Money Moral Dilemma: Should I accept rail delay refunds for train tickets my employer paid for?

MSE_Kelvin

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

I travel a lot for work using the train. I arrange the tickets myself and pay for them with my own money, then my employer reimburses me the same day. Sometimes, a couple of days after my journey, I receive a notification from the train-booking app I use, letting me know I'm entitled to claim a full or partial refund as my train was delayed. Is it OK for me to claim and keep the refund when my employer's already reimbursed me for the cost of the tickets?

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JGB1955

Morally I think you should re-pay your employer.  Personally, I would keep it, but my morals are suspect....

Emmia

What's the risk of your employer finding out? If they do its fraud, and probably gross misconduct so you'd be fired in short order

JGB1955

Emmia said:

What's the risk of your employer finding out? If they do its fraud, and probably gross misconduct so you'd be fired in short order

Are you sure about that?  Presumably the Delay Repay is compensation for the additional time for the journey.  The employer hasn't suffered that - the employee has.

Emmia

JGB1955 said:

Emmia said:

What's the risk of your employer finding out? If they do its fraud, and probably gross misconduct so you'd be fired in short order

Are you sure about that?  Presumably the Delay Repay is compensation for the additional time for the journey.  The employer hasn't suffered that - the employee has.

I think if the employer paid they might reasonably expect the money back. 

If the OP is unsure they can always check the HR guidance, or ask someone clarify/confirm the policy in writing.

maisie_cat

How's this, if the train was delayed you were presumably late for work.
If the employer doesn't deduct pay for the lateness and the delayed train was used as a reason the refund belongs to the employer. This is compensation for paying an employee who was not there as a result of the train delay.
If however, the time before arrival is unpaid, then the refund belongs to the employee as compensation for loss of pay.

JGB1955

I'd assumed that the OP had got home (several hours?) late after a day working away from the office.  Delay Repay would be compensation for loss of personal time.

CapeTown

So I work for the NHS. If I travel with the job, the NHS pays. If I am delayed, I get refunded - I give that money back to the NHS. How is your conscience if you are pocketing money. 

TravellingJake

The terms of Delay Repay state that the delay claim must be made by the Passenger holding the ticket. Third parties (i.e. your employer) cannot (technically) claim for the delay on your behalf. 

If your employer expects these claims to go via them, they should be making that clear in your travel policy. If they’re saying nothing, you also say nothing. They could also use a TMC for your rail bookings and not have you paying out of pocket in the first instance. There is a distinct possibility that TMCs will be able to handle Delay Repay claims in the future.

Mischiefmanaged

I queried this via email with my employer and HR. Our policy is that we are allowed to keep it. 

Grommitt0

Granted all of the above, a different and morally sound option would be to declare the refunds to the employer when they occur and suggest that they be donated to a worthy charity.