and that although it is their fault she owes the money back which is to the tune of over £1,500!

She is now part time and therefore to pay the money back is a lot harder... question is does she have to pay this back or is it possible to be reduced?

thanks
MR P

mildred1978

Mr_P wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Wonder if you can help?

My wife works for the NHS (and has done for 7-8 years), and just received a call from "pay role" saying that they have realised they have been over paying her for the last 3 years and that although it is their fault she owes the money back which is to the tune of over £1,500!

She is now part time and therefore to pay the money back is a lot harder... question is does she have to pay this back or is it possible to be reduced?

thanks
MR P

If she owes it, she owes it, but I'd be asking for the overpayment calculation first.

getmore4less

Start by asking for a complete breakdown of all overpayments when and why.

Then check they are right(they make mistakes more than once)

Once you are happy they have overpaid and agree the amount then consider the next step.

trying to get some or all writen off and/or a payment plan.

A repayment program over 3 years would not be unreasonable since thats how long the overpayments may have been going on.

Having gone part time then longer may be appropriate.

VfM4meplse

You have my sympathy OP, I can see how it would have been easily missed by your wife as £1500 over 3 years is only about £40 pm. Firstly get the facts straight and see if you agree she has been over-paid, and also work out whose fault it was. This may give you some leverage.

I think it's going to be a question of negotiating. It's unlikelly that it will be written off, but agree on what you can afford to pay back every month and have it deducted from her salary. If you can afford £125 pm then it'll be gone in a year...depending on your wife' grade it may be the equivalent to her annual increment in which case you won't miss it.

Jarndyce

VfM4meplse wrote: »

..depending on your wife' grade it may be the equivalent to her annual increment in which case you won't miss it.

Bit of a sweeping assumption that....some low paid workers are relying on small increases like that to survive.

Mr_P_5

Thanks for the quick responses!

I think they have overpaid because you get an increase each year but because her role changed they by mistake put her up twice in one year so it is def their fault. They have come back with the 3 year option but as it is their fault and now she is part time (+ the fact she will also decrease her salary because she is on a band to high and will already be out of pocket), I think they should take some responsibility.

She has put a call into her union + manager to see what happens...

serious_saver

Mr_P wrote: »

Thanks for the quick responses!

I think they have overpaid because you get an increase each year but because her role changed they by mistake put her up twice in one year so it is def their fault. They have come back with the 3 year option but as it is their fault and now she is part time (+ the fact she will also decrease her salary because she is on a band to high and will already be out of pocket), I think they should take some responsibility.

She has put a call into her union + manager to see what happens...

If she is a member of a union then she has done the right thing by getting in touch with them. that's what you membership for after all.

I agree with the other posters. It is almost certainly a case of negotiating.

Another thing to remember is that she will have paid tax and national insurance on that £40 per month so it is important to make sure that she gets a rebate on anything she pays back. When she speaks to her union rep she should bring this up and make sure it is taken into account.

tescobabe69

serious_saver wrote: »

Another thing to remember is that she will have paid tax and national insurance on that £40 per month so it is important to make sure that she gets a rebate on anything she pays back. When she speaks to her union rep she should bring this up and make sure it is taken into account.

Unless the agreed repayment takes the employee below the threshold for tax &NI I'm not sure your point is valid.

fairyfairy_0

Hello,

Apologies for jumping on your thread but I can't work out how to start a new one!!!

I too work for the NHS and reduced my working hours from 37.5 to 30 two years ago.
I didn't notice a massive dip in pay as it always changes with flexible working allowance and it wasn't a massive reduction in hours..
HOWEVER,
My contract was not changed and as a result I have been paid full time and now owe the money I have been over payed.
I wonder if there is any way around this as it was actually their mistake!!
Thanks for any advice,

steve1980

fairyfairy_0 wrote: »

Hello,

Apologies for jumping on your thread but I can't work out how to start a new one!!!

I too work for the NHS and reduced my working hours from 37.5 to 30 two years ago.
I didn't notice a massive dip in pay as it always changes with flexible working allowance and it wasn't a massive reduction in hours..
HOWEVER,
My contract was not changed and as a result I have been paid full time and now owe the money I have been over payed.
I wonder if there is any way around this as it was actually their mistake!!
Thanks for any advice,

To start a new thread, in thesection you want to post in click on the button that says "New Thread" which is above the green banner on the left.

With regards to your own problem then same rulings apply.

lizzywig

Slightly different story here but my Dad worked in the prison service (now retired) but around 10 years ago he was overpaid. He told them at the time and they kept thanking him for informing them and they said they would take the money back. He told them every month for a year and eventually he gave up because they still weren't taking the money back or making any amendments. Almost 2 years after he first told them and just before he was due to retire they 'realised' that they had been overpaying him. They asked for the money back. My dad did his research and found out that after a year your employer cannot reclaim any over payments - however - that was 10 years ago and things might have changed.

Obviously paying it back is the right thing to do but if she genuinely didn't know, is now part time and it's going to cause her hardship then do a google and see what you can come up with. I know utility bills can't be claimed after a year if they haven't been sent out within that time!