Received refund on accident. Do I have to pay them Back?

[rebeccawi]

What is the name of your state?
Michigan
About six months ago I received a check for $500 from Oakwood healthcare for over payments made. They have just now contacted me and said they made an error and I need to sent them the $500. Well that was over six months ago the money is long gone. I feel it was their mistake and they should have to eat it or write it off. They have called several times in the past week and have sent letters saying I need to send them the full amount or I can make payments to them with 10% interest tacked on or they will send me to collections. Can they really send me to collections for an error they made?

[cbg]

Of course they can.

Look at it this way. Suppose you were writing a check to pay a bill. You accidently wrote the wrong amount on the check. Are you telling me that since it is your mistake, the store or utility would be within their rights to keep the money instead of providing you with a credit or refund?

[ENASNI]

Originally Posted by cbg

Of course they can.

Look at it this way. Suppose you were writing a check to pay a bill. You accidently wrote the wrong amount on the check. Are you telling me that since it is your mistake, the store or utility would be within their rights to keep the money instead of providing you with a credit or refund?

I almost wrote the exact same post, cbg!

So instead I will just say: I concur...

[ecmst12]

It's even possible that overpayment refund should have gone to your doctor instead of you, so now they're out twice as much.

However, if you call customer service and explain the situation, they may be willing to let you pay it back in installments and waive the interest charge, since it has been so long since they sent you the money.

[BTB225]

NO - you don't get to keep it.

What do you think - your insurer is PAYING you to see a doctor???