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AIBU?

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Original poster

Found money … what should I do !

502 replies

Brighton5555 · 24/02/2022 21:24

Hi so a couple weeks ago I visited my sister and we went around a good few charity shops like we always do when we see each other.

I noticed a lovely patchwork type of quilted blanket that looked like it was hand made ! I paid for it and it’s been still in the carrier bag till this morning as I wanted to wash it first before use

I was checking for any washing instructions on the labels and that’s when I noticed that in one quarter of the blanket it felt different … the more I pressed on that area the more I could almost feel something move so curiously I made a cut and I’ve found money inside

It’s not old notes , it’s uk money and quite a chunk. Most of it in £50 notes and we are talking over £1000, I don’t want to say how many thousands

I don’t know what to do. Go back to the shop? Or keep it

I’m due to go on holiday soon and it would really help with expenses

OP posts:
phishy · 26/02/2022 01:45

Erm, yeah, that happened.

Ddot · 26/02/2022 07:20

So are you going to tell us how much it is then. I hope you didnt plonk the lot in the bank if it's more than 10 I think the bank has to inform the police and the tax man

Ragwort · 26/02/2022 08:03

Rosabel have you actually read the thread? Numerous posters (many of whom work in charity shops) have explained that the shop might very well be able to trace the doner.

Spiderysummer · 26/02/2022 08:49

I am shocked how many people are saying that there is no way of tracing the owner. I have a gift aid card that is scanned everytime I donate. The barcode is linked to my address. I think it was a shame that no attempt was even made to check this. Many people I see donating in my town use gift aid cards, why wouldn't you when the charity gets extra money on all items you donate.

ElleGB · 26/02/2022 08:53

@Spiderysummer

I am shocked how many people are saying that there is no way of tracing the owner. I have a gift aid card that is scanned everytime I donate. The barcode is linked to my address. I think it was a shame that no attempt was even made to check this. Many people I see donating in my town use gift aid cards, why wouldn't you when the charity gets extra money on all items you donate.
I agree!

Even if the charity shop can’t trace the owner, surely the first thing the person who donated it would do when they realise the money is missing would be to call them to see if the buyer had handed it in!

The least you could do is call and leave a message with the charity shop with your number, that way if the person does get in touch you can be contacted and if they don’t get in touch in a couple of months then your conscience is clear.

It makes me feel a bit sick that people would just keep it - that’s someone’s savings, or emergency fund, why else would it be hidden?

But as long as you enjoy your holiday hey?

Arabellla · 26/02/2022 08:59

@Spiderysummer

I am shocked how many people are saying that there is no way of tracing the owner. I have a gift aid card that is scanned everytime I donate. The barcode is linked to my address. I think it was a shame that no attempt was even made to check this. Many people I see donating in my town use gift aid cards, why wouldn't you when the charity gets extra money on all items you donate.
Your gift cards get scanned when you donate household goods, clothes etc?
Popfan · 26/02/2022 09:30

Im shocked you didn't go back to the charity shop. The money isn't yours and belongs to someone who saved up over a long time seeing as some of it is old. Probably life savings. Totally morally wrong.

EezyOozy · 26/02/2022 09:30

I wouldn't normally say keep it, I would normally say hand any phoned money into the police… But in this case I think it's highly likely that the owner of this money is deceased. I wonder if it might be worth letting the charity shop know that you have found something valuable inside this blanket and perhaps they could do a shout out on social media to see if her children (who presumably donated it) get in touch? You don't have to say what you have found. If nobody gets in touch then just keep it!

whenthedoveslie · 26/02/2022 09:49

It must have been a big blanket to successfully conceal the money being detected by all who previously handled it.

I would have tried to find out where it came from.

I hope you don't ever unintentionally lose something of value OP.

BuyDirt · 26/02/2022 09:58

Your gift cards get scanned when you donate household goods, clothes etc?

There’s lots of info about it on the cancer research uk site. They log every item, not sure if all charity shops do it.

From their website, under ‘how do you track my donations’

we create an account in our till system that lets us match you to your items. Every item you donate is then labelled with a reference number, which is scanned when they get sold.

xxxsuper · 26/02/2022 10:02

Your gift cards get scanned when you donate household goods, clothes etc?

