Salary

Do you think a company should have the right to pay salary late?
My company recently was late in paying our salary.Because it is a direct credit to our bank account, i didn't realised that it is late til this morning when I went to draw cash for lunch. Imagine my surprise when there is only a few hundred in my account. Or should I say shock? As i did use internet banking my first worry is whether somebody manage to carry out any unauthorised transaction with my balance. The second thing that I thought about is that there is a problem with my salary. First thing I did when I reach my office is to log into my bank account to check the transaction.
Thank goodness it is just that salary for the month is not in yet. After that, I called the HR department to enquire about the statues of our salary. And the answer: Salary is not late. It is still not end of the month yet. What the heck?!?! According to our employment contract, (which I have forgotten til another colleague remind me) salary will be paid to us every 25 of the month. Anyway, I was quite unhappy with the HR answer to my question. He didn't even sound sorry about the delay, but replied me as if this is a joke. Grrr......
I mean, should'nt HR send out a mail saying that salary will be delay for 2 days or something similar to that. We do have payments to make as well you know.
Anyway, I will be check for my salary next month. And will call HR again if it is not in on the 25th. Hehehehehe