Retired 2 years ago now employer saying overpaid

Yes, I suspect you will have to repay.

In your position, I might ask Citizens Advice for their opinion.

Gosh! This sounds totally unfair! Their mistake and two years on!!! Unbelievable!

Ask for advice first, however, if in the end you do have to repay it then offer the minimum you can get away with, eg £1 a month. Tell them that anything more would put you in great hardship.

Their mistake and two years on...........exactly Luckygirl

ACAS may be able to talk through your options with you, they have a helpline
www.acas.org.uk/contact

Also, if you were in a union, maybe they would be able to offer some advice

It really does sound unfair....good luck with it all

I'd be surprised if you have to repay this. It's their error.

Pfft - their fault, not yours, purely money grabbing!

Tell them to 'poke it' or send the letter back saying 'not known at this address'!

As above if they do insist, then get advice and pay them @ £1 a month ....!

Sounds really odd they should find this after two years and really tight to chase such a small amount.

According to this article by The Mirror, employers have up to 6 years to claim overpayment of salary, though the question of 'reasonableness also applies.
www.mirror.co.uk/money/my-employer-overpaid-800-pay-18968762

In addition to ACAS and your union, it might be worth getting in touch with the money advice section of a newspaper like The Guardian/Observer . If such a newspaper advocates for you, even though your employer might legally be in the right, they might be persuaded to back down.
www.theguardian.com/money/series/yourproblems

Are you quite sure it isn't a scam? Someone trying it on and hoping you will be green enough to fall for it? If I were you I would be contacting the HR dept where you worked to ask about it. Phone as well as writing, you can answer any questions faster on the phone. However, having a written version on file too is a good thing.

f it is genuine, then it was two years ago and their mistake, so they out you into this debt. You are in a completely different position now, and could be financially quite incapable of repaying it. Citizens' Advice could advise you. They will probably suggest the £1 a week route.

Thanks all. Definitely not a scam. I rang the HR office (luckily still had the number) and they emailed asking what I want to query. Am composing my reply!

The month following my retirement from the NHS I was paid a full months salary. I noticed this and immediately informed HR and within 24 hours that amount was clawed back from my account.

That was fine, but some years later I received a letter from the Tax people saying I had underpaid my income tax that final year - they included into their calculation that months pay which was sent back.

I tried arguing with them for some time, sent them copies of my P46, etc. etc. Got nowhere, they were just adament that I had been paid that final months salary and not paid income tax on it. In the end it was easier for my stress levels just to pay that to them at five pounds per month.

Thanks for all your comments. I am still waiting for a detailed response from HR.