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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to keep or not to keep this?

21 replies

fedupintheoffice · 08/12/2009 09:53

Every year at Christmas, the council housing i'm with pay back £1 for every week you paid your rent on time. They put this on a gift card and send it to us. I received 2 of these cards, both with my name on, so yesterday, I phoned the housing office and told them so. The lady I spoke to said check which one has balance on and throw the other away. This morning I checked the balance on them both, one had £30 (the one I should have), and the other £52. Both cards have my name and address on. I don't have a bean at the moment and i'm very tempted to keep both, and of course use, both of them, but i'm aware I could be traced by the council after the phone call. WIBU to keep them both?

OP posts:
Dirtgirl · 08/12/2009 10:05

You do know that if you keep the wrong one, they'll claw back the money as soon as the mistake is found. Best to do the right thing IMO.

worldgonemad72 · 08/12/2009 10:05

Will they know if you have spent them both? if not id use them.

thesecondcoming · 08/12/2009 10:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AccioPinotGrigio · 08/12/2009 10:31

I wondered what happened to ILVA!

Spend the higher value one and hope they don't come chasing the cash in the new year. If they do, tell them you were confused. It will take them ages to find the mistake - if they ever do.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 08/12/2009 11:35

You told them, they made a mistake, they won't trace it. If they realise they are one short they will just buy another one. They are probably going to be out by loads as these sort of things always are.

I know it's not honest but I'd keep it. Whoever it belongs to should get a replacement.

Alambil · 08/12/2009 11:39

You told them - she didn't say to send it back = their problem.

Have a nice christmas with the £80

I just got £90 back from my electric company so know how you feel wrt it being a bonus (also on benefits)

StrictlyKatty · 08/12/2009 11:52

thesecondcoming so you didn't actually say you had already recieved the furniture! OMG that is shockingly dishonest.

OP and least you phoned and told them of their mistake. Personally I wouldn't spend it as I'd be afraid they'd realise and ask for the money back later! But I'm a wimp when it comes to getting away with anything

lorelilee · 08/12/2009 13:25

I can't believe the a)question and b) the replies. You KNOW they have made a mistake so to do anything but return the wrong one would be theft. END OF. Just because you're skint, it doesn't give you the right to break the law! If that's your attitude, why don't you just nip down to your local Tesco and engage in a spot of shoplifting?

MeltedTreeChocolates · 08/12/2009 13:27

do not keep what is not yours....

pjmama · 08/12/2009 13:34

It's your conscience, only you can decide.

Haylstones · 08/12/2009 13:37

I couldn't/ wouldn't keep it but it is your decision to make.

Virginbirth · 08/12/2009 13:38

You know, you shouldn't make all your decisions based on the views of 11 strangers in cyber-space.

You know what you want to do. When people pose these dilemmas, that always know what they want to do. Did enough people give you the answer you were looking for?

thesecondcoming · 08/12/2009 15:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bettymum · 08/12/2009 15:42

A similar thing happened to my parents last winter - they both got their heating allowance even though they're married and in the same house (so should only get one allowance between them). They phoned the council to tell them, and were told to keep the money as it would have cost the council more to cancel one payment and redo all the paperwork than it would to give two payments out . Council woman wasn't in the least concerned.

Bumblelion · 08/12/2009 15:56

10 years ago when I moved into this house with my husband, we bought a new kitchen from B & Q (cost £1600 - that's how long ago it was). We had it on 9 months interest free and I set myself a reminder to pay when the payment was due. I rang for a settlement figure (had the money in the bank, but rather it was in our hands than theirs) - they then said that they had no record of us ever having bought a kitchen from them. I told them the invoice number, payment details, everything and again they insisted that the kitchen delivery did not exist. In the end, I got my solicitor to write a letter to which they responded saying that the outstanding balance was £0 and we were not to make any more contact with them. In the end, after about 6 months, we spent the £1600 on a new leather settee. Today I have had a new kitchen delivered from B & Q but, this time, have paid for it.

ChristmasMoon · 08/12/2009 16:11

I'm just shocked that you get sent a gift card for paying your rent on time!

ChristmasMoon · 08/12/2009 16:12

for shocked also read jealous.

HugeBaublesWhatDidISayRoy · 08/12/2009 16:13

keep it.

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 08/12/2009 16:20

tsc, we got a carpet cleaner in exactly the same way!

we currently have the cleaner and the money

ho-hum

Brunettelady · 08/12/2009 20:52

Agree with what Virginbirth said.

NightShoe · 08/12/2009 21:13

Keep it.

I bought something in Tesco the other day which was meant to be £10, but it went through the till at 1p. Lovely, thank you very much Mr Tesco, every little helps.

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