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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to ask if you lost a solid gold bracelet in Selfridges last week?

134 replies

Lostandfoundwoman · 27/12/2017 16:31

On 19 December, I found a solid gold bracelet (hallmarked) in one of the concesssions of Selfridges on Oxford Street. I took it to the concession's till where staff said they would take it to Lost Property on the fourth floor. When I wrote down my details so I could have confirmation it had made it there, they decided they were too busy to go to the fourth floor after all. So I was going to take it up myself.

A name-badged member of the concession's staff then approached me and said she would take the bracelet straight to the 4th floor. I gave her my details so that I could have confirmation of safe receipt by LP.

The next day, having heard nothing, I emailed Selfridges with a photograph of the bracelet to check it had found its way to Lost Property. They replied 2 days later at 10pm saying the store was closed so they couldn’t tell me.

I emailed again a few days later, and this time they emailed back saying they couldn’t tell me about the bracelet because of data protection.

I pointed out I was not asking for personal information, just whether the bracelet had safely made it to Lost Property and whether it had been claimed. I also said that if it was not claimed, then I expected it back as I was the next rightful owner. Actually, I am not very interested in having it but I do want to ensure it has not disappeared along the way.

This afternoon, Selfridges wrote back one line: “We would not be looking to release the item to yourself.”

Would it not be easy for them to tell me if the bracelet is in Lost Property and/or whether it has been claimed? Is there any good reason I haven’t thought of for them to be so evasive? AIBU to find their communications strange? What do stores usually do with valuable unclaimed Lost Property?

Anyway, if any MNer lost a solid gold bracelet in Selfridges last week, I can match your description with my photo and let you know where it should be!

OP posts:
ScreamingValentaMySantaExpress · 28/12/2017 12:30

A MNetter who lives near enough needs to visit Selfridges and pretend they have lost a gold bracelet. If Selfridges produce it, the 'claimant' can simply say it's not the missing one, but at least OP will know they're not planning to steal it.

Katinkka · 28/12/2017 12:34

I once found an envelope stuffed with 100s of pounds inToysrus. I handed it in of course but I’ve often wondered what happened to it. I’m not convinced it wasn’t taken by the girl I handed it into. I wish I’d asked for a manager or something.

Theresnonamesleft · 28/12/2017 12:38

Obviously don’t post the picture. But post regularly on fb and twitter pages for selfridges notifying people if they lost a bracelet it’s in lost property.

Original poster
Lostandfoundwoman · 29/12/2017 11:28

veryhungry. Agreed.

I have thought about asking my daughter to phone up saying she has lost it but they are bound to ask for her name and address and I would hate her to lie, and if she gave her real details, I would hate her to be accused of attempted theft so basically I have ruled that out.

I am going to phone 101 later for advice.

Also, I might tweet @selfridges and see if hat gets anywhere. I agree with the pp that I would have expected better from Selfridges.

I’ll let you know what 101 say. Probably they will give me a crime ref number and then do nothing as who knows if the bracelet is worth over £200 (which I believe is their limit for investigating potential thefts).

OP posts:
passemoilevin · 29/12/2017 11:36

Couldn't somebody dodgy see this post and go and ask for it back?

frieda909 · 29/12/2017 11:42

Exactly what I was thinking passemoilevin Sad

barofsoap · 29/12/2017 11:48

hopefully any lost property would ask for a detailed description before letting anyone claiming it actually have a look at it

sashh · 29/12/2017 11:52

I also said that if it was not claimed, then I expected it back as I was the next rightful owner.

You are not, it should go to the police.

Ask them to confirm it has whether been claimed or that it is with the police.

ShirleyPhallus · 29/12/2017 11:56

Why are you so invested in this...?

HermionesRightHook · 29/12/2017 11:57

I am not a Data Protection expert but I do know a bit about it due to work, and nothing you've asked to know would be something they can't tell you - particularly their own policy over DP!

I don't think there's any issue with just saying 'yes it's made its way to us and we'll hold it for X days before passing it over to the police' or whatever. Unless it had someone's actual name on it, in which case it might be a DP issue.

