M.o.D. Reclaim Wages FRom Dead Soldier's Family

[Philtaz]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...d-lancashire-15464889

Saw this earlier on local and national news. Utterly disgusting that the faceless bureaucrats in Whitehall are penny-pinching from the dead whilst p***ing away millions in in failed projects yet some are still receiving £6,000 bonus payments.

And all at the whim of some officious civil servant who doubtless couldn't even summon the courage to walk through a recruiting office door.

'Great' Britain at its shamefully bureaucratic worst.

[Whickerman]

I agree with the family. Disgusting.

[Philtaz]

I've read the post EDDIE51, I just didn't think the MoD would have the nerve to reclaim such a paltry figure from the family of a man who died in action in the service of his country.

Maybe they're looking for ways to recoup the 6.3 BILLION in missing MoD assets........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14018288

[Prudie]

I agree it makes for unpleasant reading but not all the facts are in the story. For one thing a nominated person or persons receives 2 years gross salary tax free from any MoD death in service.

[Philtaz]

If it was 102 years Prudie I doubt it'd make up for the loss his family(and hundreds of other families who've lost loved ones) will be feeling, especially at this particular time of year in terms of remembrance.

Hounding them for a little over £400? No doubt through their endeavour and pedantry they've earned their bonuses in Whitehall though, bless 'em.

[Prudie]

Of course it doesn't compensate Phil. But as Eddie says, if anyone dies on a salary it's stopped from date of death isn't it?

[Philtaz]

Yes, but given the circumstances and figure involved I'm sure they could have 'let this one slide'.

Like I said though, I guess they've gotta earn those bonuses somehow! The danger from paper cuts and the perils of changing the copier toner just don't bear thinking about.....

[factor-fiction]

^"Hounding them for a little over £400? "
I didn't read this as saying anyone was hounded. I just read that this £400 was one of the elements of the calculation for outstanding pay due. Of course no money can ever compensate for the loss of a life but the payment of two years' salary helps.

[Philtaz]

The local news report said that the letter was hand delivered by the MoD. That would constitute hounding in my book.
I trust they'll be as vehement in finding the £6.3 billion they seem to have 'mislaid'. But then it is easier to target those no longer here to defend themselves who ironically defended and served those who now target their memory and family instead.

[Philtaz]

Even more ironically his family made a charity calendar, with proceeds going to his unit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...d-lancashire-11725591

Apparently they raised more than 10k. Those petty pen-pushers in Whitehall must be proud of their efforts in making a huge dent in that £6.3 billion.

[ludwig]

I agree Philtaz. The rights and wrongs of the precise payroll calculation is not the issue.

It's the fact that there isn't someone with enough brains and soul and common decency at some point in the process to stop and say ..hang on, the man gave his life serving his country, and there's a grieving family here.
Now is not the time to be bothering them with this kind of petty bureaucratic stuff for such a piffling amount of money. We need to do whatever we need to do to avoid sending this letter, because anything else would be a disgrace.

I'm sure I read somewhere that the white star line subtracted from the Titanics dead crewmans last wages to ensure their dependants weren't paid for any time after the ship went down. It reminds me of that.

[Philtaz]

I agree ludwig. A lot of unnecessary extra heartache has been caused for this family for a ridiculously paltry figure.

[grffindoor2011]

Normal procedure. He was overpaid because he died. You might not like it but if you die and your pension is overpaid, your estate will have to pay it back.

The law has no emotion.

[Philtaz]

At least we can see that the money recouped from dead Servicemen is being well spent.......

http://uk.news.yahoo....ldiers-113229439.html