Moral Dilema (overpay in wages).

[j0nb0y]

I work as a fork lift truck driver for a large international company. Last month when I recieved my wage slip, I noticed my net pay semed too much and informed my manager. He rang the head office wages department for them to check it. They apparantly checked it and confirmed it was correct, no errors, the apparent overpay related to some holiday back pay. BUT...... I have now checked my payslip and I can see their mistake and as I first suspected they have made a mistake and I have been overpaid.

So my question is: Do I go back once again and tell them or do I keep the money???????

[ummmm]

It won't be discovered then.

[bobjugs12]

Ladyalex, if you have been overpaid you employer can reclaim the money without your permission.
Beleive it or not, the MoD is awful at paying people the corrct amounts each month. The advice we're given with overpayments is to chuck it in a savings account or somewhere with a high rate of interest, inform the employers, and then wait.
If they realise they're cock up then your not out of pocket when you give it back. If they realise there cock up a year from now, then you've got the interest on the overpayment. If they never realise or don't care then your laughing

[Nosha123]

personally.. I would say they have had their chance.. you raised the query - they checked it... they confirmed they believe its correct.

Save the money somewhere safe in case they demand it back.... just in case,.. but wouldnt mention it to them again!

[in a mo]

Put it in writing that you queried your pay and explain the answer that you were given . .
It might be found if the company has an internal audit ,in that case the sum is normally written off.
I would keep the money in the bank for a while ,obviously if they do come back to you ,you are covered by your letter , they would probably come to an agreement with you to pay it back over time .Good luck, great question.

[j0nb0y]

Thaks everyone for your replies. I have never posted a question on here before that has had such a large response. I will definately not spend the money, yet. If they do ever ask for it back, then I will give it to them without any hassle.
Thanks again.

[ladyalex]

I do not think you are right, Bobjugs, but maybe a lawyer could confirm.
My understanding is that an employer cannot take anything from your wages without your agreement. If they have overpaid you, they can ask for it to be paid back, but they have to come to an agreement with you to repay it and they also have to come to an agreement with you as to how it should be paid back (£10 per month or whatever.) If you refuse to pay it back, however, they can sue you through the courts . Most people would not want this to happen, so would agree to pay it back.
Having drawn it to their attention, Jonboy does not need to do any more, except , as some people have suggested, put it in writing that he has queried it and had a response that his pay was correct.

[joko]

is it a lot?

id just keep it...you have informed and been told its yours...

[katie_b]

I'd keep it, something similar happened to me, I told them, they said I was wrong and they paid me right... who was I to complain? I never heard anything after that, happy days :)