Over payment by council

[baldy1926]

Hi
My other half teaches swimming for a council in Nottingham.
She was told today that she has been over paid for her work with them since April.
She did not realise as her hours varies weekly as she does her regular hours and also covers for other staff so its not easy to keep track of the hours.
What is the score for the employer they want to take the money back in one go, she is approaching her union tomorrow but she is really upset as she works really hard.
She works 7 days a week for a varity of employers
The manager has been signing off her pay since april and payroll has been authorising it as well. I know she be checking closely her pay slips but as they have been signed off she had no idea.
Does any one have an answer as to if they can claim the money back as its 6 months worth
Thanks

[anonymous-user]

If they have genuinely overpaid her the yes they can claim the money back. However, as the mistake is theirs they should show some flexibility about the length of period she has to pay it back over, i.e. she could offer them to pay it back over 3 or 6 months, whatever is affordable.

Before agreeing anything though I would ask them to write a letter explaining how the overpayment has occurred and confirming how the amounts have been worked out.