British army losing helicopter pilots after overpayment error, files reveal

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/mar/18/british-army-losing-helicopter-pilots-after-overpayment-error-files-reveal

Defence chiefs urged to drop their bid to recover thousands of pounds in overpaid wages after 15 pilots resign

British army losing helicopter pilots after overpayment error, files reveal
Press Association
Friday 18 March 2016 04.59 EDT

The British army has lost some of its most experienced helicopter pilots over a wage error that led the Ministry of Defence to demand they returned thousands of pounds in overpayments, according to newly released documents.

Defence chiefs were urged to drop their bid to recover the wages after 15 attack helicopter pilots resigned over the issue, in which servicemen faced paying back a total of £829,000.

The army raised concerns that the loss of experienced pilots and instructors risked not only undermining morale, but had the potential to threaten the Apache attack helicopter squad’s frontline capabilities in Afghanistan.

About 200 attack helicopter pilots and instructors, a quarter of who are now retired, received overpayments of up to £30,000 each and faced action to recover the money despite officials accepting it was taken in good faith.

[tazkcmo]

1. Wow.

Our military would just send a No Pay Due notice instead of a check. Seems to me these folks knew or should have known they were over paid. That happened to me when I was in (got 2 month's pay instead of one) and I just banked the extra knowing damn good and well Finance would eventually figure out the mistake and send me a NPD at some point. It took 3 months but it finally happened and I still had the money to replace the NPD.

Having said all that, I hope they get to keep the money!