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Original poster

Returned Debit Card-Accused of Theft

108 replies

WatchAnXFilesWithNoLightsOn · 23/09/2023 19:30

I just wrote chapter and verse on this and it was about 5 pages longer! So going to try and keep it shorter and to the point

On my way out near my house I found a debit card. After checking on SM to see if anyone was looking for a lost card I rang the bank. They cancelled it and said they'd let the card holder know and to destroy the card.

I carried on and when I got to the high street saw two women looking frantically for something. One called the other by the (unusual) name on the card. I went over and explained where I'd found it and returned it to them but also said the bank had stopped the card. They said thanks and I went on my merry way

Hours later I was leaving my house with the dog for a walk and saw them in the area I'd said I found the card. They noticed me leaving the house and I waved and went over. Cue masses of abuse and being called a theiving cunt.

Apparently in the hours between her losing it and me finding it someone had withdrawn cash and spent lots online. It seems someone had watched her at a cash point, pinched the card then chucked it.

Her detective skills had decided I was the likely thief. I explained that it wasn't me and why would I approach them and return the card if so. No real answer to that.

I left them to it but about ten minutes ago the husband of card holder lady knocked on the door and demanded £700 from us to compensate for all the spending. Now, I've no idea why on earth the bank wouldn't sort this for her but needless to say he got told where to go. He then said he'd be back with the police or 'his mates' to make sure he got the money!

Talk about no good deed! So what do I do? Should I call the police first (on non emergency number) as I definitely feel there was a threat! I've never had something so strange happen to me!

OP posts:
Original poster
WatchAnXFilesWithNoLightsOn · 23/09/2023 19:31

Sorry, I didn't do very well at shortening that!

OP posts:
Helpwhatwouldyoudonext · 23/09/2023 19:33

Yes call 101, as they have your address. Nothing will probably happen but I'd want to report the issue first, esp as they knocked on your door!

spongebunnyfatpants · 23/09/2023 19:33

Ring the police and tell them about the threats that were made. Do you have a ring door bell that recorded the conversation?

FortofPud · 23/09/2023 19:33

Yes, i would definitely tell the police. Get a record of the threats in first, just in case it escalates.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 23/09/2023 19:37

I think you shouldn't have rang the bank and cancelled someone else's card, can you even legally do that with data protection? That's bizarre behaviour. But given that you did, you should have destroyed the card and not randomly asked someone on the street (even with the same name) if it was theirs.
Also how did they get your address?
And you've no way of knowing that the money really has gone missing.
Just phone the police if they come back and don't respond to any calls/messages (there was zero reason to give out your details to them anyway).
I think you've gone over the top being a people pleaser with this one and it's backfired horrifically.

Theunamedcat · 23/09/2023 19:39

Cash machines have cctv so your innocence is easy to prove

Hobbes8 · 23/09/2023 19:43

I reckon they’re trying to scam you. They must know a criminal wouldn’t hand them back the card and then hand over piles of cash at the door.

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 23/09/2023 19:43

Some people are so fucking thick.

That's all I have to say, other than I hope they leave you alone, OP.

RumJerrySailorRum · 23/09/2023 19:45

You don't understand data protection do you???

RumJerrySailorRum · 23/09/2023 19:46

Ffs, that was in reply to Sister Michael ridiculous response

EvilElsa · 23/09/2023 19:48

If they are not scammers then they would have immediately contacted the police. Why wouldn't you if you thought someone had stolen £700?
Contact them yourself, explain what happened and the threats made.

TyneTeas · 23/09/2023 19:48

If it was a data protection issue, it would have been up to the bank to decide not to act, but the bank wouldn't be giving a third party information, they would just be noting the details provided by OP and deciding what to do

PenguinLove1 · 23/09/2023 19:50

SisterMichaelsHabit · 23/09/2023 19:37

I think you shouldn't have rang the bank and cancelled someone else's card, can you even legally do that with data protection? That's bizarre behaviour. But given that you did, you should have destroyed the card and not randomly asked someone on the street (even with the same name) if it was theirs.
Also how did they get your address?
And you've no way of knowing that the money really has gone missing.
Just phone the police if they come back and don't respond to any calls/messages (there was zero reason to give out your details to them anyway).
I think you've gone over the top being a people pleaser with this one and it's backfired horrifically.

This is exactly what you are supposed to do when you find a card and is the reason why most card issuers have a lost and stolen number to call on the back of them.

All the bank will have done is block the card, they wont have given any information out or ordered a replacement so there is no issue with data protection, what a ridiculous response.

