Finder's fee/ransom

Morsing_2

Good morning,

I lost a bag recently, which ended up at the location's Lost & Found office (thankfully), however, I was quite stunned when they demanded £25 for handing my own property back to me.

I'm just curious if this is legal? I tried Googling, but couldn't find anything saying you are obliged to hand over a finder's fee, which this essentially is.

It just seems like demanding a ransom to me, really. Is it allowed?

eskbanker

It may be legitimate to levy an administration fee of some sort - presumably such an office costs money to run?

What's the location/company?

Ergates

Morsing_2 said:

It just seems like demanding a ransom to me, really. Is it allowed?

A random would be if they'd *taken* the bag then demanded money for it's return.  

In this case they're asking you to pay for a service you made use of (unintentionally).

Pollycat

It doesn't sound like a finder's fee or a ransom.

What is the company?
And have you asked what the fee is for?
What wording did they use to ask for payment of £25.00?

DullGreyGuy

Its not that uncommon, TFL have variable fees depending on the nature of the item and extra fees if it came from a black cab (that get passed to the driver who's had to transport it back to the lost property office) or not. Covers the administration, transportation and storage of the item and the computer system they use to manage the process.  National Express do similar.

That said, £25 is fairly toppy in price, the aforementioned charge £20 for bulky or expensive items like suitcases or laptops. Oddly pushchairs are only £10.

Ask what they do with it maybe? Whilst the businesses above use the money to cover costs at my old rugby club they used to charge for lost property too but the money was given to charity which some may feel less aggrieved about

Morsing_2

Good morning,

The company is SmartCarte at Heathrow Airport.

- "In this case they're asking you to pay for a service you made use of (unintentionally)."

I am not arguing that this is not what they are doing, however, it is still my property. Furthermore, as I did not request their service, I did not enter a contract, so fail to see how they can charge me for a service. 

I'm still asking if the law supports refusing to hand people their own property. If so, does anyone have any links showing this?

I'm wondering if I can walk around in public and if anyone drops something, swoop in there and demand a fee for handing it back? Can't really see that there is any difference.

- "And have you asked what the fee is for?"

No, I assume it is to pay their staff.

- "What wording did they use to ask for payment of £25.00?"

"You only pay a service fee if you want to reclaim your item. Charges range from nothing to £25 for each item."

I had a look through the legislation regarding found items and I found absolutely nothing saying you could demand a fee or in anyway refuse to hand it back.

Morsing_2

DullGreyGuy said:

Its not that uncommon, TFL have variable fees depending on the nature of the item and extra fees if it came from a black cab (that get passed to the driver who's had to transport it back to the lost property office) or not. Covers the administration, transportation and storage of the item and the computer system they use to manage the process.  National Express do similar.

That said, £25 is fairly toppy in price, the aforementioned charge £20 for bulky or expensive items like suitcases or laptops. Oddly pushchairs are only £10.

Ask what they do with it maybe? Whilst the businesses above use the money to cover costs at my old rugby club they used to charge for lost property too but the money was given to charity which some may feel less aggrieved about

Hi, 

Common practice in no-way means legal. I know of several industries where illegal practices are widespread (Umbrella companies anyone).

Aylesbury_Duck

You had me at "airport".  Not surprised at all.  They must be among the most exploitative locations anywhere in the country.

As for legislation, I simply don't know whether it's permitted or not.  It's possible that their defence is that to "process" a found item, they are incurring cost and that in an airport, the cheapest default position is to simply dispose of anything, treating it as a suspect package.  Maybe it's under security legislation that they're acting?

Grumpy_chap

Morsing_2 said:

I had a look through the legislation regarding found items and I found absolutely nothing saying you could demand a fee or in anyway refuse to hand it back.

Did you find anything in the legislation to say that a fee cannot be charged?

What is the item you have lost?  Is it worth £25 to have it back?

DullGreyGuy

Morsing_2 said:

Good morning,

The company is SmartCarte at Heathrow Airport.

So its an airport and therefore there will be byelaws https://www.heathrow.com/company/doing-business-with-heathrow/flight-conditions-of-use/heathrow-byelaws

Claim of property
If any lost property, while it is retained by the Airport Company in safe custody, is claimed and the claimant proves to the satisfaction of the Airport Company or an Airport Official that he is the true owner and gives his name and address to a member of staff of the Lost Property Office or an Airport Official, it shall thereupon be delivered to the claimant at the Lost Property Office upon payment of such charges as the Airport Company may from time to time fix for the return of any lost property delivered to the Lost Property Office.

So there is their legal basis for charging you for the administration of the lost property

TELLIT01

The only way the OP can prove they are right is to pay up to get their item back and then take the company to court.  The OP seems to be ignoring the fact that they lost the bag in the first place and are actually very fortunate to be getting it back at all.  Somebody didn't just say to the OP, you've left your bag behind.  As others have said, keeping it safe for them, with the costs involved, needs to be recovered.