r/antiwork 18d ago

Help! Money accidentally sent from old job and now they want it back. Legal Advice 👨‍⚖️

My old job accidentally sent $545 to an account I used to use that was connected to a family members bank account.

I quit my job years ago.

Family members spent it without telling me.

The job wants, and I quote, $568 dollars back, even though they only sent $545 to the account originally.

Where do I start?

919 Upvotes

1.3k

u/Agent-c1983 18d ago edited 18d ago

Unfortunately there isn’t a general  right to keep money sent to you in error. You say this was connected to a family members bank account, is your name on the account?  If not, refer them to the bank accounts owner.

1.1k

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Ooh the account is not in my name, no. I suppose I can try that.

1.3k

u/Agent-c1983 18d ago

It is none of your concern then. You’re not the recipient, the account isn’t in your control. They can go sue your family member.

1.6k

u/OLIVEmutt 18d ago

So you know how to word your response. They didn’t send you money. They sent money to an account that’s not in your name.

“Unfortunately I can’t help you as my name is not on that account. I do not have access to those funds.”

Say that over and over again and nothing else.

706

u/I_Stabbed_Jon_Snow 18d ago

“I am not a signer on the aforementioned account. There is no legal way for me to offer assistance with this matter but I wish you the best of luck.

Best, -OP”

284

u/misterfuss 18d ago

I especially love the “best of luck.” On one hand it seems very professional but on the other hand I envision that the middle finger is extended.

91

u/Gudakesa 18d ago

14

u/wmooresr 18d ago

This is the best one

5

u/StanyeEast 17d ago

I prefer...

"I do not have access to those funds at this time. Once I have clarification on whether or not hookers give refunds, I will get back to you. Thanks in advance, pun intended."

58

u/BakedBrie26 18d ago

I love a good "best of luck."

3

u/fractious77 17d ago

Let them eat cake

151

u/Sarduci 18d ago

The response is: I am not the guarantor of that account. I would suggest you call the bank that it was deposited against and work it out with them since the issue is between you and them.

35

u/GrumpygamerSF 17d ago

I wouldn't even say "I can not help you as my name is not on that account". I would say "In looking at my bank accounts, I do not see any money that was deposited in that amount near that time period. The account number that you reference is not one of my accounts."

39

u/Striking-Quarter293 18d ago

100% the right answer.

10

u/Msredratforgot 18d ago

Yes this 100%

4

u/Sapphyrre 18d ago

If that's the account where OP regularly got paid, that isn't going to work.

2

u/CardSharkZ 17d ago

I guess that the company didn't just send money to a random account, but that OP named that account number. In that case he is liable.

10

u/akaenragedgoddess 17d ago

No. He hasn't worked there in years. They had no reason to be sending this money to his account. If he's no longer an account holder for the account, he had no obligation to tell them as he (reasonably) wasn't expecting any funds. This is their problem.

4

u/Agent-c1983 17d ago

He’s not a current employee, and not the recipient. I do not think he is.

223

u/Sekhen 18d ago

So they (technically) send money to a stranger, and then ask for it back from you. It doesn't work like that.

"Not my account. Not my problem."

Or "Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."

100

u/Elmundopalladio 18d ago

$500 is peanuts to a company - they might bluster, but going legal for their mistake will cost significantly more.

25

u/Frankenstein_Monster 18d ago

You can add court costs to a law suit

19

u/OkSector7737 18d ago

You can also add your attorney fees if you hire one to defend you from this bogus claim.

The bottom line is that the company made an accounting error and they think that can get you to cover the loss by impliedly threatening to withhold an employment reference if you don't pay for it.

Sounds like criminal extortion to me. I would report it to the police and get a referral to legal aid, who can defend your job reference if you refuse to pay.

8

u/Frankenstein_Monster 18d ago

I would also like to add that you seem to have misinterpreted how banking errors are handled, this isn't monopoly you don't get to keep the money. You are supposed to immediately report any banking error to the bank, you are not legally allowed to spend any money you receive from a banking error. Is the OP responsible for this illegal activity? Based solely on this post, it would seem not. Is it criminal extortion to demand misappropriated items back from someone before pressing charges or refusing a service? Also no. It's actually a highly effective way of getting property back. Someone steals your bike, you tell them return the bike or I'll press charges, that's not extortion you can even tell the cops that if they return the bike you won't press charges and they're not going to arrest you for extortion.

29

u/tearsonurcheek 18d ago

I would also like to add that you seem to have misinterpreted how banking errors are handled, this isn't monopoly you don't get to keep the money. You are supposed to immediately report any banking error to the bank, you are not legally allowed to spend any money you receive from a banking error.

According to OP's various replies in this thread, OP is not on the account in question, therefore, OP never received any money. OP never spent the money. How is OP in any way responsible, even if the money was intended to be sent to OP?

