Money Moral Dilemma: Should I keep the delay compensation I got for the train ticket I expensed?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I travelled to a meeting of an organisation I'm a member of by train, and I'm entitled to claim the cost of my fare on expenses. The train on the way there was delayed by 15 minutes so I made a Delay Repay claim and received £9 compensation. Once the expense is processed, I'll get the full cost of the fare back too. Do I keep the compensation as it's intended to make up for my wasted time, or offer it to the organisation as it paid for the ticket?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't answer Money Moral Dilemma questions as contributions are emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be a point of debate and discussed at face value. Remember that behind each dilemma there is a real person so, as the forum rules say, please keep it kind and keep it clean.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.
Got a Money Moral Dilemma of your own? Suggest an MMD.
View past Money Moral Dilemmas.

Brie

It was you that was inconvenienced not the organisation I'm assuming in which case it's you that's entitled to the comp not them.  

powerspowers

I had this scenario. The expenses were to attend a conference and there was a charity speaker there. I donated the repay to the charity as felt the organising group didn’t need it and I was uncomfortable with being paid twice. 

Erica51

Expenses are what you spent in order to do your job. I doubt your employer thinks you should keep the compensation without permission. Don’t be found to be fiddling your expenses.  It has huge implications.

CapricornLass

I think you should offer to pay it back to the company.  If they tell you to keep it, that's fine - but make sure that you have this confirmed in writing, and keep the letter/email!  If you are challenged about it in the future, your backside is clear.

confusedgranny

What is the organisation.
Certainly if it's a charity it should go to them. Or if the meeting was delayed by you being late.

2702

Give it back to the organisation. Why do you need to ask this?

KayTB

Let's broaden the scenario. It's a Friday, you are delayed hours coming home and it eats into your weekend. You claim. The delay is to compensate for your time so keep it, the employer is neutral as they were paying anyway.  You're not fiddling anything. The same principle should apply to shorter delays too but I guess depends if you genuinely feel or were inconvienced. It doesn't sound like you do in which case I'd offer to donate to the employer charity or similar. 

Agent57

Was the organisation impacted by your delay?

They are not out of pocket, are they?

How much are we talking about?

Just keep it.

keithyno.1

£9.00??!! It's a minimal amount in the great scheme of things these days.

Keep it, and buy yourself a couple of pints with it (or a pint, if you're in London/the South East).

 

gwapenut

Did they offer to pay you overtime for your delay, if it extended your working day?

I thought not. Keep the compensation!