Flight Delay Compensation - Overpayment

smcb92

Hello

I claimed compensation for a flight that was delayed back in 2011. I followed the tips as suggested by Martin Lewis - I used Resolver and then this got passed onto CEDR to deal with. I lost count of how many times I chased but eventually after nearly 9 months, I got the compensation paid into my account.

In November last year (two months after the original payment), I noticed the same amount had been paid to me again. I queried this with CEDR and was told nearly immediately (ironic!) by Thomson that this was an over payment, an error on their part, and that I should arrange to have the money refunded to them by cheque. As I don't have a cheque book, I told them I could only do bank transfer to which they told me "You'll need to go to your bank and sort this out as we don't accept payments by bank transfer, only cheque." This infuriated me even more because it wasn't my fault and I had offered to give them the money back by bank transfer which I'm sure they could have allowed and I didn't feel I should go out my way to go to the bank... I have now spent the past 5 months chasing them asking for bank details to refund the money (even though I think I should be able to keep it as further compensation for the hassle they've caused me!) but they are not getting back to me. I've asked CEDR to look into this again for me but they aren't very helpful this time around.

What should I do? Am I within my rights to keep the money if I don't have a way of refunding it and they aren't responding?? It's unnerving having £680 in my account that I don't know if it's mine or not. I've tried emailing all the different customer service departments within Thomson and nothing...

Thanks in advance

JPears

If it were me I would open an instant access savings account, put it in there and leave.
You have done everything possible to return the money they paid you in error. It is now, IMHO, no longer your responsibility.
Airlines are difficult about how they pay you, if they ever do. You have been more than willing to fulfill your side of the matter.
I wouldn't waste my time anymore. What date did you contact them and inform them of the overpayment?
If they insist on a cheque, the bank will charge you for a counter cheque or banking order.
You then charge them an admin fee equivalent to what they have paid you, simples.

smcb92

Thank you. I moved the money to my savings account but it's more annoying that I don't know how long to leave it for...

I contacted them as soon as I received the overpayment, in November 2017. So that's been over 5 months of me chasing them trying to give them the money back.

I don't see why I should have to go out of my way to my local bank to sort out when it's their fault in the first place.

Justice13075

As JPears says open one especially for the overpayment so should this snowball to where they take you to court you can show that the money has been in the account waiting for a satisfactory outcome.

JPears

smcb92 wrote: »

Thank you. I moved the money to my savings account but it's more annoying that I don't know how long to leave it for...

I contacted them as soon as I received the overpayment, in November 2017. So that's been over 5 months of me chasing them trying to give them the money back.

I don't see why I should have to go out of my way to my local bank to sort out when it's their fault in the first place.

You don't. You appear to have given them adequate notice, several times.
Another 5 years and 6 months they can't legally touch you for it anyway...
Should we have a sweepstake on how long, if ever, it takes for them to get back to you?

legal_magpie

A far better suggestion is that you meet us all in the pub.