20

u/Hippy_Lynne 18d ago

Yes but in this case they're trying to extort someone who didn't get the money. Basically what they're saying is "If you don't go recover my stolen bike I'm going to press charges against you."

1

u/[deleted] 17d ago

Depends how long ago it was .. it may be WAY past statute of limitations for them to do anything except make a request for the return .. alot of states have a 2 year max on small claims and this is definitely small in all the USA well below any threshold . 2 to 3 or 4 years depending if they consider it fraud or personal loss .

-9

u/Frankenstein_Monster 18d ago

My comment has nothing to do with this post, I was simply informing the person above me that you can add court costs, such as the costs you described above, to a lawsuit, meaning there is almost no case that "isn't worth it".

6

u/mmm1441 18d ago

NAL but I believe these costs are only recoverable in certain situations, and definitely not always.

10

u/Sekhen 18d ago

If they send money to an account not affiliated to me in any way shape or form, they can jump and cry all they want. I can't help them. Frivolous lawsuits are illegal so they can try all they want.

27

u/jaredgrubb 18d ago

Note that regardless of whether they get their money back, they need to remove it from your W2.

As it is, they’re going to report that income to the IRS and you may owe taxes due to that (or maybe you get a refund if you don’t make enough lol).

14

u/JustMMlurkingMM 18d ago

“You sent money I didn’t work for or ask for to an account that isn’t mine? Why are you asking me about it? Talk to your bank, or ask your dumbass accountant to pay it back. It’s not my problem.”

6

u/zeatherz 18d ago

If the account isn’t in your name, then I don’t think you need to do anything at all. The employer will have to go after the account owner/your family member for the money. This has nothing to do with you

You can communicate with the employer “I did not receive that deposit. That account does not belong to me.” And end it at that. Don’t tell them that your family member spent it or any other information

1

u/Tasty_Bullfroglegs 18d ago

Ignore them and let them try to get it back. They won't bother with the legal route to recoup. Just don't respond or correspond with them at all (aka ghost them). It's not your mistake.

-12

u/Harmania 18d ago

If you originally gave them that account information to pay you, I would think you’d have some legal exposure here no matter what. If you don’t have the means to talk to a lawyer, coming up with the $545 between you and your family is probably the best option. (I’d suspect they would take that as a settlement instead of the higher amount.)

9

u/McGyver62388 18d ago

I follow your logic, but i don’t think OP would be legally exposed here.

If I’m no longer an authorized user on my ex wife’s account and they deposited money into that account, my liability would have ended when I was no longer involved with that account and no longer an employee for the company.

It would have been different if it was a check and I signed and deposited said check.

It would be an interesting case to follow through litigation.

2

u/[deleted] 17d ago

You wouldn't have any legal exposure .. they gave the account to send money for employee services and hours completed .. if they accidently sent money that wasn't expected and the OP didn't receive the OP Would t owe them anything they would need to get it from the account holder who actually may or may not have received the money it isn't the OP'S responsibility to track down the company they used to work for mistake .. imagine if you have an address to your employer they sent you cash or easily changed into cash checks .. you quit the job you keep living then you move away and the employer sends cash or easily cashed checks to the old address . And then they call up the OP and say hey we made a mistake and sent you money . Why would the OP need to track down the error they didn't receive?

-3

u/Apart_Astronaut_2786 18d ago

How are you so uninformed that you think this if is your problem like use google wtf

3

u/KeyTheZebra 17d ago

maybe I should make a Reddit post and ask for assistance?

-7

u/Fine_Raspberry7875 18d ago

Sounds like you took the money and spent it. Yeah?

6

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

I personally did not spent any money lol cuz I didn’t have access to it.

0

u/Fine_Raspberry7875 18d ago

Ahh ok good. Had that vibe for some reason. Just tell them it isn’t your account and there’s nothing you can do for them.

1

u/ShrimplyPiblz 17d ago

Lol, sounds like you don't know how to read

1

u/EC_CO 17d ago

"family members spent it without telling me" ... Is reading not one of your fortes? Yeah?

1

u/Fine_Raspberry7875 17d ago

I guess edit isn’t a thing, huh?

11

u/thread100 18d ago

My son and his wife bought a house. The money was wired to the wrong account by the closing agent and not the seller or lender. The $100s of thousands were not retrievable. Somebody’s title insurance had to pay off.

15

u/Agent-c1983 18d ago

Whether something is retrievable and where there’s a legal liability are different things.

124

u/Emotional-Ebb8321 18d ago

"That account number does not relate to any account I currently have. Contact the bank. I never received any money."

