Royal Navy personnel told to pay back £1.2million from wage mistake
Hundreds of serving and former members of the Royal Navy face having to make repayments after a £1.2 million wages blunder.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said 423 people were affected by the mistake, which could see many having to pay monthly deductions from their wage packets until the money they have been overpaid is recovered.
The Daily Mirror said one of those affected learned that he must give back as much as £17,000 while another was told he had been overpaid by £9.
The newspaper said the news of the overpayment - understood to date back over many years -was broken to sailors in a letter from the MoD after a lengthy investigation into ratings on the wrong pay grade.
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The letter said a write-off had been considered but this had been deemed "inappropriate" and all the money owed would be recovered.
In most cases, repayments will be by instalments through deductions from pay. Under MoD rules, those affected will not lose more than four days' pay a month.
A sailor told the Daily Mirror: "There is a lot of confusion and worry that at a time of recession we will have less in our pay packet through no fault of our own.
"Many did not notice the over-pay because they were busy and now they are being faced with more debt, which is especially bad if they are being made redundant."
An MoD spokesman: said: "We can confirm that an overpayment of salary has been made to a number of Navy personnel.
"We have apologised to all of those affected and in accordance with standard Government practice, arrangements are in place for repayment of monies wrongly received. Where repayment of monies is appropriate, procedures are in place to prevent any hardship to individuals."
Comments
by rozel
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:33PM
“If the overpayments arose as a result of error on the part of MOD why aren't they being written off on the basis of "Administrative Error" for which MOD may, or may not, have delegated authority from HM Treasury?
Looks like another MOD attempt to save face and mitigate loss similar to one I observed involving an unfortunate death of a Devonport dockyard worker who fell from improperly installed scaffholding.
Conclusion: best not become involved with MOD!”
by Bwiththeollox
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:13PM
“This should be compo for all the navy personal's details stolen in laptop back in late 2000. Passport copies, bank details etc etc.
Justice you barstewards.
An sHizzle on all Civi mug's.”
by blonde_ray
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 10:10PM
“Absolutely outrageous, all wrong the MOD should honour this after they have messed up”
by Workitout
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 9:48PM
“Nice One CharlieDodd,
we could save BILLIONS just by looking after Number One.”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:13PM
“Hey I got an idea!- The government could stop paying millions in aid to Argentina and Pakistan and use the cash to wipe out the MOD's blunder..:)”