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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I found some money...

205 replies

cooksomeeggs · 09/04/2019 07:32

We are currently on holiday, arrived yesterday. Had to make up the beds and when I pulled the mattress up, I found an envelope with £175 in it. On the front of the envelope it had a woman's name on it.
Obviously someone has left this behind and I would have been devastated if I had lost that amount of money. My husband and I agree that if we handed it in (to the complex/police), it probably wouldn't reach the owner. Would I be unreasonable to give the money to my friend who is raising money to support a charity?

OP posts:
Queenofthestress · 09/04/2019 07:35

Yes because its not your money. Hand it in

hospitalbagfrenzy · 09/04/2019 07:35

YANBU

motherofdxughters · 09/04/2019 07:36

Yes, that's theft. You should hand it in and give it a chance to get to the correct person.

Etino · 09/04/2019 07:36

Worse thing to do.
Is it her full name? Check Facebook. Talk to the management, ask them who was in your room last, look at visitor book, talk to local reps. Where are you?

NoSauce · 09/04/2019 07:36

What if the person asks the complex/police if it’s been handed in?

The right thing is to hand it over imo.

Singlenotsingle · 09/04/2019 07:36

Yes I think you would. That's theft. You've no right to take it and give it to someone else, even a charity. And it would be obvious who took the money. The police would be on your doorstep before you know it. Just hand it in. Then you've done your bit.

00100001 · 09/04/2019 07:36

I would try and find the woman

The holiday place might have details

DoneLikeAKipper · 09/04/2019 07:37

Would I be unreasonable to give the money to my friend who is raising money to support a charity?

Of course you would - hand it to the complex!

ScreamingValenta · 09/04/2019 07:37

Could you ask the complex to pass your phone number on to the person who had the room before you?

Adversecamber22 · 09/04/2019 07:37

Give it to the police.

Original poster
cooksomeeggs · 09/04/2019 07:37

It's just a first name. We will hand it in!

OP posts:
Etino · 09/04/2019 07:38

If you’re in the uk and hand it to the police you’ll get it back if it’s not claimed then you can do what you want with it. Not sure about other countries’ policies.

LL83 · 09/04/2019 07:38

I would hand it in. If it doesn't reach owner it has been stolen, this might not happen (very judgemental to assume it will be taken) and it may be returned. If you keep it even to give to charity you're the one stealing it.

billybagpuss · 09/04/2019 07:38

I’d be questioning the cleaning if they’d missed that!

I tend to agree that it probably wouldn’t reach the correct owner but would want to at least try. Maybe ask at the desk if anyone had contacted them as you’ve found something but would prefer to hand it to the police as it is of value. (I know there are so many issues with this plan but..)

I wouldn’t give it to your friend quite so soon although I think ultimately it would be ok.

Original poster
cooksomeeggs · 09/04/2019 07:38

We will hand it in. I doubt the complex would be able to hand over details of the previous holiday makers.

OP posts:
Etino · 09/04/2019 07:39

Hand it in, ask for a receipt. Or take it to the police, notifying the complex you’ve taken it in.

Etino · 09/04/2019 07:40

You could ask the owner to contact anyone staying there with the first name and if they’ve lost anything?

Rottencooking · 09/04/2019 07:41

Ywbvu to do anything other than hand it in, you can't say that it wouldn't reach the owner. Even if you give it to someone else for a good cause it's not your money. You'd be like a modern day Robin Hood!

The fact it was found in a room and has a name should be enough of an identifier to return it. The people who left it will know how much is in it and who it's for if the hotel ends up having to ask multiple holidayers.

badwedding · 09/04/2019 07:47

I would hand it to the Police but notify the complex. Much more chance of the money getting back to who left it behind.
If it isn't claimed you will likely get it back and can then donate to charity.

floribunda18 · 09/04/2019 07:50

Why would you think it won't get back to the owner if it is handed in? What kind of dodgy place are you staying in?

Of course you just hand it in at reception without hesitation. If the money did subsequently go missing it then isn't your problem.

snitzelvoncrumb · 09/04/2019 07:51

Hand it in to the police, and contact the owner asking them to contact the previous occupants to tell them money was found and where to collect it. Don't say how much or the name on the envelope so hopefully only the rightful owner can collect not the owner of the holiday home.

TheGrey1houndSpeaks · 09/04/2019 08:00

Diverting someone else’s money to a charity without their consent is stealing, every bit as much as spending it on beer and skittles Hmm
Your moral compass is out of whack if you don’t see this distinction.

bebeboeuf · 09/04/2019 08:00

If be wondering

1- why would someon staying in a room leave an envelope of money under the mattress

2 - I would then be pretty sure that the name on the envelope wouldn’t be the name of the person staying in the room

3 - I would be quite sure that unless this is some super luxury hotel where they go or of their way to reunite lost goods with owners that the money would be handed in and forgotten about immediately

4 - how does anyone think that police or a hotel can trace an owner of an envelope of cash with just a first name? A name most likely not on their booking?

InACheeseAndPickle · 09/04/2019 08:01

Why would it not get back to the owner? She might ring the complex and ask if it's been handed in. If no one claims it with a certain time you usually get to keep it anyway then you can give it to charity.

Blondebakingmumma · 09/04/2019 08:01

I wouldn’t hand it to staff. When traveling with a group 4 passports were left in a hotel room. They disappeared mysteriously