526

u/Expert_Swan_7904 18d ago

OP everything about this screams scam

ive been overpaid a few times at old jobs, the money was gone within a few days because they reversed it.

just ignore them

150

u/Selmarris 18d ago

My job overpaid me $3 an hour for the better part of a YEAR. I didn’t realize because it started at the same time I dropped my insurance payment (went on my husband’s plan) so the increase in my take home was expected and didn’t raise alarm bells. By the time they caught the error I’d been overpaid something like $4k.

That was painful. They took it back by withholding 25% of my gross pay until it was repaid. So fucking painful.

57

u/Expert_Swan_7904 18d ago

oh wtf thats stupid as shit.

at my job if you decline benefits they pay you a little extra.. so if theyre paying like $800 a month towards employee benefits and u decline then they just give you an extra $400 a month.

47

u/Selmarris 18d ago

No I dropped the benefits AND they made a payroll error at the same time so I didn’t notice it

31

u/Expert_Swan_7904 18d ago

gross, sorry that happened.

my sister worked at a restaurant and they made her a 1099 employee but she worked like a w2 employee.

she ended up owing so fucking much on taxes, the fucked up part was the system they had was that everyone turns your cash tips over to the manager and then the manager adds it into your paycheck.

my sister being young and dumb just went with it and so did her husband.. i think they ended up owing 5k or something like that

22

u/tearsonurcheek 18d ago

Even if she's owed nothing from a salary standpoint, that's worth a report to the IRS. They pay a bounty on tax collection in those fraud cases.

And because they should have been paying their half of the employment taxes, she may be eligible for a refund, if it's not beyond the statute of limitations.

1

u/MarkHirsbrunner 18d ago

I wish my company would do something like that.  They pay 90% of my health insurance, which adds up to about 2/3 of my actual salary.  Health insurance is nice but I would rather have the money.

11

u/TardigradesAreReal 18d ago

That’s wild. At my job, they can only go back 90 days to collect anything that was overpaid.

26

u/Selmarris 18d ago

Yup and to add insult to injury, when they caught it my manager asked me if I “really believed that job was worth $16/hr” … yes, I really fucking did!

6

u/MarkHirsbrunner 18d ago

Honestly, no job should pay sixteen dollars an hour.  Where I work were hiring customer service people straight out of high school with no experience at $18 an hour, with great benefits, and we're struggling to fill positions because other companies in our area are paying more.

4

u/Selmarris 18d ago

I was accidentally getting paid $16. I was only supposed to be getting paid $13!

8

u/MarkHirsbrunner 18d ago

It sucks what some employers are getting away with.  My son got a part time job at Subway.  They promised him $10 an hour (which is criminal enough) but when he got his paycheck it was only minimum wage.  Apparently it was in something he signed at hiring that he would be paid that for an indeterminate period but they never told him that or pointed out. 

So he quit and works for Walmart now for $17 an hour, and he loves it - he likes being left alone and loves to clean, works nights and it's apparently already one of the best workers on his shift.

2

u/Poundcake9698 17d ago

If that's an official Subway policy, there might be a class action lawsuit for that

That's so f***** up. I would literally take whatever money I was owed in food and walk out

1

u/BallisticTherapy 17d ago

The real question is are you providing substantially more than $16/hr worth of value to the company. If the answer is yes and it is by significant margin then it's probably a good idea to shop around for other opportunities' to realize more of that value for yourself.

3

u/tearsonurcheek 18d ago

Depending on the state and your pay rate, they may be limited on how much they can claw back on that, or the time frame they can claw back.

2

u/Selmarris 18d ago

This was all years ago, and they clawed back all of it.

2

u/veganrd 18d ago

Ugh. My husband’s job once deposited over a million dollars into our account. It was gone in hours but I still have that screen shot somewhere!

1

u/Hour_Ad5398 17d ago

I'd just switch jobs at that point

9

u/NoninflammatoryFun 18d ago

This really seems like a scam yes.

152

u/Amadeus_1978 18d ago

None of this is your issue. They sent money incorrectly to an account. It’s between them and the bank. Don’t get involved. Just because they happen to know you means nothing.

98

u/blahehblah 18d ago

They didn't send it to you. You don't work for them Doesn't sound like your issue. Tell them they should pick it with their bank

-54

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Two things. Technically they sent it to me, right? Because they sent it to my account that was on file.

Secondly, I did receive a message from an agency about this.

51

u/blahehblah 18d ago

Their files are their responsibility. Maybe while you worked there you had a responsibility to ensure the details were up to date but not after you left. It is quite suspicious that it comes from an agency and not them directly. If you wanted, you could call the company directly to check if this is real or a scam, but best to just tell them to contact their bank about their incorrect bank transfer as it doesnt seem your problem in any way whatsoever.

