13:57 05 September 2012
The Ministry of Defence have made a blunder in their payment department, resulting in £1.2m extra being given to over 400 personnel who will now have to repay their bonus.
HMS Daring at sea Navy personnel will have the right to appeal the repayments decision which will most likely see our servicemen and women be docked around four days' worth of pay a month until the full £1.2m is returned.
The amounts between each sailor varies considerably, with The Daily Mirror revealing that one crew member owes £17,000 while on the opposite end of the spectrum another needs to give back £9.
Following an in-depth investigation by the MoD, personnel (both current and former) were sent a letter on Monday.
The BBC confirmed (via a defence ministry) that 423 Navy staff had been affected across a time period that stretched over several years.
Current staff will have their wages adjusted going forward while retired members of the service will be summoned to pay their sums back in instalments.
In a statement, the MoD said: "We can confirm that an overpayment of salary has been made to a number of Navy personnel.
"We have apologised to all of those affected and in accordance with standard government practice, arrangements are in place for repayment of monies wrongly received.
"Where repayment of monies is appropriate, procedures are in place to prevent any hardship to individuals."
Those affected can appeal through the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.