Money Moral Dilemma: What should I do with the lottery ticket I found in a charity shop coat?

pollypenny

I take a full bag to my Oxfam shop, as do many others. I doubt it's opened and sorted immediately, so the staff wouldn't know what's in it and, when on shelves, by whom donated. 

I don't do Gift Aid. 

Make a substantial charity donation, but it's yours. 

Chris_Jay

I think the comment that the person donating the item was probably better off than the person buying from the charity shop is unfair. I donate clothes that no longer fit me but I then need to replace them so my first look at possible replacement items will be in a charity shop because I'm not very well off!

If that ticket had been mine, I would have been climbing the walls, telling the place it was issued and asking how to report it. The finder really should be open about this; if they're concerned enough to put the question to strangers, then they're probably not likely to enjoy cashing and keeping the money.

lesbro

I bought a box of sewing machine bits and found 5 £10 notes inside. I returned and asked  if they knew who donated it and as they didn't I gave them the money.

svtoen

If the shop has no info you could keep the money but lend it for as long as you can to help others via lendwithcare.org This is a wonderful website that I use when i am lucky enough to have 'spare' money and especially now that savings rates are poor.

meknowalot-51

It sounds as though the vast majority of you would hand it in,as would i.If it was cash then that's going towards the bills and a holiday.

Dodd100

I agree with @keithyno.1 - I think there is no legal obligation. So ask yourself: what feels right to you? What would you be proud thinking of telling those whose opinions you care about? What might change your decision? The amount of money (if it was a jackpot would it make a difference?)? Your own circumstances? If you did know the winner? Good luck and enjoy the dilemma!

Mojisola

RobM99 said:

Mojisola said:

Not necessarily.  The charity shop we donate to records everything we take in and when it's sold so that they can claim the tax back.

They take the name of every donor and every item?

They take your details and put a barcode on everything you take in.  The sales are recorded so that the charity knows how much tax to claim back.

greeneyedlad

MSE_Kelvin said:

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I bought a coat in a charity shop and, when I got it home, found a lottery ticket in one of the pockets. I checked the numbers and it's for a £5,000 win. But I'm not sure what to do now - should I return to the charity shop and ask if they know who donated the coat, give half the amount to the shop and keep half for myself as a way of sharing my good fortune, or keep it all as the coat and what it contains is now mine?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't answer Money Moral Dilemma questions as contributions are emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be a point of debate and discussed at face value. Remember that behind each dilemma there is a real person so, as the forum rules say, please keep it kind and keep it clean.

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Give the half the money to the charity.

Its possible the donator put the ticket in the pocket deliberately as a surprise for whoever buys the coat!

DontBringBertie

This 100% didn’t happen by the way.

One of those made up dilemmas which crop up every now and again.

Chumpy1962

Mojisola said:

William_Joseph said:

It is very doubtful the purchaser could be traced at this stage

Not necessarily.  The charity shop we donate to records everything we take in and when it's sold so that they can claim the tax back.

You should only be claiming back gift aid if they are a taxpayer, if they're not then you wouldn't be able to trace them.