Help put my mind at ease... Ex-Employer keeps paying me -

shinytop

Helpme88xxxx said:

I’m desperately seeking help to allow me to sleep and eat again! 

My ex-employer (a large medical co-operation in the U.K. shall we say) has carried on paying me. I was unaware of this after taking some time to myself in September abroad. I wasn’t checking my bank statements as I assumed I wasn’t being paid and never had to put my hand in my pocket as I lived with family - there was nothing else going into that account and I have enough to cover bills, October I was in a horrific car accident and again was left in a bit of a state so I’m sure you can appreciate I wasn’t going to be looking at statements. After being made redundant from my long term career due to covid my life was all over the place....  November is a better month. New job also. Checked my account as would be using it again and seen a bit more money than should be in the account. I looked further into this and seen the large medical company’s name.  Straight away I sent emails to my precious manager, payroll and human resources - I’ve since found out they didn’t terminate my contract properly end of august. HR confirmed the termination and so did my manger on the day I terminated. However their protocol wasn’t followed through. I alerted their payroll department (trying to pay them back) desperate to get this sorted. They’ve told me they can’t help and it’s likely I’ll be paid for December also. As the manager hasn’t followed the procedure in place. I’ve contacted her over and over and haven’t had much help from her at all. I’ve called and left voicemails. She keeps saying “I’ll look into it” I’ve been worried sick that it took me till the third payment to notice this and was scared and petrified I’d be done for fraud. 

Now I have had a few things come out of this certain card, so although I have most of the money as I never spent it - there’s some that is missing admittedly. Is there anything I can do to stretch the repay back? I can pay MOST of this back -  This type of situation during covid times isn’t welcome and I’ve honestly lost so much sleep being worried sick about it. I’m far from a theif or fraudster.  

I think you already have the answer from others but don't worry.   I have direct experience from the other side; I was that manager (large multi national) who didn't check the right form had been filled in and we continued to pay a leaver for 3 months.  I contacted her and offered her a small cash payment as compensation for my company's mistake but unlike you, she spent the money and thought she didn't have to give it back.  Needless to say she did give it back in the end and didn't get the compensation.  So don't worry; it's their mistake and someone will be very embarrassed about it.  They will be grateful for your honesty after their mistake and I'm sure they will be flexible about payment.

And don't listen to folks bleating on about not noticing/checking statements.  Sometimes there are more important things in our lives and nobody's perfect (except the bleaters on here of course).     

MalMonroe

Hi, there's this : "They’ve told me they can’t help and it’s likely I’ll be paid for December also" - what a laissez faire attitude. (Them, not you.) But you have copies of all the emails you sent them telling them about the error and their responses, so it's obvious that you weren't trying to defraud anyone. It'd be nice if they did offer you some compensation because of all the worry and upset you've been suffering. They are in no rush and are in no position to condemn you for not responding immediately. 

I agree with the others here who are saying please don't worry. Worry no more. You sound like you've been having a really tough time and now this on top of everything else. You can do without it. You're honest and you've done your best. 

I also worked for the NHS for quite a number of years. I'll just leave it at that! 

Hopefully it will all get sorted out (at some point, when they're ready) and at least you're now aware and so are they. Try to relax, it sounds as if you really do deserve it. Congratulations on your new job, btw!