Jury service hangover - ouch

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

Capodecina
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Throughout the end of Nov and Dec I was on jury service for a trial that lasted six weeks, during which my company decided to pay me anyway in spite of the fact that they knew I was getting paid expenses and loss of earnings [I'm not on automated payroll so this was a conscious decision on their part]. Now that the trial is over the company wants the money back that they paid me.

Therefore if they knew I was getting paid anyway why did they pay the wages? Now I have to pay them back £1200 over the next three months which is going to financially cripple me. Jury service was enjoyable but now that I'm back at work this has turned into one big headache. I don't think I'll be able to go out or do anything now until April :(
 
If you were getting paid "loss of earnings" AND getting paid a salary, surely you would have double now what you would normally and paying it back shouldn't be a problem?
 
as above and is said every time someone asks "i've got some money i'm not sure i should have, what should i do?"
Do not spend money that isnt yours
if you shouldnt of got it and havent confirmed that you should have then it could be taken back at any time
 
Lysander said:
Throughout the end of Nov and Dec I was on jury service for a trial that lasted six weeks, during which my company decided to pay me anyway in spite of the fact that they knew I was getting paid expenses and loss of earnings
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When you say decided, do you mean they actually told you they were going to be paying you regardless, or you just assumed that it was a concious decision to keep paying you?
 
Ask them for more time, admit being stupid and not being aware that you should not have been paid both ends.
 
Diesel said:
When you say decided, do you mean they actually told you they were going to be paying you regardless, or you just assumed that it was a concious decision to keep paying you?
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I had a conversation with my financial director where she told me they would pay me anyway in spite of the fact that I was getting reimbursed by the courts.
 
Whilst the company may have the right to ask for overpayments to be returned they must allow you to set a reasonable repayment schedule. If you are going to struggle to meet their schedule then negotiate with them.
 
note you do not pay tax on the money you get for jury service , so evan if you do have to pay it back you should be up on the deal because of not paying tax
 
in that case what right do they have to demand the money back? I'm fairly sure they can't get it back re:the meeting you had.
 
Nix said:
What have you done with the money they paid you? :confused:
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Not all of it was spent but some of it was, especially since it was Christmas. I don't keep my eye on my accounts that often so I'm not always aware of my outgoings. Because of the conversation with my financial director I thought I may not have to pay it back, I think it was that that mislead me.
 
Lysander said:
Not all of it was spent but some of it was, especially since it was Christmas. I don't keep my eye on my accounts that often so I'm not always aware of my outgoings. Because of the conversation with my financial director I thought I may not have to pay it back, I think it was that that mislead me.
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So I'm assuming it's £1200... how much of that have you actually spent? All of it?
 
Lysander said:
I had a conversation with my financial director where she told me they would pay me anyway in spite of the fact that I was getting reimbursed by the courts.
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Have you spoken to her personally since you have been asked to pay the money back?
 
Nix - No not all of it, there's about £300 left. This 'technically' lowers the amount I owe to £900 but I think it would be more convoluted to pay that £300 back to the company then ask them to reduce my payments. I may just spend the £300 on paying future bills and stuff which may make my life easier over the next couple of months.

Diesel - I have spoken to her, but not in reference to that conversation. I just can just hear her saying "well what, you thought we were going to pay you twice?!" Of course it's all clear in retrospect..
 
Doesn't sound like there's a lot you can do. I just guess you need to talk to the company and try and find a solution of paying them back that works for both of you.
 
Lysander said:
Diesel - I have spoken to her, but not in reference to that conversation. I just can just hear her saying "well what, you thought we were going to pay you twice?!" Of course it's all clear in retrospect..
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Its probably worth speaking to her, if only to work out the best way to pay the money back.
 
Jimmi said:
They're probably trying to recoup it before the end of the financial year
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I didn't think of that. I don't know much about accounts so how would that benefit them?

No, it doesn't look like there is much I can do but it's better being 'in debt' to the company then having some credit card business on my back.
 
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