And in any case the DP Act doesn't categorically state that information can't be shared, just that it has to be appropriate - I would think that letting you know that the bracelet made its way to lost property safely is appropriate, and perhaps even that it had been claimed, though obviously not by whom.

However you do seem rather overinvested in this: I think you can rest assured that you did the correct thing in attempting to get it back to its owner, and now you know that in future taking things directly to the lost property office yourself would be the better thing to do.

daisychain01 · 29/12/2017 12:06

The person citing the Data Protrction Act doesn't know their arse from their elbow. Making it up as thry go along just like jobsworths who cite Health and Safety. They must think people are as thick as they are.

Original poster
Lostandfoundwoman · 29/12/2017 12:23

The reason I haven’t posted my photograph on MN is precisely so that someone would need to give a description, otherwise I would have. It is quite distinctive.

Okay, calling 101 now.

OP posts:
stayathomegardener · 29/12/2017 12:23

I think it's the principle of the matter.
I'm happy to phone up and ask if a gold bracelet was handed in on a certain date if you pm me.

Original poster
Lostandfoundwoman · 29/12/2017 12:24

PS equally happy to see it handed to the police if Selfridges do not track down the owner.

OP posts:
Cherrycokewinning · 29/12/2017 12:28

I’m really surprised you and other posters are so suspicious and invested. I would just assume their office communications person can’t be arsed to look into it with all the customer services issues over Xmas, jan sales etc they must be really busy.

SpiritedAweigh · 29/12/2017 12:28

I just popped in and picked it up. Thanks gor the free bracelet! Grin Wink

VelvetSpoon · 29/12/2017 12:33

Idiots citing DPA when there is NO data protection element infuriates me. I wish companies would train their staff properly so they don't parrot this shit.

I had to make a complaint recently to a well known retailer. I asked what their internal timescales were for sending a FRL or similar. The response was they couldn't tell me due to DPA! I pointed out telling me when they will be responding to a complaint I've made cannot be a data protection issue. Ye gods.

LemonysSnicket · 29/12/2017 13:42

When I worked in Debenhams the lost property was a free for all after a month. So were the perfume testers. This was years ago though and they stopped letting us have the testers whilst I was there.

DeepanKrispanEven · 29/12/2017 13:52

I'd be tempted to write to someone senior suggesting urgent training for the person you have been writing to. They plainly have no idea what the Data Protection Act says but seem to be under the mistaken impression that they can use it to deflect any inquiry, and therefore they aren't capable of doing their job properly.

EastDulwichWife · 29/12/2017 14:05

This has nothing to do with data protection, since there is absolutely no data to speak of. I'd tell the police.

Original poster
Lostandfoundwoman · 29/12/2017 14:16

I agree totally about the DPA nonsense- it’s code for “computer says no” unhelpfulness.

My DD’s boyfriend has just tweeted this thread for me.

stayathomegardener. Thanks! I’ll do that if Twitter doesn’t produce a coherent response.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lostandfoundwoman · 29/12/2017 14:24

Selfridges have already replied to the tweet asking for further details :-). My DD is asking them what it is they need to follow this up. Some journalists retweeted so perhaps that was the prompt Selfridges needed (my DD’s boyfriend has several thousand followers).

OP posts:
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 29/12/2017 14:37

DH has lost his wallet and we reported it as lost to the police using an on line form, so the owner of the bracelet may well do the same. Your local police may well have a 'found' form too, if so, fill it in stating where the bracelet is currently located.

Eg, this is the Sussex police site: sussex.police.uk/contact-us/report-online/report-lost-and-found-property/

WashingMatilda · 29/12/2017 15:38

I really don't get what Selfridge's have done wrong here.
By your own admission, they have taken ownership for the bracelet, it is under their control now, you simply found it and kindly handed it in.

You have no right to the bracelet just because you happened to be the one walking by at that time, and that includes getting updates on its location now. Confused

AppleAndBlackberry · 29/12/2017 15:51

The OP found a very valuable bracelet and when she tried to hand it in the staff were vague and unhelpful. When she tried to check it had made it to the right place they were dismissive. She rightfully wants to make sure that a member of staff hasn't stolen the bracelet and that appropriate procedures are being followed.