Overpayment of Wages Question

Oscarcat20 · Post by **Oscarcat20** » 17 Jan 2019, 17:23

I left Royal Mail in early December. Royal Mail continued to pay me weekly despite me raising the issue with the local delivery office on a number of occasions. After receiving 6 weeks overpayments I received a pay slip today which states that my pay this week is (minus)-£1809. Can RM deduct this overpayment directly from my bank account?

Post by **Navalron** » 18 Jan 2019, 15:32

No. They will ask you to pay it back. If you want to pay it back only offer, say £10/15 per week. They might threaten you with a small claims court. But you did contact them at the time so it their incompetence.personally it I had no intention of going back to work forget ever again, especially if I had told them that they were paying me after I left, I would give them nought. How many times did your office pay docket late/never. It's really up to you but.........

Post by **Navalron** » 18 Jan 2019, 15:38

No they can't do that. They will probably threaten you with a small claims court. Personally I wouldn't pay them back after leaving especially after telling them that there was no entitlement to the money. If you do pay it back only pay back what you can afford, whether it's £3/£5/£10 per week. How many times did you wait for overdue docket that was late or never paid. It's up to you but, me, nagh, f...k em.

Post by **RobertT** » 18 Jan 2019, 15:48

Oscarcat20 wrote:I left Royal Mail in early December. Royal Mail continued to pay me weekly despite me raising the issue with the local delivery office on a number of occasions. After receiving 6 weeks overpayments I received a pay slip today which states that my pay this week is (minus)-£1809. Can RM deduct this overpayment directly from my bank account?

Have a look at the small print on your pay slip, where it says: pay is provisional and any under or over payments will be corrected.......

As far as I know they can't just take it from your bank account. But whether you pay it back all in one go or come up with a payment plan with them is up to you to negotiate. Contact HR - details on pay slip!

You have to pay it back one way or another I'm afraid, as it's not legally yours.

Post by **midegarelu** » 18 Jan 2019, 15:59

Agree with RobertT,
The key to all these situations is communication.
Did you not put the over-payment aside?
Recommend to anyone who finds themselves in this situation, although it's tempting not to, to put into a savings account just in case.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 18 Jan 2019, 19:50

It's a debt like any other debt, if you don't pay it back it could ultimately affect your credit rating. As to how far RM will take it, they won't, they'll just hand it on to a debt recovery company then you'll have them at your door. Debt recovery companies love taking people to court , it's what they do and they'll add the cost to the debt.

Contact RM and negotiate a partial repayment (50% ish) based on joint culpability, then agree a payment plan.
it'll be easier in the long run.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 18 Jan 2019, 20:02

But you did contact them at the time so it their incompetence.

On the flipside of this by contacting them you've also admitted that you were aware that you were not entitled to the money.

It's a double-edged sword.