Do I owe money back for a overpayment check that was issued to me twice?

Question

My wife went in to have a hospital test done. I asked them up front how much it would cost and even though it was a standard procedure they couldn't tell me. They wanted me to just pay a little and I said I wanted to pay it all up front, so I wrote them a check for $400. A month later I got a check because I overpayed about $30. Then 2 months later I got another check for around the same amount. I had pretty much forgotten about the first check by then and didn't think anything of it. Now about 4 months later they call me saying I OWE them $30. First off I don't owe anything. I paid up front and it was their accounting mistake that was the problem, but they are trying to blame me saying they'll put it on my wife's credit report and tried to accuse us of calling them to have a duplicate check written. I don't mind paying any bill that I owe but the fact that they are being accusing and I have to pick up the slack for their mistake and also I ultimately lose out if I don't pay

Answer 1

Rather than taking a chance of having their accounting mistake end up on anyone's credit, how about just paying them back and writing a letter to the Board of Directors. You want to make sure you take the moral high road, no needless finger pointing, just lay out the facts as you have done here.

This way you one up them on two levels... you don't play the blame game with them and maybe the person who accused you of cheating them will get called to task.

Answer 2

It doesn't matter if it was a mistake or not. If they paid you too much back, you need to return it. You seem to be getting all pissy about the tone they took. That does not have anything to do with whether or not you owe the money.

Answer 3

I will ask this question, If you paid them twice, would you not expect a return of the second payment? If your answer is yes as I believe it would be then return the money.