Pleaseme · 23/09/2023 19:51

SisterMichaelsHabit · 23/09/2023 19:37

I think you shouldn't have rang the bank and cancelled someone else's card, can you even legally do that with data protection? That's bizarre behaviour. But given that you did, you should have destroyed the card and not randomly asked someone on the street (even with the same name) if it was theirs.
Also how did they get your address?
And you've no way of knowing that the money really has gone missing.
Just phone the police if they come back and don't respond to any calls/messages (there was zero reason to give out your details to them anyway).
I think you've gone over the top being a people pleaser with this one and it's backfired horrifically.

You absolutely should do this. You don’t need their details its not like you’re pretending to be them. Just an I found this card and they cancel it. Bit unfortunate the way it worked out for op though.

OneTC · 23/09/2023 19:52

I'd call the police about the visit to your door

CaroleSinger · 23/09/2023 19:52

SisterMichaelsHabit · 23/09/2023 19:37

I think you shouldn't have rang the bank and cancelled someone else's card, can you even legally do that with data protection? That's bizarre behaviour. But given that you did, you should have destroyed the card and not randomly asked someone on the street (even with the same name) if it was theirs.
Also how did they get your address?
And you've no way of knowing that the money really has gone missing.
Just phone the police if they come back and don't respond to any calls/messages (there was zero reason to give out your details to them anyway).
I think you've gone over the top being a people pleaser with this one and it's backfired horrifically.

I have contacted a bank before to report a card I found in the street and the bank put a stop on it. What on earth is bizarre behaviour about that?

Fiiiish · 23/09/2023 19:53

SisterMichaelsHabit · 23/09/2023 19:37

I think you shouldn't have rang the bank and cancelled someone else's card, can you even legally do that with data protection? That's bizarre behaviour. But given that you did, you should have destroyed the card and not randomly asked someone on the street (even with the same name) if it was theirs.
Also how did they get your address?
And you've no way of knowing that the money really has gone missing.
Just phone the police if they come back and don't respond to any calls/messages (there was zero reason to give out your details to them anyway).
I think you've gone over the top being a people pleaser with this one and it's backfired horrifically.

Of course you ring up and cancel the card! I've done it several times after finding bank cards in the street before destroying the card. It's why there's a number on the back.

MariePaperRoses · 23/09/2023 19:54

Sounds like a scam.

CherryCokeFanatic · 23/09/2023 19:55

Obvious scam is obvious

Unfortunate that you have let them know where you live and engaged them the second time

Have a fun few next days/weeks

alwaysmovingforwards · 23/09/2023 19:56

SisterMichaelsHabit · 23/09/2023 19:37

I think you shouldn't have rang the bank and cancelled someone else's card, can you even legally do that with data protection? That's bizarre behaviour. But given that you did, you should have destroyed the card and not randomly asked someone on the street (even with the same name) if it was theirs.
Also how did they get your address?
And you've no way of knowing that the money really has gone missing.
Just phone the police if they come back and don't respond to any calls/messages (there was zero reason to give out your details to them anyway).
I think you've gone over the top being a people pleaser with this one and it's backfired horrifically.

Many bank cards have a list and found number on the back. No issue calling them to say you've found it.
They'll cancel the card, taken the OPs take details and asked her to hand into into a beach or destroy it. They will contact the cardholder.

So in this instance, not destroying it and giving it to a radon in the street was well meaning to a degree, but not what the call would have asked her to do.

CherryMaDeara · 23/09/2023 19:56

It’s all very odd.

gamerchick · 23/09/2023 20:00

Highly unlikely. Sounds like a scam.

Tell them to go with you to the police station and get it all straightened out. Cash points have cameras and banks have records

I didn't know you could get 700 quid out of a cashpoint

Alargeoneplease89 · 23/09/2023 20:02

Sounds like a scam, I would call the police that way if they do turn up they hopefully log your address as priority.

CuntRYMusicStar · 23/09/2023 20:03

gamerchick · 23/09/2023 20:00

Highly unlikely. Sounds like a scam.

Tell them to go with you to the police station and get it all straightened out. Cash points have cameras and banks have records

I didn't know you could get 700 quid out of a cashpoint

The op says they spent online and withdrew cash - easy to rack up £700 quite quickly.

I would report on 101 - that is a threat. Some people are ridiculous. Surely the bank will investigate and refund the stolen money?

ScroogeMcDuckling · 23/09/2023 20:03

If you find a card, there is a number on it to ring, you tell them the card details and the card is stopped instantly, nothing about data protection or gdpr.