#MilitaryPay #DifferentialPay #PayrollIssues
Hey everyone! I’m in a bit of a pickle and could really use some insights. So, here’s the scoop: I went on military leave from my retail management gig back in mid-March. I’m in the Army National Guard and took on some recruiting duties for a month. My company has this military differential pay to make sure I don’t lose out on income while serving.
Initially, my differential pay was around $700 every two weeks. Here’s the kicker: After my first month, my orders got extended, and suddenly my differential pay shot up to $1,742 every two weeks! Naturally, I thought this was a mistake, so I called the payroll department. They assured me it was accurate and said I could spend the money.
Fast forward four months later, and I received an email saying they overpaid me and now I’m on the hook for $10,000! 😱 At this point, the money is *completely gone* — we used it to fix our car and even build a nursery for our newborn. I’m really frustrated because I specifically double-checked everything with payroll, and they told me it was all correct!
Now they’re saying I have the option to appeal, but honestly, I’m worried that they’ll just deny it. It feels unlikely that any company would just let $10,000 slide, right? But if they do decline my appeal, I might have to seek legal action. So, here’s my burning question: do I have a case if it comes down to that?
Here are some pain points I see:
- Communication Gaps: It seems like there was a breakdown in communication when I first informed them of my concerns.
- Financial Burden: Being asked to repay such a significant amount is seriously stressful, especially after spending the money on necessities.
- Trust Issues: This whole experience has made me question the reliability of payroll departments.
🤔 I think a possible solution to this could be better training for payroll specialists to ensure they provide accurate information and clarify any discrepancies before payments are made. Additionally, companies could implement a review period for major pay changes, especially regarding military service.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have any of you faced something similar? How did you handle it? Any tips for navigating this appeal process? Drop your experiences or advice below! Thank you! 🙏
If they legitimately overpaid you yeah you are probably screwed
Especially if nothing is in writing regarding what they said they wanted to pay you
For that much money, it’s worth a quick consultation with an employment attorney. Go find an attorney and give them a call and ask them to look at the situation for you. Even if you pay them a couple hundred bucks to look at the issue, it might be a lot cheaper than losing $10,000.
Legitimate overpayment is allowed to be claimed back and is usually a very straightforward lawsuit if it gets there. Sorry.
Id talk to JAG or whatever is available to you through the guard.
Thank you for your service, and congratulations on your baby! That’s really annoying, but you’re dealt the cards, and you’ll get past it. If it were me, I would try to somehow get correspondence in writing, to confirm one way or another you were advised and the advise was recanted. Emails. That’s not a small chunk of change, especially after automachanic problems and a baby, and a woman who needs time and resources post delivery. Idk if its in you , but I’d consider legal options for the unnecessary headache. Civil.
Thank you again for your service
Is there any record of the call with the payroll specialist? Reference number or email follow-up?
You have alot and I mean ALOT of growing up to do OP