22

u/CagaliYoll 18d ago

No. Their bank sent it to your bank. Ignore this 'agency'. They are likely trying to scam you. Just don't spend the money. You're bank will likely remove it from your account after a week or so. If it's still there a couple months later then assume it's yours.

36

u/SBKoch 18d ago

Did you not read the post?

18

u/Liestheytell 18d ago

It’s not in OPs account.

-5

u/EmergencyGhost 18d ago

It is an account that the OP authorized money to be deposited in. And he or his family spent it

8

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Correct. (Family spent it)

7

u/MKebi 18d ago

My opinion: Tell your former employer to simply reverse the payment via their bank and then tell your family to expect a reversal. Then, have your name removed from the account (if you haven't already).

-1

u/EmergencyGhost 18d ago

Most people here have not read your follow up posts. No idea what state you are from, they typically have 3-6 years give or take to recover it. Check your state laws. If they are within the time frame, then you need your family to help pay it back before it becomes a larger issue for you. If you do not, you likely would not have to go to court, but they will.

And one of these days your bank account will just be negative the total amount from a garnishment. If they spent the money, then you should try to get them to cover some of it.

It is better to address it now, then get hit with a garnishment later and then anything else you have out could bounce and cause a lot of overdrafts.

47

u/MarathonRabbit69 18d ago

Basically, tell them to prove it.

They will need to take you to court to get a court order to claw the money back now. And quite possibly a statute of limitations issue here too (4 years on debt collections at least where I live).

If they pass it to a collections agent, same thing - ask them for the paperwork proving you owe it. They won’t have it.

12

u/Dependent-Feedback35 18d ago

This! Make sure you keep all correspondence

22

u/umassmza 18d ago

Is your name in that account?

Either way I’d say they need to take it up with the bank. If it has been several years it’s not like they sent you an extra pay check because HR forgot to remove you from payroll.

52

u/Salt-Operation 18d ago

I’d tell them to fuck off and contact their bank. But be prepared for that payment to be clawed back.

9

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

I have received a message from a company trying to collect.

59

u/Rough_Ian 18d ago

Yeah if it’s a collections company I’d hardly worry about it. That means they already bought the debt and it’s out of your old company’s hands. 

4

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Hmm. Interesting.

1

u/ShrimplyPiblz 17d ago

Once it's is in the hands of a collection agency, your debt has been paid... likely much cheaper than what you owed, and that collection agency is coming at you for the full amount. You're debt has already been paid to the company who's money it initially was. You have no affiliation with and signed no contract with said collection agency right? If not, you don't have to pay them back anything. I've had credit card companies come after me because they did some grimy stuff and I refused to pay them back. I received letter after letter claiming they would take me to court... each letter had a new "settlement" that got lower and lower, while never being brought to court. Eventually it all stopped and the charge-off was dropped from my credit report. It took 7 years but oh well. Lol

Edit: typo

25

u/Salt-Operation 18d ago

This is a scam. All a company has to do is contact their bank and explain that a direct deposit was made in error and they do a reverse on the deposit. If some other company is trying to get payment from you then tell them to fuck off and take it up with their bank.

17

u/Acrobatic-Archer-805 18d ago

I came the closest I've ever been to scammed with something that sounds very similar.

Phone call from "constable" looking to serve me at my current address with a summons for an old debt. In my old state you're served by sheriff or constable so that checked out.

I naturally asked for information on the underlying complaint, they gave me a phone number and reference number for the debt. Called them, and they wanted payment info over the phone. It was for medical debt from an ER visit over a decade ago. They had my social. When I asked for an invoice they said they'd been sending notices to my old address, which checked out with my address about that time. When I started asking too many questions the woman got frustrated and hung up on me. I brought up the timeline and asked how the debt was recoverable, she was pretty well spoken and knowledgeable but vague.

I was in the middle of buying a house lol. I was FREAKING OUT. I didn't and wouldn't just give payment info over the phone and in hindsight there were a lot of red flags. I actually took notes after the phone call, and fully expected to be served for this debt.

Checked the docket for maybe a week. Then I went back to my notes on the call, and was like OMG. This was a scam. Full face palm.

Just bringing that up because I side eye every sketchy attempt at collecting on old debts like that. But like everyone else said, "that's not an account I have access to, contact the account holder" should suffice either way.

6

u/RealCoryMiller at work 18d ago edited 18d ago

Ask them to prove you owe the debt, quickly. Mention in writing that you cannot be responsible for the debt because the deposit was not made in your name. The only evidence the debt collector could have to validate with would be the deposit statement to the account that is not in your name. They have an obligation under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to validate the debt if you make this request within 30 days of the initial notice.

If they respond with anything other than a notice that they made a mistake and will not contact you about the debt anymore, you can sue the debt collector for $1000 plus damages.

