MISTAKEN PAYMENT

[MIKERO]

My previous employer has paid some money into my bank account by mistake, can I keep it?

MIKE R

[Hgrove]

There was a similar question on the AB (about someone who had received sick pay in error) which discussed the issue of whether you have to repay but at the moment I cannot find it.  Anyway as Ansteyg says, you will have to repay it.

[Maud]

Click this link for the discussion to which Hgrove refers

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Money_and_Finance/ Question70506.html

 

[sweetheart]

When the company balances/audits their finances at the end of the week/month/quater, they will most definatly discover you. You will probably get found out some way or another. How will you live with the guilt anyway?

[LordBored]

Keep the money and run to the hills. How many chances does life give you like this?

[Bangkok]

The issue in the previous discussion was not clear cut, this is, in that you know it was a mistake. 

It si a while since I studied law, but I recall that if you receive something in error, you are legally obliged to tell the other party and make it available for them to collect.  Failure to do so legally constitutes theft.  You would need to retain evidence you told them (eg registered mail), a phone call to the security guard at night doesn't count!

[Bangkok]

Forgot to mention that if you notify them, there is also a legally defined period before the money becomes yours if they don't ask for it.  I am not sure what the period is, but seven years rings a bell (probably thinking of itches though)