Not gift cards. Gift aid card.

pinkfondu · 26/02/2022 10:10

@2021s

Granny has died and they’ve cleared her stuff into the charity shop, the fact they’ve donated a blanket that she made herself means they don’t care for her so much, if it was my granny I would never let something as precious as that go, therefore they don’t deserve the money back. So if you need it keep it! If you don’t, donate it to someone who does. Let granny’s hidden money help someone out, she was maybe hiding it from her family who care so little they put her handmade work into a charity shop.
This

Keep it!

zingally · 26/02/2022 10:19

I'd probably donate a sizable chunk to the charity you got it from (30-40% maybe), and enjoy the rest!

PeakyBlender · 26/02/2022 10:22

I'd have kept it too. Have a lovely holiday

Eggshausted · 26/02/2022 12:42

@Maves

Glad you used it for something meaningful like upgrading your seats.
So if the OP had bought a diamond ring, that would have been OK with you? Good luck to you OP , it’s sad how people are trying to find any little angle they can attack you on. It’s nothing more than jealousy.
Arabellla · 27/02/2022 08:16

@xxxsuper

Your gift cards get scanned when you donate household goods, clothes etc?

Not gift cards. Gift aid card.

Pretty obvious that’s what I meant. Hmm
xxxsuper · 27/02/2022 08:40

@Arabellla

I genuinely thought you had confused a normal gift card with the gift aid card mentioned. Not sure why you think it was obvious what you meant, it can't have been that obvious otherwise you would not be here eye rolling and correcting me, would you?

fussychica · 27/02/2022 08:57

I can see the dreaded DM picking this up.
If you buy a painting / item of jewellery, some collectable at a car boot, auction or charity shop and it turns out to be worth a mint that's your good fortune. You have purchased the item in its entirety, I can't see you've done anything wrong if you keep it. The fact this involves a wodge of cash as part of an otherwise worthless item is causing the issue here for many posters.

GilesRupert · 27/02/2022 09:21

This story has more holes than a crochet blanket.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 27/02/2022 09:24

I might pop into the charity shop and ask if they remember anything about who donated the item, or to check if anyone had been in to look for it. I wouldn't give a huge amount of information regarding what you found in it - if they know about it they will say.

But if there is no identifying information regarding where the blanket came from I would keep the money without feeling any guilt!!

It's a bit like finding cash in the street, I'd keep it if I didn't know where it had come from. But if I saw it fall out of someone's pocket, or found a wallet with a name in it then of course I'd hand it over/seek to find the owner.

What a wonderful find - enjoy it!

MyCatEatsPrawnCrackers · 27/02/2022 09:35

@FlasherMcGruff

Well, the owner won’t have knowingly given it away with money in, so has it belonged to someone now deceased? I’d assume the charity shop would be contacted in a panic if there’s any sort of error. So you could contact them and leave your info, saying that it’s regarding a blanket that seems valuable and might have been donated in error. If you hear nothing for several months, keep it. Not sure why morally you’d need to split the money as that money wasn’t donated to the shop - the blanket was and you found the money in it.
I think this is good advice, although instead of keeping all of the money to could give some to the charity that the shop supports. If the donor is gift aid registered at the shop, they will have the donor's details.
whiteworldgettingwhiter · 27/02/2022 09:50

The shop might well be able to trace it back to the donor. One charity shop I donate to gives each donor a code, and they put that code onto each item you donate. I get an email from them every six months saying how much my donated items have sold for.

I think your instincts are correct: go back to the shop and ask if they know who donated the blanket. It sounds like an unusual item so they might remember, or they might use the system I describe above. Good luck!

Arabellla · 27/02/2022 19:37

[quote xxxsuper]@Arabellla

I genuinely thought you had confused a normal gift card with the gift aid card mentioned. Not sure why you think it was obvious what you meant, it can't have been that obvious otherwise you would not be here eye rolling and correcting me, would you?[/quote]
Engage your brain, why would I be asking about a charity shop scanning a gift card?!

I’m eye rolling because you’re being condescending and obvious, when you didn’t need to comment at all.

xxxsuper · 27/02/2022 21:29

Engage your brain, why would I be asking about a charity shop scanning a gift card?!

My goodness you are rude. I made a mistake.

I’m eye rolling because you’re being condescending and obvious, when you didn’t need to comment at all.

I wasn't, I genuinely thought you were confusing gift cards with the gift aid card.

Yellownotblue · 27/02/2022 21:35

@Boombastic22

Take it back to the shop/tell the police! Can’t believe you’d possibly think of keeping it.
Yeah, a whopping 1.7% of reported rapes are prosecuted. I’m sure there are hordes of police officers twiddling their thumbs, who can’t wait to sink their teeth in the great Quilt Bonanza Mystery.