Erroneous Payment Advice

[clnmj]

ok.... I am in the USCG. My first unit, I received several thousand dollars in my account. I brought this to the attention to my supervisor. He told me there was no mistake, that it was a prior service bonus for joining USCG from USMC. Now, 3 years later, I find out it was an erroneous payment, and that my supervisor didn't do his job. He never check on the money in question, and misinformed me as to it's origins. Now, I am told I have to pay it back in large amounts due to me only having a few months left on my contract. I have statments from other Coasties who heard my supervisor misinform me, yet it is said that it makes no difference. I followed my chain of command, and now I am told that I should have done more, and went over his head and done more to find out my self. (Would this not have been underminding him?) Anyway............any advice from any of yous out there? (Other than, "Suck it up, and Drive on!!!")



CLNMJ
Oh, and Thanks in advance.................Semper Fi / Semper Paratus

[apachebell]

Unfortunately, I think they are going to stick to their guns as far as saying that you could have done more. I do not agree that they should be able to indefinitely come back to you and say "You owe us for our mistake", but the same happened to me. I told them over and over to stop my housing allowance, or BAH, and they told me every time that they had done it. After months of this, Kansas City found the problem and stopped it and this month will be my one year mark for paying off this debt. And I did go through all of the steps to get it taken care of. They didn't care. Sorry, Devil Dog. I know how you feel.

[DelC]

Contact an attorney. A civilian attorney, not one in the military or maybe both. The statue of limitations may have expired, since it has been 3-years. Bottom line, they can’t make you pay back more per month than you can afford. Even the IRS has an easy payment plan!!

[DJOHNSON954]

The government has 10 years to collect the debt from you. If you get out without the debt paid in full, you can expect not to see a tax refund next year.

[clnmj]

Thanks for all your responces........I will take all into consideration.

[RoscoeRuhl]

Had you been entitled to a bonus, you would have known it. If your supervisor worked in finance, perhaps you could have believed him! Anytime you get more money than you're entitled to receive, it's a problem. Most often, when the government makes a money mistake in your favor, you're happy! When it's discovered and you have to pay it back, you're sad!! Hopefully you put it in the bank and can make your repayments! Probably not. Remember, the government takes it personal and they'll get the money back and if you're fortunate you won't have to pay interest.

Have a great day!

[blueclaw]

Roscoe, check your pm