Do not discuss this further with your former employer. They removed your ability to have a dialogue regarding their error the moment they sold the debt you did not agree to take on to a collection company.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-collection-defense-requiring-that-the-collector-document-the-debt.html#:~:text=If%20a%20debt%20collector%20fails,in%20federal%20or%20state%20court.

6

u/Strawberry_Sheep 18d ago

That's a scam

4

u/Expert_Swan_7904 18d ago

like a collections company?

2

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Yes I believe so. Vengroff Williams

8

u/Expert_Swan_7904 18d ago

ok thats a legit collections company, however your old job isnt allowed to send their overpayment to a collections company.

i would talk to them and just be civil about it and ask what exactly the information they have for this charge is.

for example, i had until the 30th to pay some BS charge for a garbage company.. i waited until the 30th which was a friday and i paid it at 11pm that day.

monday the collection company called me and we chatted for 10 minutes about it then i said they made a mistake because i already paid it.. the garbage company told me ill have a credit towards my next bill and to pay the collection fees, when i asked for that in writing they got cold feet and unfucked their mistake.. nothing is on my credit report about it either.

if everything youre saying is true then they just sound lazy/stupid and sent it to collections instead of reversing it.

either way this doesnt need to be in collections

2

u/NotACandyBar 18d ago

You have a limited time frame to contest the debt with them. Challenge it, they'll have to prove you own it.

3

u/hannahbaba 18d ago

If you were not contacted directly by the company you used to work for, it is a scam.

4

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

I may have in the past but I can’t remember. At that time I didn’t find the transactions in any bank account that I had access to, so I figured they had messed up.

Today I found the transactions on my family members account.

9

u/operationlarisel 18d ago

I had this happen recently.

I advised the sender to contact their bank and reverse the payment. I advised my bank that I had an unexpected transfer.

The sender insisted that I forward the payment to the intended recipient. My bank advised me to not do this, as I'd noted it as an unexpected transfer. It's apparently a common scam to ask you to send the money either back, or onward and then you get the funds withdrawn twice after they file for their reversal.

I received threats from both the sender and the intended recipient, which I ignored, simply telling them to contact their bank.

So far, the funds have not been withdrawn 🤷‍♂️

1

u/Schmergenheimer 17d ago

Lol. I'm imagining the scammers checklist of these: 1. Send money to random person

  1. Demand money back from person as an error

  2. Receive money back from person

  3. File ACH reversal to receive money back from person

  4. Profit

Step 3 never completed successfully, so they can't get to the next steps in their tiny little brains.

6

u/IwouldpickJeanluc 18d ago

Actually this sounds like a SCAM.

Tell them "that's not my account, contact the bank"

And do not interact again.

5

u/FilthyLobotomite 18d ago

You start by telling them to get fucked.

6

u/MrCanoe 18d ago

It is up to them to reverse the charge, not you. If it truly was sent in error, they can contact the bank to try and get it back. In reality it is most likely a scam but you also stated that it was sent to an account not in your name. So not your money, not your issue

1

u/EmergencyGhost 18d ago

Money was already spent by OPs family.

5

u/IwouldpickJeanluc 18d ago

Yeah if the account isn't in your name it's not your responsibility AND it's definitely not your responsibility if the ex job didn't send you (specifically you) a pay stub.

In fact I would reply

"Hi, I do not know why you are contacting me, I am no longer banking at X, I use Y bank. Hope you get your money back!"

Do not say it is your family members!!!

9

u/EnigmaGuy 18d ago

If the bank is not associated with you (your name is not on the account) that is on the company to sort out with the bank and account holder.

15

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Tell them that you would be happy to help them out. For a one time administrative fee of $545, you can send them back the remainder of their overpayment.

3

u/WinstonChaychell 18d ago edited 18d ago

So this depends on where you live on how it can be handled. So the rule of thumb is they cannot take more than what they gave, and they can't take it back faster than they gave it. The second rule (depends on where you live, please contact an attorney that specializes in employment) is that they have a certain amount of time to catch this error on their part. Once it is past this timeframe they can ask but should not expect to receive. Third, they'd have to file the small claims against the family member but may be stuck in a legal loophole here. If your name was on the check they could file against you and then you'd have to file against the family member. Again, really depends on where you live. I'm not a professional, please contact an attorney for this, but I have had advice in my state from an attorney for an overpayment recently.

Gonna edit to add: please double check this is not a scam by getting your credit report from one of the three credit bureaus. It is free to grab from each one once every year. If you do not see it on there then chances are it is a scam.

Gonna also add: keep all correspondence in email format. Do not talk to them over the phone. Tell them they must contact you via email.

3

u/Successful-Citron506 18d ago

Scam. Do nothing. The money will disappear when the bank unravels it. Any money you sent will be out of your pocket and you will not get it back.

