My Last Contact Double Paid Me...Now They Want It Back!

[Kalinikta]

I was recently paid twice by a client when they entered my invoice onto the system x 2 with slightly different references. I spotted it before they did (I don't have that many incoming receipts into my bank account to miss it - and I'm really not convinced you didn't spot the double payment either) and arranged to pay it back.

Basically the money isn't yours and they have the right to get it back off you. If they are offering you a payment plan then that is more than acceptable and I think you should take it before they take legal action to recover their money. If they take legal action then you could end up with a black mark against your name preventing you from getting future work - is that worth it?

Thanks for the constructive advice. To be CLEAR to all who keep saying I must have noticed...I did not notice, I pay my umbrella company to sort out all my pay, and I leave it at that, I never thought anything of it until the phone call yesterday. The references on my bank details were indeed different, but I didnt think anything was wrong.

K

[Kalinikta]

Thats all I wanted to know about, the legal standpoint, not people judging if im a thief or not, ive never been in this situation before, how do I know who is right?

I didnt realise this was such a hot potato with you guys, thanks for the decent replies from those who posted them.

K

[NotAllThere]

Thanks for the constructive advice. To be CLEAR to all who keep saying I must have noticed...I did not notice, I pay my umbrella company to sort out all my pay...

Leaving you wide open to being ripped off. For all you know, you may be owed 7K off an invoice that wasn't paid! (or a dishonest brolly employee diverted to their own account).

What Support Monkey said is correct - you really should keep a better grip on your finances.

[d000hg]

I want to know how you didn't realise you'd been double paid but you managed to spend it all anyway!!

Why did the client have your personal bank details anyway?

[Kalinikta]

Leaving you wide open to being ripped off. For all you know, you may be owed 7K off an invoice that wasn't paid! (or a dishonest brolly employee diverted to their own account).

What Support Monkey said is correct - you really should keep a better grip on your finances.

I agree with that part, I just didnt notice, thats a fair point and I have admitted that.

K

[psychocandy]

You didnt know you had an extra £7K in the bank? Bulltulip....

Nice try but I dont think you'll get away with it. Be glad they're offering a repayment plan - at least you might get to keep it for a bit.

[Kalinikta]

I want to know how you didn't realise you'd been double paid but you managed to spend it all anyway!!

Why did the client have your personal bank details anyway?

The reason why I didnt notice was because the pay wasnt that geat for this contract, I took it because the job climate is terrible and I needed a job, my previous contract was much higher paid, and therefore, them paying me twice was higher in total but not that much, and I simply didnt notice.

Yes the client have made a mistake, the guy who was dealing with the contract asked me for MY bank account details and address as well as my umbrella details. I didnt think to question it, I thought he would just be double checking with the umbrella that all was correct; obviously with hindsight, they dont need to know my account details, but at the time I didnt think there was anything wrong with him asking me.

K

[kingcook]

On a slightly related note, didn't I read that in Australia that if this happens and you spend the money on living expenses then it has to be paid back, but if you spend it on luxury items, then it's yours to keep?

I thought this was only the case for MP's living in the UK?

[northernladuk]

Now because my outgoings are quite high, and the payments never arrived at the same time, I genuinely never realised that I was being paid twice.

So, I told them that, yes I have been paid twice. The woman on the phone then said we will need that money back. I laughed and said I simply do not have it, I have spent it, used it for living, paying the rent, family etc.

You can't make this crap up... but can't help think that someone is but anyway....

Is English your first language?

Don't forget you HAVE to pay it back else you are also going to be in trouble with HMRC for not declaring your income properly which will be MUCH more costly than you attempting to keep the money (which you cannot). I presume you haven't delcared the direct income in your SA either?

And for the record this has to be one of the most ridiculous situations I have seen on the forums for a long time. Bordering on incompetent.

[northernladuk]

Is it coincidence that your name means 'Good night' in Greek? You seem to be as bad at managing your money as they do.