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Original poster

Reward for finder of lost property? Advice please

17 replies

Janh · 22/05/2004 13:14

On a v drunken night out a few weeks ago a friend of DD1's managed to lose his wallet and his digital camera, which was full of pictures he hadn't even downloaded yet.

Somebody handed the camera in to the police station so he's got it back. He actually lives 250 miles away so his dad, who lives here, is responsible for somehow rewarding the finder. The question is what reward? Apparently the camera would have cost about £350 to replace, apart from the personal value of the pics...is there any sort of rule of thumb for this sort of thing, eg 10% of property value? More? Not money at all?

Suggestions, anybody?

OP posts:
coppertop · 22/05/2004 13:19

Presumably he has the contact details for the finder? I don't think there are any rules. What could he afford to give and how much would he want to give? If nothing then why not just send a thankyou letter instead?

Coddylicious · 22/05/2004 13:19

I think £20 - £50

Angeliz · 22/05/2004 13:22

I think £20 and a lovely thankyou note saying how pleased they are to have the pictures back

beansprout · 22/05/2004 14:00

I don't think a reward is needed. Someone has done a decent thing, but they are not out of pocket.

I think it's a bit sad that we live in a world where just being a good person is not enough...we need MONEY too!!

I did something once and got a messge saying "you have restored my faith in human nature". That was fantastic, I didn't need 20 quid of his money too!

moominmama86 · 22/05/2004 14:04

Why does he have to give a reward? As beansprout said, the person who found it is not out of pocket. I would be very surprised to be rewarded financially for handing something in a police station, tbh! Although I'd be really pleased to get a thank you in the form of a note - think that's a great idea.

SoupDragon · 22/05/2004 14:31

A thank you and some chocolates?

WideWebWitch · 22/05/2004 15:30

I once lost my purse and it was handed in, cash and all. I sent a tenner I think because I wanted to show how grateful I was (the pain of cancelling and replacing all the cards etc would have been awful). I think a tenner and a note that says 'please have a drink on me' is nice.

Original poster
Janh · 22/05/2004 20:56

Well, he doesn't have to give a reward but would really like to. "Honesty is its own reward" after all and of course, the way things seem to be these days, the sort of person who does hand things in will continue to do so, and the sort of person who doesn't wouldn't be affected by hearing about someone who was rewarded, however generously.

Thanks for all your responses! I think I will suggest £20 and a thank-you note and maybe some chocs too. (It is a bloke I believe, probably quite young because the camera was left on a nightclub bus, but he could always give chocs to his mum or girlfriend! The dad had thought maybe some good wine (value not obvious) but the chap might not drink wine...)

OP posts:
Tinker · 22/05/2004 21:00

Think a thank you gift is lovely. I found a purse in a taxi once, had tickets in for a do few days later. Left it with my mum to send back - still miffed that she got teh big bouquet of flowers . And there was hardly any money in the purse at all.

Rhubarb · 22/05/2004 21:20

I found a mobile phone once. I went to great lengths to find the owner, I even felt guilty about using some of his credits to phone people in his address book, trying to track him down. When I did get hold of the guy, he asked if he could collect it at 5.30pm that evening. That meant me staying over at work half an hour later than normal (and bearing in mind that I was 8 months pregnant at the time), but I agreed as I thought that it must be really important for him to have his 'phone back. He arrived with his girlie, I gave him the phone, he said thanks and then just left! I know you shouldn't expect anything more, and to be honest, I would do it again no matter, but it did make me feel a bit shit!

maisystar · 22/05/2004 21:29

hmmm, think i would be a bit insulted by the money (and i am skint!!). a bottle of wine or some beer and a thank you letter would be lovely though. just cash seems a bit, i dont know, brusque-not sure thats the right word. i think if i found something and was offered cash as a reward i wouldnt want to take it.......

Original poster
Janh · 22/05/2004 22:08

So how about if I recommend some wine AND some beer AND some chocs AND a thank you note? (And no money???)

OP posts:
maisystar · 22/05/2004 22:20

that would do v nicely for me!!

seriously though, think thats a much nicer, more 'personal' thank you.

kalex · 22/05/2004 22:25

I live really near a biulders yard, and one night I woke up to really strange sounds at 2.00am, phoned the police and they aprehended 2 guys trying to break in.

The owner didn't know which one of his neighbours had phoned the police, and spent two weeks going round neighbours. When he came to the door and asked I said Yeh it was me, and he handed me a large vottle of malt, and then he started to laugh, coz he looked down and I was 38 weeks pregnant.

But I was so touched that he had taken the trouble to find out who I was.

The bottle of malt is still in the cupboard, but the thought really touched me

Rhubarb · 22/05/2004 22:25

ooooh, can I have some wine too?

SofiaAmes · 22/05/2004 23:24

I think £20 would be nice. It's just an acknowledgement that you appreciate his honesty. Also, it may have cost him some amount of money in bus/taxi fares to get to the police station to turn it in and certainly it would have involved some amount of his time.

Rhubarb · 22/05/2004 23:31

I love you all!

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