I was working for a large multinational company in the UK for 3 years ago until 3 months ago when I returned to my home country to be closer to my family. We parted on great terms. I then get an email yesterday claiming that they had overpaid me ~£4000 over a ten month period (roughly £400 per month).
They are demanding repayment by Monday which I think is a little unreasonable.
First off I am not sure that I really have been overpaid. But let's give them the benefit of the doubt while I find this out offline.
Secondly, My time sheets are all correct and I had no idea what so ever (genuinely) that I was getting overpaid.
Third, I have no intention of returning to the company or the UK.
That said I would like to do the right thing ethically. If I truly have been overpaid then I have offered to work it off. I simply don't have the cash.
This has not been deemed acceptable & payroll is still demanding immediate repayment.
Accordingly, I would like to know a little more about my legal rights.
Ethics aside, am I legally obliged to pay them back for their error?
If so, in the absence of sufficient liquidity (translation: me no have cashy) is offering services an acceptable compromise in the eyes of the law?
If not, what is the minimum rate that I could pay back the cash?
Finally, (and this is controversial and the least preferred) considering I have no intention to return to the company, country nor do I need the reference, what risks are there to my credit rating, ect, if I just flat out refuse? This would simply be used as a negotiation position, I have no intention to reneg on my responsibilities.
Thank you for your help in advance, Cheers N