Trying to repay overpaid wages

movingturtle

Hi all


In July I left my job at a public sector organisation and at the end of the month I found I'd been paid for the entire month of July, even though the last day I was employed was the 3rd.


I immediately contacted my old line manager (HR and payroll aren't accessible from outside the organisation). He spoke to payroll and found that there had been some oversight in processing my leaving details which was rectified and that payroll would be in touch.


In the meantime, I moved the money from my main bank account to another account so that I wouldn't spend it. I hadn't heard from anyone by the next usual payday but decided to move the money back to my main account in case payroll decided to reverse the direct debit on this day. No money was taken out, however and a payslip was issued to me showing a negative for the full gross amount of my monthly pay (even though I should have been paid for some days at the start of July).


I went back to my old line manager who told me that payroll were no longer responding on the issue and that he had passed it on to one of the admins in the unit. I've just emailed the admin he's passed it on to but I am wondering what my obligations are to continue chasing my old employer to get them to take their money back? I am aware that they are entitled to have the money returned to them and I am very keen to! I am also keen to be paid correctly so that this doesn't cause any issues with tax.


Cheers


*Edit: typos

anamenottaken

Write a letter to Payroll and send it by "Signed For" service.

Confirm that you should have been paid for those days in early July plus any accrued but not taken annual leave.

They can't expect you to pay back the gross amount of the July payment as they will have deducted tax and NI (and pension contribution?) which was not due. And that applies to the nett amount too as the level of tax etc will have been over-stated for the amount due.

They should not be able to take money from your bank account without your bank first getting your permission for them to do that.

pimento

Hope it wasn't HMRC you worked for..

ohreally

Op you've done enough, the onus is on them to pick the ball up now. Just how much band holding do they need to rectify their mistake.

If they contact you do nothing until you both agree on the clawback arrangements.

steampowered

I'd leave the money sitting in another account until they ask for it. You've done more than enough.

Your employer can't simply reverse a bank transfer. They'd have to get you to transfer funds.

I doubt you have a direct debit in place with your employer. If there is a direct debit in place, it should show on your online banking and you can cancel it.

movingturtle

Thanks all, not HMRC, fortunately but another, large public sector organisation with outsourced HR and payroll.


I didn't realise that the overpayment couldn't be reversed but no one has contacted me to ask for repayment by any means. I've head back from the admin handling this that payroll consider the issue closed and think that the money has been repaid.


However, I'm sure it'll show up in their end of year accounting. I'm happy enough to leave it sitting in an account but I'd like to be able to spend the money that I am actually owed. I can't do that without knowing exactly how much it is though.


I think that @steampowered and @ohreally are correct and I'll just have to sit on the money till they notice they've not got it.