How to Handle Incorrect Bank Details from Ex-Employer for FnF Recovery and Its Impact on Future Jobs

I left my job with a well-known FAANG company recently in Jan-22. All formalities were completed, and they processed the FnF and sent me the relieving letter online 15 days after the LWD, which I successfully downloaded from the online payroll portal.

In Apr-22, they reached out to me, stating that they overpaid about INR 1.5k due to a miscalculation of income tax in the FnF settlement from their end. They provided a bank account number to which I should refund this amount. They also mentioned in the email that until I clear this amount, they will not release the relieving letter.

Since I had already downloaded the relieving letter, I was confused about their request. I went into the online payroll portal for ex-employees to check on this, and now when I try to download the relieving letter, it says the relieving letter will be available once the settlement is done. (Earlier, it was available for downloading after the FnF was settled).

I have no problem paying back the excess amount to them and have been trying to pay this money since they contacted me. The real issue is that they provided me with invalid bank account details that are not recognized in the system (I have even checked with the bank on this). I have written back to the exit helpdesk regarding this, but they keep insisting that the bank account details are correct. I have asked them to share proof of the bank account (bank statement/cancelled cheque, etc.), but to date, there is no response from their side.

What actions should I take to resolve this matter?

Should I be asking them for any kind of receipt once this amount is cleared (hopefully)?

Will this have an impact on my candidature?

As I am applying for new jobs, will there be any issues in my BGV when I join a new company while I try to sort this issue with the ex-employer?

If you have the option of meeting the HR coordinator, meet him/her in person. Verify whether they have paid you an additional amount. Check whether you can repay through a Demand Draft. If so, make the payment through a DD and ensure to obtain their acknowledgment of receipt of the DD.

Thank you for your reply and for suggesting actions I can take. This information is really useful.

I also request clarification on whether my ex-employer can impact my Background Verification (BGV) with the new company while I try to resolve the issue. Is there anything I can do to prevent such impacts?

If the issue is not resolved by the time of the Background Verification (BGV), they might not share positive feedback. To avoid this, please expedite the payment and make it immediately. Importantly, ensure to get it acknowledged as proof of payment.

Thank you for your response and clarification on the said query. I am in slight disagreement on why this should affect an employee's BGV or put a bad remark for the employee. Clearly, the company goofed up the income tax calculations, and they have failed to provide correct bank details for the refund. Please, can you shed some light on why an employee should have a bad remark for this?

In addition to the above, I also want to know whether the company is entitled to a penalty for wrongly computing income tax. Should this matter be brought to the notice of the Income Tax authorities and the Labour Ministry of India? While the amount is small in this case, the error is a result of sheer negligence and lack of responsibility on the company's part.

When the issue is unresolved (whether the fault lies with the employer or the employee), obviously, any employer will not give a green tick. Regarding penalties, etc., I sincerely suggest not to strain relationships with any former employer. Even after 15 years, some of your prospective future employers might conduct background verification with the company you left in January 2022. Straining relationships will not be beneficial.

Thank you for your reply.

As far as constraints go, I think this is why the legal system exists. It is sickening to see companies manipulating accounts and taxes, and then acting irresponsibly by making it difficult for employees to correct the mistakes committed by the company in the first place. It's worse to note that such companies have the audacity to adopt scrupulous means to impact the employees' careers when they were the ones at fault right from the beginning.

I appreciate your concern to avoid problems in the future, but that does not answer my question. I want to know what the law of the land says in such cases. I am totally against the idea of not reporting such illegitimate acts and leaving them unaddressed in the system, allowing these companies to do whatever they want with their employees. I hope you agree that companies also need to adhere to a code of conduct and follow the law of the land.

Update on Payment Issue

The company has informed me that they do not offer the demand draft option, and I can only make a payment through IMPS/NEFT to the bank account they provided. They continue to insist that the account number they gave is correct, but they have not provided any proof of the bank account. Despite informing them that the bank has confirmed the account number is invalid, this ex-employer is not responding to my concerns.