When a soldier has been over-paid should finance be required to...

2015-06-08T22:46:37-04:00

When a soldier has been over paid should finance be required to give soldiers a detailed description of what is owed for what and at what point how much money will be taken from their checks? I was overpaid BAH while I was an MOS-T in AIT, but I have no idea how much I owe or when they are going to be taking money. Last month my EOM was missing 200$ and my mid-month was normal. Then this month same thing. Will this happen next month as well? How hard would it be for finance to send out an email detailing when and what they are taking? Especially since I have no control over when they feel like overpaying me. I completed my paperwork upon arriving at my duty station, they did not. Why should I have to wonder what is happening with my money?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 8 at 2015 10:49 PM

2015-06-08T22:49:15-04:00

In Viet Nam I served with a 2nd LT that was mistakenly paid as a LTCOL. He tried to get it corrected, but the next pay was the same, and he tried again to get it corrected. After the third time he just got the excess put into the 10% savings plan, so that when he got back to the world and they found the error he would be able to cut them a check for the overage.

The 10% interest on the overage was his gravy. Sometimes the incompetence of others has a silver lining.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jun 8 at 2015 10:49 PM

2015-06-08T22:49:52-04:00

As a soldier you are required to review your LES for accuracy no? Did you get with your squad leader or higher once you noticed the error? Just wondering

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 8 at 2015 10:51 PM

2015-06-08T22:51:37-04:00

You should IMMEDIATELY, accompanied by your first line supervisor go to Finance...ACCOMPANIED by your First NCO Supervisor and sit down with the pay specialist. They will tell you and in most cases I ever saw, IF you take this step they will work out a payment plan with you.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Jun 8 at 2015 10:52 PM

2015-06-08T22:52:54-04:00

Finance will provide a detailed account of your pay. Simply submit a pay Inquiry to your unit S1 or human resources if you have a concern.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-06-08T22:55:17-04:00

I understand that it is my responsibility to check my LES and I do. All I'm wondering is if it wouldn't be fairly easy for finance to send an email detailing how and when money will be taken back from soldiers.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 11:02 PM

2015-06-08T23:02:48-04:00

Why do we need to go through all of that though? S1 and first lines and pay inquiries are not simple processes most of the time, in my opinion. I think in the digital world we live in it makes sense to email people with these types of details or at least have an informational link for this on the myPay website. I don't know if you E6s and E7s could get real responses from your soldiers, but for everyone lower enlisted that I know who has had a pay problem it is always a nightmare for them to get it settled.