Name confusion means big payday

• Tweet

MAIDSTONE, England, May 17 (UPI) -- A maintenance man mistakenly paid thousands of pounds that should have gone to the head of the Kent County Council has left England, officials say.

Paul Carter, the blue-collar worker, received 21,000 pounds ($33,000) during seven months in 2007 and 2008, Kent Online reported. The money was intended as expenses for Paul Carter, a member of the county council.

In April 2008, when the councilman noticed he was overdrawn at the bank, the mix-up was uncovered. The council began collecting the overage from the other Carter in monthly deductions equal to almost half his net pay.

Somewhere along the line, maintenance man Carter decided to quit. Officials say they are still trying to collect the money.

"Unfortunately Mr. Carter left the country and we have been unable to trace him," the council said in a statement. "We will still continue to re-establish full recovery of this debt if possible."