Overpaid by NHS - affecting credit?

Grumpy_chap

I think, as you alerted the employer to a possible error at the time and heard nothing for 6 weeks, it would be reasonable to say that the money was held back but then spent once you believed it was not an error.  It would be reasonable to suggest that you assumed the latest it would be reviewed would be at the next monthly payroll processing.  That line of thinking might be totally ignored, but what can you lose by suggesting it?

GeorgeAgdgdgwngo

Also, sorry to hear that @imreadyforbed - somehow missed this while responding! In all areas of "sorting things out" it can be crapshoot with who you deal with and can make or break the experience. Hope you've put it all behind you now. 

Marcon

I'd go back promptly with a message to the effect that you had relied on them to get the final payment correct and are naturally disappointed they failed to do so, but of course recognise they are entitled to reclaim the net* amount overpaid. You are unable to pay this in one go, but confirm you are happy to make three equal payments of £x and enclose your cheque for the first payment.

With some cash in hand, they are unlikely in the extreme to take any sort of 'action' to speed up the remaining two payments - but I don't think I'd chance my arm by trying to stretch it out to more than three repayments in total.

*and it is the net amount you need to repay, although many employers try to push for the gross amount to save them sorting out their own payroll mess

Flugelhorn

I had one in NHS where they had overpaid well into 4 figures (I had stopped a part time role and they hadn't stopped paying me for 3 months) - I alerted them and they said that they would sort it out - I kept the money in a savings account and heard nothing for a year... then they came back to me, seems someone had been off sick and then the end of year accounts needed checking and it came to light

I think finance had given them a slap on the wrist and then they were very "accommodating" to get the money back - like in this case they hadn't got access to my future payments so couldn't just take it out of future pay so had to agree to have it in installments, even then it was just the 3 like the length of the overpayment. 

Whatever happens they will want it all clear by the end of March