Unexpected Salary from Previous Job After Quitting: Is It My Responsibility to Report It?

I worked for two months in a BPO, and I had to quit because of personal reasons. I never informed the company about quitting, and I never received any call or email from my manager or HR. I have been receiving a salary for the past two months after quitting. I did not sign any bond with the company. What should I do about this? Is this the company's fault?

What you have written is quite surprising. Today we have software for payroll processing, attendance management, etc. Yet, goof-ups of this kind should not happen and are incomprehensible. It appears that salary is processed elsewhere, and those responsible for processing it are not informed about your employment abandonment.

Solution to the Issue

Ideally, you should contact the HR department of that company and inform them to stop the payment. If the company initiates a recovery process, they may also block your account. Do you operate that bank account? If you have another bank account, start using that as an alternative for now. Withdraw all funds except for the erroneous remittance. In case the company discovers the error and blocks your account, your personal savings should not be affected.

Appointment Letter and Notice Period

By the way, what does your appointment letter state? What is the notice period according to the appointment letter? I ask because if there is a notice period clause in your appointment letter, HR could begin the process of recovering the amount for that period.

Regards,
Dinesh V Divekar

Dinesh Divekar has given you good advice. Hence, I will ask you some questions for the benefit of people like you.

Quitting a job for personal reasons is alright, but do you think it is alright for a worker to quit without informing the company? Should you not have informed them after quitting, if you could not go to the workplace due to difficulties? Should you not have informed them about the mistake of crediting your salary in the very first month when the mistake was made?

It appears as though you are looking for support to keep the money that the company has sent to your bank, perhaps by mistake.

Kindly approach your HR and inform them about your situation before leaving—"on unavoidable personal grounds" may be a good explanation. Make sure to return any money you received after leaving by Demand Draft. Also, ensure you obtain a confirmation letter from your HR stating that you have been relieved from the company starting from the date of your last workday.

Company matters, and relationships with employees within the company are important. All the best for your future endeavors.

I am with Dinesh V Divekar. While not extending any sympathy or support to your act of quitting without any information to the company, you can take the opportunity to make amends for that act of yours by calling the HR about this issue.

Dinesh has given you really practical suggestions to move your funds from this salary account. I hope you would prove Simhan wrong—that it's not your intent to 'use' the wrongly credited amounts.

Definition of Quitting vs. Absconding

However, there's one thing you need to correct—your definition of the act and word "quit." You mentioned you quit but didn't inform the company. What you actually did was 'abscond'—not quit. Quitting essentially means a combined act of informing and leaving.

The Misuse of 'Personal Reasons'

The reason you mentioned is not really convincing—everyone uses the 'so-very-convenient' words of 'personal reasons' for any and every official act of theirs—so much so that it has lost all its sanctity and real meaning.

Anyway, Dinesh, Simhan, and Govind Singh Negi have given you advice that would help you in the long term—but like the saying goes: 'One can take a horse to water, but can't make it drink.'

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Please do not give wrong advice. If the recipient of a wrongful fund transfer does not voluntarily inform, then the company may also sue. Yes, the company made a mistake in the unwanted fund transfer, but as a responsible and law-abiding citizen, the recipient also has a responsibility. The recipient can submit an application to their bank to stop the receipt of fund transfers from their ex-company.

Life always presents a whole lot of problems. It is always better not to invite problems from our side. I strongly hold this opinion.

Thanks,

Dinesh V Divekar

It is your mistake since you should have informed your previous employer earlier that you have resigned. Now, the Act of Double Employment will be applicable. Please inform them of your resignation first and resolve your previous employment status. They may accept your resignation upon receiving the excess salary paid to you, including any indirect benefits.

Wow! Do companies still make mistakes like this? I would have loved to be in your place. Many others on this forum have faced the problem of not receiving their salary. Be careful of the possibility of your account being frozen. It's illegal for banks to attach or freeze your bank account without a court order. However, while you can fight this, it might be a waste of effort. So, move money to alternate accounts as soon as possible.