The Ministry of Defence has clawed back money paid to a soldier killed in Afghanistan because he died before the end of the month.
The family of Lance Corporal Jordan Bancroft was told that £433 had been overpaid into his account because he died on August 21 2010 and had been paid for the month in advance.
It was taken from a payment of £1,493.04 refunded for holiday time off not taken.
Father Tony Bancroft, from Earby, near Burnley, was reported as saying: "When I read the letter, it felt like I'd been poked in the eye with a sharp stick.
"I think it's undignified and very petty to be sent a bureaucratic letter like this."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We regret any distress that this has caused for the family.
"We never ask families of those killed in service to pay money back. If there is an overpayment of salary and further payments are due to an estate, adjustments are made to ensure families receive what they are owed.
"A recent improvement means that families of those killed in service receive payment for leave due, but of course overpayments need to be taken into account at the same time.
"Every case involving death in action must be handled with particular care and to achieve this we strive to have clear rules to ensure the system operates fairly for all."