Should I return a voucher I was sent by accident?

snowleopard61

Rightly or wrongly, I'd probably do a "Robin Hood" and (assuming the gift card didn't carry my name) I'd give the second one to a friend who I felt could do with it. Many years ago I bought a coat from a magazine mail order offer and was sent two in error. I gave the second to another hard-up young mum who admired mine. Not the "by the book" solution but one I'd be happy with. When I've picked up a £10 note in the street I've felt it wasn't realistically traceable (£100 would be different and I'd give it in to the police) so I've put it in an Oxfam tin.

splitinfinity

Go ahead and do the right thing.

If the bank had fouled up the vouchers in their favour (i.e. forgot to send a voucher to you) - you would be a bit peeved and probably call and wait in a phone queue just to get your £20's worth.

The bank has in this case fouled up in your favour, so give them the same courtesy via a phone call. If it inconveniences you and makes you wait on the phone for too long, or asks you to send the voucher back at cost - don't. Its their mistake and it shouldn't cost you in either time (except a quick courtesy phone call) or money.

As people have said, big conglomerates usually wont blink at a £20 voucher, and customer services will tell you to keep it. If not, then your no worse off then before you applied for this account (i.e. in your head you were expecting one £20 voucher and thats all you got out of the deal). At least you were honest - it takes a lot to do the right thing, when its so easy to do the wrong thing. Give yourself a pat on the back.


On another note, there is a lot of talk about fraud and criminal conviction - I dont think it will come to that. You can just explain away and say, you had 2 in your wallet (with the intention of returning one to the bank) - and spent them both in 2 transactions. Or a family member spent them before you had a chance to return one. Worst case scenario - the bank will ask for £20 back, and you will happily oblige as a good standing citizen. The court fees and legal fees are not worth it to the bank for a £20 return and the negative media attention that the 'ant vs boot' situation would bring them.

But as easy as it is to 'keep' the voucher, the right thing to do is to let them know and let them decide.

sugarbaby125

Call them and let them know. I recently did some Market Research and was accidentally paid twice. I immediately contacted the Market Research company and offered to repay the 2nd amount and was allowed to keep the money.

Personally, I try always to be honest, unless my honesty would mean hurting the feelings of another person needlessly.

tallgirld

The fact that you are asking if you should keep it suggests that you want to keep it so just keep it!

These dilemmas are becoming a bit predictable.

Every week.... Should I nick it or shouldn't I nick it? Goshhhhhh

marich

You expect the bank to be fair in its dealings with you - so you should be as fair in what you do .

Let them know - see what they tell you to do . Whatever it is it's no skin off your nose and it puts you in good light with the new bank .

Cloudane

Came here to say just spend it, but keep the value aside if possible in the unlikely event they want it back.

There are some valid points about honesty though, and to be fair I'd probably have told them too as I'd just feel dirty otherwise. That and there being a reasonable chance of being told to keep it is a nice bonus

keithyno.1

Cimscate wrote: »

You know very well what you SHOULD do but what you actually do is entirely up to you!

Ahh, but that's where you're SO wrong, Cimscate! You might have very well have said, "I (instead of you) know very well what you SHOULD do but what you actually do is entirely up to you!"

The whole point of this forum is that it's to discuss 'Money Moral Dilemmas.' Week in, week out we see replies stating along the lines of, "WHY is this a dilemma??! It's OBVIOUS what you should do, and that is...blah blah blah."

And you know something, that REALLY does my head in, because it comes across as so sanctimonious and smug. It's like these respondents think to themselves, "I'm quite perfect and so are my morals - my life is so sorted that I am able to dish out advice to anyone else that wishes to receive it, and naturally expect them to follow my moral judgements...because they are naturally RIGHT!!"

But..they're NOT!!! That's the whole point of 'moral' arguments...there IS no right or wrong!!! Every individual's 'morals' are different to the next individuals...that's why we are ALL individuals (but, perhaps, to quote 'Monty Python's Life Of Brian'..."I'M NOT!")

Hey ho, there you go! Let's just all move on and start enjoying the summer!!?!! :j :T

alcaerdydd

jaguk wrote: »

We all blame the bankers for putting the country in the state its in today ( those high up not in the branches ) and rightly so.
Spending both vouchers would put you in the same bracket as those bankers, except in reverse. If you think that's a good thing then keep them both - and become a very big hypocrite.

This is NOT comparable at all! Get real , for God's sake! (and by the way, which bank do you work for?)

Coveredinbees!!!!

It's a blooody voucher some of you need to get some perspective

carmina_piranha

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

It's a blooody voucher some of you need to get some perspective

My voucher from M&S bank was for £125 which is a fair amount to be given twice!

I'd call them, and if asked to would return it (but not at my cost) ... but I'd secretly be hoping they would tell me to keep it. If they told me to destroy it, I would. I'd worry that they had kept a record of the gift card number