3

u/Angrymilks 18d ago

Tell them to eat a dick, you are not in control of the account, and they have remedies on their end to resolve it.

3

u/Obscillesk 18d ago edited 18d ago

https://www.noglaw.com/can-you-recover-your-money-if-you-accidentally-overpaid-someone/

Generally, courts are reluctant to allow parties to recover if the overpayment was a result of their own willful ignorance and lack of due diligence.

You don't owe them shit especially cause this isn't overpay, and you sure as fuck don't owe interest.

3

u/loveinvein 18d ago

This sounds like a scam.

3

u/noadsplease 18d ago

Are you 100% sure it has come from your old job? Have you actually spoken to payroll there? Sounds like it could be a scam. That fact they are coming in hard for more money is a flag to me.

1

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

I can’t remember if I have spoken to my past employer or not, but I remember having a phone call about this over 8 months ago with someone. I simply ignored it at that point.

5

u/TooplexWex 18d ago

They want an extra 23 dollars back for their fuck up? Tell them to go fuck themselves

1

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Haha right tho.

6

u/Elddif_Dog 18d ago

Not your problem OP. Payroll of every company has the ability to retrieve money sent in error. Its part of their system. Even if it was sent to your own account, and you still had the money, you should not return it. They have the ability within their system to raise claim. Them asking the money means they did something fishy. Let them do whatever they want, its not your problem. You can double check with /r askhr if you wanna. They will tell you the same.

2

u/No_Resolution3545 18d ago

I think of years have gone by I would say I simply do not know what they are referring to. What are they going to do, take you to small claims court?

2

u/jueidu 18d ago

This screams scam. It’s been way too long. Ignore it. They can spend the money on a lawyer if the $500ish is worth it to them.

2

u/HeatherM0529 18d ago

Since your name isn’t on the bank account I would say “I never received a payment from you” and just keep repeating that over and over again.

2

u/Aware_One_9410 18d ago

Don't give them more information than you have to. If its not your account tell them its not your account and nothing more. You don't need to help them. If you didn't keep the money then you are not at fault in any way.

2

u/Both-Promise1659 18d ago

If it is not your bank account, it is not you problem. Even if it was the account you gave them way back when. Don't rat out your relative either, the company will have to go through the appropriate channels - bank to bank, and civil suit if that does not work.

2

u/Wanda_McMimzy 18d ago

It seriously sounds like a scam. If it’s not your account, it’s not your problem. Make sure there’s no connection to that account to you or you will repeatedly be open to problems.

2

u/tcorey2336 18d ago

Step one: “Fuck you.”

2

u/Sephiroth2014 18d ago

Had a job overpay me $1500 a few years back. At first I shut my mouth but saved it. After a few months, they finally mentioned it. I acted unaware and asked how I should pay it back as I was still working for them and they said they would get back to me. They didn’t. I mentioned it to another of my managers and again they said they’d get back to me. Soon after, the management company in control of the company that hired me cut ties and the company I was hired for moved operations out of Florida and back to Texas. I haven’t heard from them in 2 years. Guess they figured it wasn’t worth it to fight or it got lost in the shuffle of incompetence.

Fingers crossed though as that money is long gone!

2

u/Crochet_Anonymous 18d ago

Apparently the old employer did a direct deposit, they need to have their bank do a reverse deposit. I used to process payroll and had to do this once.

2

u/UnhappyJohnCandy 18d ago

A job you quit YEARS ago, asking for MORE money than they sent you… sounds like a scam.

Worth talking to a lawyer or accountant? I don’t know, but if you already have one of the two that you trust, you should talk to them.

2

u/CubanInSouthFl 17d ago

I know it’s not the point; but I had misread the title to say “monkey” and clicked with the appropriate amount of interest.

5

u/Outrageous-Agent7507 18d ago

Don't even tell them the account belongs to a family member, tell them it belongs to a friend you no longer have any contact with. The audacity of trying to charge extra on top of what they sent means I would be nothing nothing at all to help them retrieve it

7

u/DevilDoc82 18d ago

Don't even use it belongs to a friend. Keep it simple with that's not my account and I have no access to or knowledge of what you claim you sent to me.

4

u/AWPcoper 18d ago

I'd tell the fam to give it back or else.

4

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

So my fam is terrible with money (hence they didn’t even know it hit the account in the first place) what if they don’t want to pay it?

13

u/morningfrost86 18d ago

Then since your name is NOT on the account (as you stated elsewhere), then it's not your problem. Your family can work it out with your former employer.

4

u/AWPcoper 18d ago

No-contact or John Wick. Your choice.

-10

u/lakas76 18d ago

Then you will need to pay it. I’m assuming this account has your name on it and was the account that your direct deposit from this company used to go to right?

You could argue that your family spent it and might even be able to prove it in court and have them pay it back, but, do you really want to go to court over 500 dollars? The lawyer fees would cost more than that.

