Being overpaid at work... what happens?!

secretmachines

My last day in my previous job was 2 May, so I was expecting just 2 days' pay for the month of May.

However, I checked my online statement today and I've been paid for the whole month of May (as if I still worked there).

I was just wondering what could happen next (obviously hoping they just write it off or don't realise!) and what rights I have and the employer has about recovering the over payment.

(take it as read I'm not going to say anything to them!)

Iamthesmartestmanalive

secretmachines wrote: »

My last day in my previous job was 2 May, so I was expecting just 2 days' pay for the month of May.

However, I checked my online statement today and I've been paid for the whole month of May (as if I still worked there).

I was just wondering what could happen next (obviously hoping they just write it off or don't realise!) and what rights I have and the employer has about recovering the over payment.

(take it as read I'm not going to say anything to them!)

You should call them , establish the excess and post them a cheque for that amount

amandada

you'll have to pay them back, and I'd think they'd be likely to pursue you for it. Unless it's pay for untaken leave and it's not been detailed as such?
If it were me, I'd check it with them, I'd always be waiting for the letter demanding its return and wouldn't be able to relax

secretmachines

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

You should call them , establish the excess and post them a cheque for that amount

yeah right!

PasturesNew

Personally, I'd know it was theirs, to be paid in full immediately upon demand; I'd expect a call, but I'd not call them...

But I'd not spend the money for 6 years, just in case.

iNath

Put it in a high interest account until they ask for it

adonis

A guy where i work was paid for months after he left as no one told the finance dept, i dont know if he had to pay it back.
personally i would stash it in a high interest account and see what happens.

dmg24

How much is the amount in question? I am assuming it is rather large?

If the money has only just gone in today, it is still possible that they will reverse the payment. I can't remember how long they have to do this (am thinking around 72 hours in the working week, taking you up to Tues/ Wed?), but I would not go spending it this weekend. If they were to reverse the transaction on Monday, and this then left you overdrawn, you would be liable for any bank charges incurred.

I'm not sure what I would do in this situation (I definitely would not spend it). On one hand, it may be worth not contacting them and gathering the interest until they contact you (probably only a small amount), but on the other hand I like to cut ties completely with ex employers, so would want to get rid.

secretmachines

hmm it's an interesting one... i don't think they'll reverse the payment as I'm putting it down to their incompetence in the first place!

it's about £1400, so not insignificant

YorkshireBoy

£1,400 in a savings account linked to your current account (so you can get at it quickly when, not if, your ex-employers realise) will probably 'make' you 14p per day in interest (28p per day in the second month if it goes on that long).

Is it really worth the hassle?

Ian_W

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

£1,400 in a savings account linked to your current account (so you can get at it quickly when, not if, your ex-employers realise) will probably 'make' you 14p per day in interest (28p per day in the second month if it goes on that long).

Tish! And you call yoursen a YorkshireBoy!! :rolleyes:

Whatever happened to "Look after t'pennies and t'pounds 'ill look after theysen"??