Prior Company Threatening To Send To Collections

Location: Boston, MA

Hello! I am in a situation where my employer (large, public company) is demanding repayment of alleged overpayments from a few years prior. I have been working with the employer to get more information but I haven't gotten a great calculation of what exactly they are saying is overpaid, how the overpayment is calculated, why it uses wages from a later year, etc.

The company appears to be using my merit raise rate, then adjusting for FICA and 401k contributions for the net overpayment. They are not adjusting my bimonthly rate to credit days worked, and I feel like it should be calculated using the 2022 rate and not the new rate? Also thinking perhaps its been too long since overpayment to collect (technically?)

Timeline:

• Sept. 2022 - (TX resident at this time) started on 2-year leave, worked 2/11 working days in bimonthly period at rate X
• Feb. 2023 - merit raise (X+Y)
• Sept. 2024 - attempted to return after leave; company undergoing restructuring so advised to apply, told had plenty of time to find a role
• Nov. 2024 - no roles in new skillset, advised I can keep looking or will be laid off in Mar. 2025
• Feb 2025 - told I cannot look for roles anymore and must off board (without being laid off; no severance, unemployment -> signed nothing)
• Sept. 2025 - [Letter received] detailing an overpayment in two parts, (a) overpaid wages and (b) duplicately paid vacation days...
• Nov. 2025 - after several emails/calls, company says disregard previous letter, still owe previous amount but actually its just (a) overpaid wages...
• Jan. 2025 - Lost track, didn't reply; company now threatening collections by end of month

I am running out of time but the company still hasn't been able to validate my questions about the overpayment, why the rate shared is being used to calculate the payment, and why the money due is for the whole period instead of partial.

This is a large sum - will the collection agency be able to add fees to the total when the obligation is sold? I'd like to pay if I owe but given the timeline and the mistakes the company has made in the past, not convinced I owe this much / anything... I have a group legal plan at new employer FYI

Thanks!