Is this a reasonable request

rstreet222

Good morning

I work for an agency who's systems where hacked and apparently they have been using an alternative payroll system, this has been ongoing since April, and now I get the email below asking me to pay this back over 2 or 3 weeks, firstly should they have covered TAX secondly if they are correct is it reasonable to request money of a small time scale as this was not an error on my part?

Many thanks

Hi,

Firstly, thank you for your patience over the last few months.

xxxxxxxxxx have now completed their payroll reconciliation as discussed with you over the phone and have identified there has been an over payment to you of £160.95.

This would normally be deducted from your next payment, however we can offer a payment plan over the next 2/3 weeks.

 Please can you inform myself before close of play today, giving one of the options below:

• Deduct the full amount from my next payment
• Please deduct £xxx amount across the next 2 or 3 weeks

 If we do not receive a response by close of business Tuesday 29th September, any monies owed will be deducted in payments made on 2nd October. The reason behind the overpayment is due to us taking too little from you for your tax. We have paid your tax for you on your behalf so you owe *** the money and not the tax office.

 Kind regards,

xxxx

JReacher1

I suppose it depends on how how you earn eg what percentage of your salary are they proposing to take. If you earn £50k a year this is probably reasonable. If you are on minimum wage it isn’t. 

I would ask for some evidence of how they’ve worked out you owe them the money. I wouldn’t take their word for it. 

Comms69

Assuming it's correct, it's perfectly reasonable. 

GS..

 "is it reasonable to request money of a small time scale as this was not an error on my part"
If your employer erroneously over paid, you would and should pay it back

Penguin_

I think it is reasonable as if you were underpaid the same amount, you'd want it in your account as soon as was reasonably possible.

Manxman_in_exile

If I were you the first thing I'd do is ask them for a breakdown of the overpayment so you can reconcile it back to your payslips.

I note they say in their email: "Firstly, thank you for your patience over the last few months".  Is it the case that this overpayment to you occurred over a period of several months?  It 's quite usual for overpayments (especially larger ones) to be recovered over the same length of period that they were originally made, so you might be able to argue that 2 - 3 weeks is not long enough if the error occurred over a period of say, three months.

If £50 - £55 per week for three weeks is too much for you to afford, offer to pay them say, £20 per week for 8 weeks.  You need to negotiate with them and put your argument over to them in a persuasive manner - because they may not consider £160 a lot of money while you do.  Are you in a union that can help you?

(And, although you haven't asked this question, "Yes", they are entitled to chase you for the money and have up to six years in which to do so).

rstreet222

Perfect thank you