Returning a Wallet
 

I was at a toll booth this weekend and when I pulled up to pay (an automated toll booth, no attendant) I found a wallet on the ground. The guy that had been in front of me had gotten out of his car to pay so I knew it was his. I picked it up but then I thought -shit, how am I going to find this guy to return it? I was thinking about pulling off and trying to find a phone number for the guy but then I saw him pulled off on the side of the road searching his car.

I pulled in behind him and returned the wallet and he gave me twenty bucks as thanks.

I felt good. Thought I'd done a good deed but I had a couple of people tell me I was dumb for bothering. And one person asked if I checked how much money was in there.

What's with people? Seriously? Wouldn't you return a wallet to someone in that circumstance?

absolutely, i would've done the same thing...money comes and goes. it's worth more to me to know that I did a good thing and helped someone out. good stuff cynthia, this world needs more people like you:thumbsup

I would always return a wallet. If I was unable to find them I would just mail it to the address on the driver's license. You did a good thing indeed. I don't believe I would check how much money is in it. There is no need for all that plus you don't want to be tempted.

People's morals have really gone down hill over the past few decades. I really wish we could all be a little nicer and a little more just in our actions. Bring back the 1940s

I think you did the right thing. Doing what you did should make you happy because you can look in the mirror with pride every day.I wish more people did things like that. Most people would have kept it or the money, which is pretty low and karma would get their ass some day. I believe in karma and would have done the same thing you did, however I would have refused the money, amazingly. So don't question what you did, other people who would have kept it have no character or honor. :thumbsup

You did the right thing, you saved someone hours or worrying and calling around to get new credit cards and ID.

I used to joke about finding a bag of money and keeping it until I read about some lady who returned $10K she found and it turned out the money was for some kids charity. If someone had kept that money how shitty would that have been?

You never know how badly someone might need their wallet or money. Even a few hundred bucks is a lot to some people...

Last time I found a wallet and realized that the owner lived in Salinas CA and I lived in Redding CA and it was the summer, near boat launch. I asked the boat rental people ect if they knew the name or rented to it, no one had name on record. Yes I looked inside for license and yes I noticed it had plenty of cash and credit cards. I was looking for numbers ect, none to be found. He was not listed in information either.

On way back to town I stopped at the shopping center, it has a mailboxes etc. I got a small package, addressed it to their house on license, called the two main credit cards I saw and had them put a note on the account that I found this wallet and it was being returned. (yes I know they locked the cards). I wrote out a note, put it in with the wallet and took the cash needed out of it to pay for postage. Put the reciept in the package and mailed it to them.

Apparently it arrived same day that he got home. He did not know it was missing until in the car on way back home from long house boat rental. Was freaked out, specially since there was a house key in it. (had no idea what key went to). He called and told me all this and was very thankfull and kind. I figured that was the end of it.

About 4 months latter I got a christmas card in the mail from someone in Salinas. No idea, did not know anyone there and the whole wallet thing had left my mind. Inside was another thank you and a money order for 500.00
There was less than that in the wallet. That made me feel a little funny inside.

Anyone who told you were dumb for bothering is a douchebag. Anyone who has lost a wallet knows the kind of stress that brings, and how grateful you'd be if someone had found it and returned it.

I always felt the appreciation of the other person would be worth more than whatever money you ended up <i>stealing</i> from them.

Fuze many people today feel entitled to take or keep the cash in the wallet before returning it. They justify it as some sort of reward or whatever.

Hell I think 20/20 did a hidden cam thing on this and almost everyone took the money, ipod, whatever they left about.

I was in line at Burger King and an old couple was in front of me. They placed their order and walked down to the end to wait for it. I ordered and started walking down to wait for my shit too. The lady had went to get a seat and the man got his food. He walked away not realizing he had set his wallet down.

I could see a shit load of bills sticking out of it (brown ones which are $100 here in Canada). No one else was standing around to see this. I could have easily stuffed it in my pocket, but something told me not to.

I walked over to the couple and said "I think you forgot this", and handed him the wallet. He looked shocked and confused, but said thanks and I got my stuff and sat down.

About 10 minutes later he comes over to me and says, "ya know all this money is for my wife's meds. We would have been in some serious trouble if you hadn't found this and returned it." I told him, "I have grandparents and would hope someone would to the same for them." He shook my hand and almost started tearing up.

I could have gone on a MAJOR shopping spree with that cash, but I felt soooo much better about myself after talking with him.

What goes around comes around.

thank god there are a few decent people left... losing a wallet just makes you feel like shit - it isn't even the money but just the hassle of getting all your shit back together

I absolutely would. Huge Karma points there.

Fuck Karma...I wanna be rich, Frosty ;)
~Kat

The cash issue aside, I know what a pain it would be to lose my wallet. Canceling credit cards, and the guy was driving without his license. He was totally relieved and just lucky that he realized and stopped so fast. Also lucky that he was a tattoo artist with a logo on his back window, it's the whole reason I even noticed his car.

I wonder though if some of the people who told me they wouldn't have bothered to return the wallet were just saying that and would if it happened to them.

Indeed I would.I was outside a bank and this old man dropped atleast 1 k in large bills and was just walking away.I picked it up and ran up to him and returned it..he gave me 5 bucks for a reward

Nice :thumbsup

hEY, YOU SHOULD GIVE IT BACK. I JUST LOST MY WALLET 2 DAYS AGO AND ITS BEEN THE BIGGEST BITCH WITHOUT IT. I REALLY DONT WANNT GET ALL NEW CARDS AND SHIT. GIVE IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yep its good karma and would want the same done to me.

yea, what's wrong with people , you should return wallet

Seriously it is the worst feeling and getting all the cards back is even more of a bitch. I rather they take all the money but just give back the cards

I found a purse with over 1k in it at the supermarket, it turned out it was an 80 year old lady that left it in the cart in the parking lot, she had her house payment in it! I never thought twice about it, I would hope if it where me or my family that lost it someone would give it back....

offcourse you should return a wallet , imagine if it happened to you. And you lost all the cards and personal information in there.. You would want someone to return it to. Plus it's good karma ;)

When I was a very young stupid kid, I found a wallet with several hundred in it which to me was like a million.. I kept the money. I still think about it to this day and if I had any idea who the guy was or how to reach him, I would seriously send him $25,000 today.

(no need to reply ... "it's me, it's me")

Mitch