Money Moral Dilemma: Should I repay money wrongly paid into my account?

primrose_penguin

Most definately you should contact your old employer to let him know what has happened, if it had been the other way round and he had underpaid you you would be quick enough to ask for it. You would go up in his estimation plus you will be able to sleep at night!!

Roddytrotter

Unfortunately it’s a criminal offence not to pay it back under the theft act

(1)A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a)a wrongful credit has been made to an account kept by him or in respect of which he has any right or interest;

(b)he knows or believes that the credit is wrongful; and

(c)he dishonestly fails to take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to secure that the credit is cancelled.

(2)References to a credit are to a credit of an amount of money.

pickledonionspaceraider

Wow, I didn't realise legal experts spent their evening giving out free advice on forums

Cheers Rodders

unholyangel

crispy_duck wrote: »

This also contains the text:



It's not clear to me which one of these would apply in this case. Blackmail, fraud and stolen goods can trivially be excluded, and I also don't think it's accurate to say that the money derives from theft - that would suggest that the former employer had been engaged in theft and passed the proceeds on to the former employee.

It's interesting to note that the above quoted text was added to the Theft Act in 2006 - it looks to me as if that were intended to specifically exempt the situation being described from being a criminal offence. That doesn't mean, of course, that the ex-employee has any moral or legal right to keep the money, just that it's a civil matter rather than a criminal one.

Yes I'm aware of that section - after all it was me who posted a link to the section in question.

Its dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit

bertiewhite

crispy_duck wrote: »

Yet she got a lighter sentence than the two in the story you linked - they must be absolute stunners!:rotfl:

I'm not sure about that - she's not that great.

rocky56709

lol at most of the replies, having experienced this myself and even the company contacting and asking for it back they knew :

1) they had few rights

2) it would cost more going through the legal process than worthwhile to reclaim

so if the OP isn't even at this stage obviously keep it. the scaremongers above are probably the fools that would think KARMA exists....as originally said don't look a gift horse in the mouth just see it as a bonus and enjoy it book a holiday or spend on loved ones.

some people comparing it to knife crime makes for seriously cringy reading. although these are the same people that advised me against actions I took in 2016.....
ill save that for another thread though but seriously worth a read if you want an actual factual real life account of when employers over pay u

rocky56709

Gavin83 wrote: »

I think that's the perfect story for those people in this thread who are claiming it isn't theft. Clearly the law disagrees with you. Receiving the money accidentally clearly isn't theft. Spending it and trying to get out of paying it back is. Technically speaking noticing the money and keeping it to one side hoping they won't notice is also theft, although admittedly you're unlikely to get in trouble for this.

For all those claiming it's happened to them and the company didn't want the money back, I'll be honest, I'm somewhat skeptical, especially for the guy who joined just to post this. And for the person that claims it wouldn't result in a negative reference, really? In their position your next reference would be informing your potential employer that you're a thief. Good luck getting the job with that.

gavin come read my thread about it you ll learn alot

rocky56709

tired to post link to new thread had this done last night just had to copy and paste across this morning....however wont let me but its down its in under employment, job seeking and training under work tribulations...a true story *trademarked*


enjoy!

rocky56709

pathetic on here that people don't like what's said in a thread and report it to be deleted. worse than kids throw their toys out of their pram!lol

phryne

Pollycat wrote: »

This is the Marriages, Relationships and Families board.

I read the thread you started on DT. You are exaggerating.


I'm sure other forums are available if you're not happy with the content of MSE boards.

Well, that told me!!