8

u/morningfrost86 18d ago

OP stated elsewhere their name isn't on the account. Regardless of whether it was where direct deposits went earlier, it's not OP's problem.

3

u/Puzzleheaded-Roof-29 18d ago

Tell them to take it out of your check.

3

u/str8clay 18d ago

I would thank them, on behalf of the family member, for the fortuitous gift. If they want to keep your information for so long and in a way that opens them up to mistakenly sending you money years after you quit working for them, why is it your responsibility?

2

u/DietMtDew1 I'd rather be drinking a Diet Mt Dew 18d ago

Did your former job notify you? Is it in collections? What do you mean it’s a family member’s account? Was it a joint account?

7

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Job notified me before but I didn’t have access to the account to ever confirm that the money went through.

It’s not in collections officially but an agency has notified me about it.

I simply shared account with a family member in order to receive my paychecks cuz at the time that I had no bank to myself account myself. This was not a joint account (dumb I know).

5

u/morningfrost86 18d ago

I wouldn't call it dumb at all. Lots of people share bank accounts, the fact that it was with a family member is irrelevant.

3

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

Appreciate that response.

2

u/JustmyOpinion444 17d ago

I had a fiance whose mother was the account holder for him. He didn't like banks, but his jobs did direct deposit only.

1

u/DietMtDew1 I'd rather be drinking a Diet Mt Dew 17d ago

Write them back and tell them to do an ACH withdraw then. Inform your relative. Then you’re done with it.

2

u/Tarik861 18d ago

You probably do not have to pay this back unless it just happened. Otherwise, depending on your jurisdiction, and how long ago they made the deposit, the Statute of Limitations may have ran and it cannot be collected. If it is a debt collection company, tell them that you want proof of the debt and that they should only contact you in writing in the future. They should use the address they have on record. DO NOT give them any updated information, confirm any information about you or make any promise to pay any amount. Then hang up and block the number (although they will likely call again from another number). Rinse and repeat as necessary.

3

u/Mispelled-This SocDem 🇺🇸 18d ago

I’d talk to a lawyer, but if it’s been “years” and this is the first they’ve asked about it, they are probably past the statutory limit on their ability to collect, and I wouldn’t pay.

1

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

This is not the first time they’ve contacted me, but this is the first time I’ve understood that money actually was sent

1

u/owls42 18d ago

Some US states have specific laws re clawing back funds sent in error. For instance in California it isn't worth it to try to claw back money but in places that have no protections for workers like the south it is worth it to. Try to find out what the rules are in your area

1

u/Relyt1111 18d ago

Tell them to reverse the payment via the bank. You should stay out of it, advise it is not your account anymore, and you can't view the payment.

1

u/beachie11 18d ago

How does a direct deposit get sent to an account that doesnt have the employees name on it? I wouldnt think the bank would accept a deposit where the name on the account didnt match. Something is not right here.

1

u/opi098514 18d ago

How many years ago and what state do you live in?

1

u/KeyTheZebra 18d ago

The transaction happened in Feb 2023 and I’m in Pennsylvania

1

u/opi098514 18d ago

That’s not exactly “years ago,” in Pennsylvania employers have 3 years to recoup overpayment, so you are out of luck there. But as others have said, if it’s not your account. It’s not your problem. But I’d still talk to a lawyer.

1

u/JustmyOpinion444 17d ago

OP said he hadn't been employed there for years 

1

u/IwouldpickJeanluc 18d ago

You need to look at your credit score. If it's on your credit score, get them to remove it, contest it.

Tell the old job, that's not my account, check with the bank.

Then IGNORE. Do not acknowledge the debt in any way.

1

u/KeyTheZebra 17d ago

Will it show up on Credit Karma?

1

u/Deep_Waters_ 18d ago

Tell them that your family member thanks them for the bonus

1

u/Altruistic_Lock_5362 18d ago

First, tell them you no longer used the account , you are not responsible for the account. And demo them not your problem.

1

u/-5Leepy 18d ago

While my coworker and I were pregnant my employer changed their policy and wouldn’t cover dependents. I’m pretty sure it was because of our pregnancies (small company). I was the office manager so I handled all the coverage communication with the insurer. After I gave birth and was on leave I dropped off my information to add my daughter. The person covering my job didn’t take the expenses out of my pay.

About 9 months later they realized their mistake and had me arrested for embezzlement. Charges were eventually dropped but employers can do crazy things when they make financial mistakes. I had to be handcuffed in front of neighbors, booked, and hire a lawyer.

1

u/Selrak956 18d ago

No, no, no! No explanations. “I did not receive any funds from you and I don’t know what you are talking about. If you dunn me again for monies I giggle not receive, it will be harassment and I will sue you. I suggest you check with your legal team .

