Salary overpayment

So my company overpaid me which I didn't know about it comes to about 2.4k of overpayment. I already spent my salary and am currently not working. Do I have to repay this money as I didn't know about it so I don't think I should be in this much debt they just told me today and I left like 2 months ago. They owed me money as they didn't pay my bonuses which I assumed my extra money was about I didn't know it was an overpayment aswel.

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Rohan007best

1. Even if a company overpays you, they have the right to reclaim it. Given that you left two months ago, they will find that difficult. You could try standing firm and saying that you accepted the money in good faith etc., but they could still take you to court to seek the money. Whether they actually will or not is a different question.

2. You feel that you were owed bonus money. Do you have a strong case for believing this? By that, I mean do you have some paper trail which says under what conditions the bonus is paid, and evidence that those conditions have been met? Is the total bonus money you believe you were owed anywhere close to the 2.4K they claim they've overpaid you?

Reply 2

Rohan007best

Original post by DataVenia

1. Even if a company overpays you, they have the right to reclaim it. Given that you left two months ago, they will find that difficult. You could try standing firm and saying that you accepted the money in good faith etc., but they could still take you to court to seek the money. Whether they actually will or not is a different question.
2. You feel that you were owed bonus money. Do you have a strong case for believing this? By that, I mean do you have some paper trail which says under what conditions the bonus is paid, and evidence that those conditions have been met? Is the total bonus money you believe you were owed anywhere close to the 2.4K they claim they've overpaid you?

Hi the bonus would equal around £1000 and I have emails from the finance department stating how much they owed me and when they will pay it back

Reply 3

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Rohan007best

Hi the bonus would equal around £1000 and I have emails from the finance department stating how much they owed me and when they will pay it back

OK. Then I'd say you can do one of three things.

1. Ignore them and hope they eventually give up and go away.
2. Reply saying that you accepted the money in good faith, are not responsible for their error, no longer have it, have no means to return it, etc.
3. Explain that you have calculated that they owe you £1,000 in unpaid bonuses and so are prepared to return the £1.4K difference, but in manageable installments rather than all at one.

You could even try all three (i.e. ignore them for a few weeks and see if they give up), then reply as per option 2 above, and if they still insist on you paying them back, then go for option 3.