When was redundancy pay first introduced?

Government redundancy overpayment?

• I worked in the Accounts department for a company for 11 months when it went into administration. Everyone had to claim wages and holidays owed, and redundancy payments if need be from the Government (I wasn't entitled to a redundancy payment since you need to be at the company at least 2 years). Anyway, a few weeks later, I got my wages and holidays owed payment through, but also another payment of £1700 (roughly). Had no idea what it was, then another payment came through a week later for £1100. Again I had no idea, so left it alone for a while. Today (roughly a month after my original payment) I received a letter from the Insolvency company saying they had overpaid me £2800 and that they want me to repay it. I know that it isn't my money etc but do I have to pay it back? Could I refuse? Only pay some of it back? Or anything else I can do? Since it is their fault in the first place and I didn't do anything to force them to make the mistake. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

• Answer:

  You are required to pay it back. The only circumstances in which you would be entitled to keep it would be if you genuinely thought it was yours (eg because you asked them about it, and they told you it was yours) and you then act to your detriment based on that (ie you spend it). In this case you clearly knew it wasn't your money, so you have no grounds on which to keep it. If you don't pay it back promptly you could be prosecuted for theft.