Gave wrong amount of cash at bureau de change - Advice please!

Debicj

My friend is absolutely convinced that she put the extra cash in the envelope. It is me that has doubts because of her generally forgetful and dizzy behaviour. She is always losing things and leaving bags, keys etc. behind. Due to this I think she has 'lost' the cash somewhere.

I am going with her because I feel a little responsible. I didn't check that the cash I gave was the correct amount. I just took her word for it. However, I will clearly say that I am not accusing anyone of stealing or anything. We just hope that if their balance on cashing up was £100 over what it should have been, then it looks like it is her cash that caused that.

In answer to a couple of questions, I didn't show any ID. Should I have done? The euros received were correct for £500. I put a few coins towards it to round it up and the receipt shows the correct amounts.

Pollycat

Debicj wrote: »

My friend is absolutely convinced that she put the extra cash in the envelope.
In answer to a couple of questions, I didn't show any ID. Should I have done? The euros received were correct for £500. I put a few coins towards it to round it up and the receipt shows the correct amounts.

With respect, Debbie, how can your friend be 'absolutely convinced she put the extra cash in the envelope' when you say (post #1):

Debicj wrote: »

Anyway, later my friend told me that they had made a mistake and that there was £600 in the envelope. They forgot that they put an extra £100 in. BUT.... they only got euros for £500.

and post #9:

Debicj wrote: »

She genuinely believes that she put the money in the envelope, but also accepts that the cashier would have counted it. She has also said now, that she isn't sure if it was an extra £100 or £80 as she thinks she took £20 out of a bundle of £100.

My OH says he has always been asked to show ID when buying currency.

Techhead_2

So the facts are:

Your friend isn't sure.
You aren't sure about your friend and aren't sure what happened at the Bureau.
The receipt shows the correct amount, although that's a bit vague too. (You would have needed more than a few coins )

Conclusion,

On balance of probabilities, nothing untoward has happened other than your friend being a bit ditzy (as you describe it) and you not giving your full attention.

maninthestreet

Tell you friend you counted the money in the envelope she gave you, and there was definitely only £500. Moreover, the cashier at the BdC also counted the money from the envelope in front of you, and there was only £500. This is another reason not to do friends a 'favour' that involves trust in relation to their money - you stand to be accused of losing their money, as is the case here.

Enfieldian

Dear oh dear.

At the point of taking the envelope from your friend you assumed a degree of responsibility for the transaction.

You should have counted the money when it was handed to you.

It is a bit late to do anything about it now.

antrobus

Enfieldian wrote: »

Dear oh dear.

At the point of taking the envelope from your friend you assumed a degree of responsibility for the transaction.

You should have counted the money when it was handed to you.

It is a bit late to do anything about it now.

On taking the envelope from their friend, OP was told that "there was £500 in it" and requested to exchange it "for euros at a Travel agents in town". Thus having taken the envelope to the Travel agents and obtained £500's worth of Euros, the OP has fully discharged their responsibilities.

nomoneytoday

If there was £600 then I doubt the cashier would have asked for the pennies from £500 to round it

Debicj

To update:

I was not asked for ID, only my name and address. I gave £3 and a few pence in coins to round up the amount. The cashier asked if I could do this. The cashier did not count out the cash to me although I think he counted it himself. He did count out the euros to me. My friend still insists that she did put the extra cash in the envelope.

I went to the shop with my friend today and she explained the situation. The Manager was quite helpful really as he immediately checked that they weren't 'over' when they cashed up on Saturday. He found that everything had balanced and explained that had a mistake been made they would have had every customer's details and would have been able to contact each one as soon as any error was found.

My friend says she doesn't blame me at all as she told me the wrong amount was in the envelope. She accepts that the money is 'lost' and there is nothing she can do about it.

I still think she has lost it elsewhere and hope it will turn up.

Thanks for all your comments.

Fridge3

Debicj wrote: »

I did a favour for somebody today by exchanging some cash for euros at a Travel agents in town. The person I was getting the cash for gave me an envelope and told me there was £500 in it. I went to change the money and didn't check the amount. I got the euros and went home.

Anyway, later my friend told me that they had made a mistake and that there was £600 in the envelope. They forgot that they put an extra £100 in. BUT.... they only got euros for £500.

I can't remember if the cashier checked the cash I gave him, but I'm sure he must have done so, otherwise I could have given him less.

What can we do about this?

All I can think of is that if the cashier genuinely made a mistake, then on cashing up would have realised that he had an extra £100. If we contact the shop and explain, maybe just maybe, they will believe us and on seeing they have an extra £100 give it back to us.

Does anyone have any advice or experience of working somewhere like this and can say what should happen?

BDC always count both currencies out, often more than once. There is a [very small] chance they could have made an error but the chances of this happening on the same transaction that your friend 'remembered' adding another £100 are likely so small they can be discounted.

arcon5

Make sure she checks her clothes pockets before doing her next load of washing