I may have been overpaid, what do I do? New Development

Seaxwyn · 21 February 2007 at 9:21AM

Hi

Apologies if this is the wrong board - please move it if so!

I left a job on 15 Feb, so assumed I'd be paid roughly half the usual month's pay this month. Payday is 21st of the month so I've checked my account and have been paid only a few pence less than the usual amount.

I'm wondering if this is a mistake, and if so, can they take the extra direct from my bank or do they have to contact me first? Should I ring the pay office to check or let sleeping dogs lie? Or is it possible this is the correct account, due to a tax rebate or some such?

My ex-employer is a local authority with a dedicated payroll officer so I wouldnt expect them to make silly mistakes.

Thanks for any advice you can give

Bossyboots · 21 February 2007 at 9:28AM

It is possible this is a tax issue as your tax allowance is spread throughout the year. Therefore, if you are not going to take alternative employment you will have been taxed a little bit too much to date and your employer may have adjusted these figures.

However, you should not assume this is the case. It is up to you to make reasonable attempts to ensure this credit is correct and alert the payee to their mistake if there is one. To simply ignore it would be a criminal offence. They can simply take it back as well if it is incorrect although that would mean reversing the whole transaction, including what you are entitled to so I would hope they won't do that.

If the answer is not clear from your payslip, get onto payroll and double check that this is a tax adjustment and not an error.

pink_fairy_7 · 21 February 2007 at 9:29AM

hi Seaxwyn

Had you accrued any holiday days? If so and you hadn't taken them you will have been paid for those as well. Your payslip should have the details of what they have paid you

pf x

EEK!!! · 21 February 2007 at 9:30AM

It's also possible that it may be any accrued holiday that you didn't take before you left.
Have you got a payslip?

Seaxwyn · 21 February 2007 at 9:36AM

Hiya

Oh yes there would have been a day or two's holiday owing, however it still seems a large overpayment. I will wait for the payslip to arrive (I assume they will post it) and if all is not clear, give them a ring.

Thanks everyone

Seaxwyn · 11 March 2007 at 6:51PM

I've now received my payslip and a letter explaining I was overpaid by £316.74 and an invoice is on its way to me.

Fair enough, I knew it was too much, however the only way I can pay this at present is by going into my overdraft at 18%.

Do I have a right to ask to pay this by instalments?

Thanks for any advice anyone can give