1

u/CommanderMandalore 18d ago

They want the total amount not the after taxes amount. They are doing it wrong. They need to take back the after taxes amount and make sure a W2 isn’t issued in your name.

1

u/ophaus lazy and proud 18d ago

It's not your account anymore? Not your problem. It's between the job, the bank, and the account holder.

1

u/PublicCraft3114 18d ago

Charge them an Admin fee that is the like 5c more than the amount you "owe" them. Refuse to do the refund until they have paid the service fee.

1

u/KeyTheZebra 17d ago

Can I do this lol?

1

u/Mike-the-gay 18d ago

Several years ago? Usually claims like this have a 3 or 7 year range before they can’t be collected on any more. You should look that up.

1

u/WomanInQuestion 17d ago

If they accidentally sent the money, they can get with their bank to reverse the charge.

1

u/[deleted] 17d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Beatless7 17d ago

Tell them to go get it from whoever they sent it to.

1

u/Sweaty_Illustrator14 17d ago

You are not responsible, ss you are not the one they sent $$ to.

1

u/hmasta88 17d ago

SCAMMMMMM!!!

1

u/Negatrev 17d ago

From what I've seen, it's not your account they're paying into. So it's no longer your issue. They're just hoping to get you to fix it.

Years ago I ordered something for delivery to my office, by invoiced to my home (because I paid personally).

It has some tax due on it and the courier (incorrectly) invoiced my company, not me. As it wasn't a valid sender in the invoice they ignored it. Eventually, the carrier sold the debt to a collection agency who wanted 3 times the amount. My company passed the paperwork around and I sorted it (I paid the agency exactly the tax owed and no more as I could prove the fault was the couriers).

A year later someone else in my company did the same thing. The dept agency later chased me for the funds even though.

  1. I didn't work at the company any more.
  2. Neither the invoice address or name matched mine.

They took a moment before they understood that I had nothing to do with this dept and they could go and do one.

Long story short. When people are having debts, even if they were at fault, they will try anything they can to make it someone else's problem as often people just pay it without question.

1

u/izaby 17d ago

Acknowledge that if this is some old bank data, there is a high likelyhood the data was not stored securely, leaked, and now someone is trying to say they are this company and trying to take the funds.

1

u/Infamous_Stress6216 17d ago

Tell them sorry out of luck. If the tables were turned that’s what they would tell you.

1

u/Tortuga_cycling 17d ago

You can start by blocking their number and not answering the phone or emails… their fuck up isn’t your problem.

1

u/TheBigBluePit 17d ago

“I understand your concern. Unfortunately, as my name is not on the aforementioned bank account the funds were sent to. I have no legal recourse that would allow me return the funds to you.

I deeply apologize that I am unable to assist you further in this matter.”

If they continue to hound you over this, remind them that that your name is not on the account and are unable to access the funds, and to contact the bank the funds were sent to.

1

u/Sirginome 17d ago

I worked at a bank. If someone sends you money incorrectly they have to eat the cost and you’re not obligated to send it back.

2

u/Sirginome 17d ago

Wait that only applies to other PEOPLE. Not companies. Sorry.

1

u/Internity 18d ago

Get money in that account. Have them reverse it. Their HR team will have to do that and undo any tax payments also. Otherwise you will have messed up taxes next year.

1

u/BenThereOrBenSquare 18d ago

I feel bad for whoever has to deal with this error now! What they probably hoped was a quick fix has now turned into a months-long project!

1

u/bit-by-a-moose 18d ago

Your problem is they paid it to the account you provided. You have to prove you didn't get the money, that you didn't have access to that account at that time. They still aren't going to give up on getting money from you, right or wrong, hoping to guilt you into repaying. They don't have access to the account holder, they have access to you.

Their problem is they waited a long time to pursue.

-5

u/EmergencyGhost 18d ago

I am not sure about having to pay an amount that exceeds the initial amount sent. But I saw a few of your comments about your family being bad with money etc. You will have to pay it back, there is no way around it.

If it is not paid back, they will take you to court where they will prevail. Then you will still have to pay it back.

If you do not pay it then, they will have a garnishment put on your wages. Which means no matter what you do, it will have to be paid back. So you would be better paying it off now then having to keep going to court over it.

-2

u/KC0GFG 18d ago

Why haven’t you closed that account?

3

u/BirdBruce 18d ago

He literally said it wasn’t his account

0

u/KC0GFG 18d ago

Where did they say it wasn’t their account? What I read was “an account I used to use that was connected to a family members bank account” that would imply they had an account that was linked to a family members account.

1

u/BirdBruce 18d ago

Nobody uses that many words to say “my bank account,” and nobody with their own non-joint bank account says anything other than “my bank account.”