Accidental crime...

[ChinChinDarlings]

NC, because I have become an inadvertent criminal.

This sounds unlikely but it true and I would like some advice and insight.

I was out today with a friend, lunch, galleries, bit of shopping. Tapping away merrily with my card.

My husband met me at the station to pick me up and I said I needed to go to the supermarket to get something and he asked what I'd been paying with all day because he had my card in his pocket.

We'd been away at the weekend and he'd been using my card because that was the card we had on us, I have a premium banking product and my card is very distinctive. I'd checked that I had my card in my holder before I went out today because I knew We'd both been using it at the weekend. Saw it was in my holder and have been tapping away all day.

The card I had in my holder and have been merrily using all day, is not my card. It belongs to a man I've never heard of. The only solution I can see is that I picked his identical card up that he left on a table and I assumed it was my card.

I have been spending a stranger's money all day. Shall I just phone the bank? Won't I look like a criminal?

TL;DR. I have accidentally spent some blokes money all day. I don't know what to do!

You won't look like a criminal if you phone your bank, report the mistake, and pay back what you've spent.

You might look like a criminal if you don't report it and the transactions are traced to you. Anyway, it's the honest thing to report it.

I'm not patronising or entitled.

C'mon. I'm not. Or nasty.

I'm a pragmatist if anything. I was shocked to find that I'd been using someone else's card. I was.

I will call tomorrow.

I don't think the bloke who hasn't realised his card was missing for four days and then was spent on, was inconvenienced in any way.

I don't think the police or fraud peeps will be interested in me in any way. It was an accident.

No-one cares.

😁

Also look at the burden of proof

The man and the bank can prove his card was used fraudulently, was missing - they can prove theft and fraud based on what they already know.

How can the OP disprove the above, what evidence does she have.

The bank will have the stolen card in her possession and her use of it, which would I imagine be a slam dunk in court.

Let us know what they say, I'm not so sure they won't be interested...

@ChinChinDarlings The responses to this thread suggest some people would care if this was their card.

It's great that from your perspective this hasn't been a big deal and you're comfortable with managing the consequences for you of your actions.

But you cannot know for sure this has not caused (or will not cause) him problems.

Would you feel this confident in your actions if you knew he was having difficulties because of this?

She's bang to rights. If its a first offence (doubtful - probably has a drawer full of knock off) she might get lucky and do service. Worst case shes looking at a two stretch in the pen.

That's all super lovely and great.

You're imaging weird things that don't happen.

It's not stolen.

It's so insignificant that the courts would never be interested.

That's a fantastical scenario.

😂

@ChinChinDarlings I think you are fabulous.
You had a great day, realised about the card, had a little panic, posted in here, calmed down and are now providing us all with an entertaining thread while planning to sort it out in the morning.

Why anyone else has their knickers in a twist over these facts is beyond me.
Anyone who has ever had to contact a bank or card company in the phone should be under no illusion that it's a draining, time consuming pita! Posters declaring they would ring and sort it out right now are either deluded, liars or self righteous sorts determined to tear others down.

Chin chin to you and good luck on the phone tomorrow 🥂

Congrats on not knowing right from wrong.

😃

I thank you @BowtieBling!

Yes.

Obviously.

Thank you darling.

Xx

You'll be fine. Worst comes to worst you can frame your friend. Or your husband.

Ya!

Shocking of course you should call the bank and refund the card holder

What goes unanswered given your frequent posts OP speaks volumes. At least you are amused and not inconvenienced.

If your husband knew he had your card, and knew you couldn't pay at the supermarket, why didn't he ring you to warn you?? Try harder. Chinchin😆

No.

You're not being fair.

I'm always amused.

I love people. They amuse me.

This is a crazy thread.

But I love it.

God no wonder there are so many trolls on here when so many posters are so easily wound up

Brilliant thread. Multiple posts about ‘distinctive’ bank card (bling bling) but not even the tiniest thought of the person whose card she has.

Because his is a bling bling card also. Never mind not knowing the poor sod, no idea whether he suffers from anxiety etc. You just base everything around a card. This chap can wait until morning cause he has the same card as you.

Bet you park in disabled parking bays 😉

criminal lawyer here! Theft / fraud are crimes hinged on dishonesty, by calling asap you, imho, help prove an ‘honest mistake’ defence. Posting for hours on Mumsnet about whether or not you can be bothered to report is not supportive of such a defence. Baring in mind the bank is likely to refund the real card holder, the offence is against the bank, who in my defence can take matters more seriously (or ignore completely, depending on the bank)