A friend of friend threw away my £300 worth suitcase last year

System

Very long shot, you may find some items on EBay which are similar to the ones you lost. The suitcase was disposed of in error and it wouldn't be fair to try and punish the perpetrators at this stage. Move on.

I left items at my mothers house when I was a student, only to find later on that she'd binned them. (Like me she doesn't like clutter and anything that's not being used tends to get thrown!). I remember being rather annoyed that amongst the items she'd disposed of were a brand new pair of shoes of mine, but it's really not worth letting it eat away at you.

rach_k

I left a much-loved pair of shoes on the landing outside my bedroom door for a week once. My mum chucked them away. I sulked but I learned my lesson - if something matters to you, take responsibility and keep it safe.

No, you should not chase anybody for compensation. You should apologise to your friend for leaving your stuff with her for so long and you should apologise profusely for making her cry!

Elena068

Some people said why that friend's friend had to say sorry because I had left my stuff in a stranger's house in a year for free. But my friend paid rent too. That's her house too. Me and my friend are good friends. I offered her money to store my stuff in her house, but she refused and only asked me to give her my cutlery, kettles, bedding, etc so she didn't have to buy new things. My friend took my stuff in, stored them in her room so it really didn't bother any other housemates. And when she moved out, she took everything with her, just forgot a suitcase of mine. Technically, my suitcase was accidentally left in a stranger's house for only 3 weeks. That was a just cabin suitcase, it's so small, and the house is huge. There were only 4 people to ask, not 40 people, but she only asked 3 then decided this suitcase had to be thrown away. If we knew the suitcase was still there, I would be more than willing to pay her 3 week storage fee. My friend said that girl had opened the suitcase, saw lots of new stuff and thought it was for donation. In that suitcase, there were old photos and memorabilia, which clearly looked important. She must know that, but she heartlessly threw it out, or stole it, I don't know.

Yes, a strange suitcase is in your house, you have right to throw it. But you know, we are human and we help each other, and here we are students. Every week there are posts on my university's student group facebook about people trying to locate the recipient of a parcel suddenly arriving at their house, probably because they belong to the old tenants or the postman mistook the address. Before I took a year abroad, I had lived out in a house and gotten 5 unclaimed parcels. I didn't throw them away. I tried to find the recipients but there was no result, so I kept them at the very end of my contract and left them for my landlord before leaving. I was too kind to throw away someone's stuff, imagining one day they'd knock my door, asking for their parcel.

Anyway, thank you for all comments. I now have the resolve to let thing go and call it a lesson.

Elena068

rach_k wrote: »

I left a much-loved pair of shoes on the landing outside my bedroom door for a week once. My mum chucked them away. I sulked but I learned my lesson - if something matters to you, take responsibility and keep it safe.

No, you should not chase anybody for compensation. You should apologise to your friend for leaving your stuff with her for so long and you should apologise profusely for making her cry!

I comforted her, didn't make a fuss of it. Before I left I told her I would leave my stuff with her for 1 year. She knew and agreed. She insisted no money needed, because we are good friends and have known each other for years. So I gave her my kettles, beddings, food, lamps, etc like she requested and treated her an expensive meal. I don't get why I'm the one to be blamed here. I did my best.

Elena068

Diary wrote: »

Your friend couldn't be bothered to look after your stuff by taking it with her. Why should the girl who donated it to you say sorry? You left it there instead of taking this highly sentimental valued at 300 pounds suit case with you.

Go after your friend not the one who mistakenly threw it away. Get over yourself and move on.

The luggage was only left in her care for 3 weeks. There were only 4 people to ask but she only asked 3 then threw away my luggage. I'm even not sure if she donated it or she stole it. We didn't intend to leave it there. We forgot it and if I knew, I def paid her 3 week storage fee. She opened the luggage and must see lots of old photos in there. She must know they were important but ruthlessly threw it out.

Yes you have right to throw out a strange luggage. But we are human and we help each other you know. Just like your neighbours keep your posts when you're not home. Just like me and other students try to locate the recipients of a parcel suddenly arriving at our house, probably belong to old tenants or the postman mistook the address.

Yes, I've got the resolve to move it and call it a lesson.

Elena068

cjdavies wrote: »

I blame your friend for forgetting it and should you seek compo from her, not the one who is living there now.

Yes I blamed her 1 and blamed her friend 100. Reason? Read my other posts. My friend only managed to find a accommodation at the very last minute when her contract ended. She was in rush of moving out and didn't have time to pack her things probably. She and that girl got along pretty well, but the girl still ruthlessly threw away her/my stuff (the housemates didn't know she was storing my stuff), such a fake friend.

martinthebandit

I think you need to take the lesson on board that your belongings are your responsibility.

After all the lesson has cost you £300 (although it must be a very special suitcase to be worth that much)