council overpayment error

notomonkeys

Hi,


About 6 months ago I got a cheque from the council for £400
This just arrived at about the same time as my Council Tax Rebate usually arrives. there was no information on how it was calculated. there was just a single sheet with a cheque attached which is how my overpayments are usually sent out to me.
I cashed this cheque as I thought it was an overpayment going back several years.


Today I got a single page invoice from the council saying the cheque was paid to me in error and that the£400 should be paid back by 22/11/2013 with no information on how this happened.


I'm not sure where I stand with this.
It seems they have made the error and have admitted it, but do I have to pay this back as it was not my fault?


What should I do ?


help much appreciated.

happy_bunny_2

I would imagine you do have to pay it back, but if you contact them and explain if you can't afford to pay it back all at once they might agree to it. If this is an issue.

Do they say why they paid it in error?

notomonkeys

I usually have cheques for any overpayments paid to me at that time of year without an explanation of how it is calculated or what it is for ( just a letter saying remittance ) with a cheque attached, so thought nothing of it at the time.
There was no explanation with the invoice of how the error occurred.


I am writing to the CFO to ask for an explanation.


I can only make a basic offer to them if it comes to that.
Always at the wrong time


I'll wait to hear back from them.


Cheers

happy_bunny_2

Ok, but obvious question, why are you paying more than you should be every year?

notomonkeys

force of habit from long time ago, suppose bit stupid

happy_bunny_2

I would write a complaint , as you suggested. See what they come back with.

Good luck

HB