P&O have destroyed all the contents of my wallet

Aristotle24

Unfortunately, I left my manbag on a P&O cruise that I recently took with my wife. A member of the cabin crew contacted me and informed me on the way home that they had discovered the bag, which contained my wallet and glasses. At the time, I was relieved to know that they had found it and I would hopefully be able to have it returned to me at some stage.

I contacted P&O and was told that my bank and ID cards would be shredded/destroyed on board to ensure personal security was not compromised. This made a lot of sense to me, but when I asked about the rest of the contents I was told that everything in the wallet would be destroyed. This included personal items that pose no security threat. Also, they have kept no record of the items they have destroyed, meaning I need to try and remember what I need to replace.

Surely this was completely unnecessary to destroy everything within the wallet. Do I have grounds to complain?

user1977

You can complain if you like, but what are you expecting from them given you don't know what you're missing?

Alderbank

Was the cruise entirely within UK coastal waters (eg to Orkney and Shetland)?

In UK, P&O would be involuntary bailee. They are expected to take reasonable care of your property until you can collect it. Shredding the lot might not be considered reasonable care. If you left your coat in a taxi would it be reasonable for the taxi firm to shred it?

Many years ago, during the IRA troubles, unattended bags were blown up by the authorities for security and anti-terrorist reasons. That is still often what happens at airports.

It might be possible under maritime law for ships at sea to do this.

Aylesbury_Duck

You can complain, but as pointed out above, if you want some sort of recompense you'll need to know what it was they destroyed and what it's going to cost you to replace it.

Aristotle24

I do know that items like my organ donor card, gym membership card, and other similar type of cards were in the wallet. Also, several receipts from items that I bought in Norway.

I just find it strange that they felt it necessary to destroy all the contents without listing the items or giving me the chance to drive down to Southampton and collect the bag.

Perhaps I'm just being very naive.

Aylesbury_Duck

Aristotle24 said:

I do know that items like my organ donor card, gym membership card, and other similar type of cards were in the wallet. Also, several receipts from items that I bought in Norway.

I just find it strange that they felt it necessary to destroy all the contents without listing the items or giving me the chance to drive down to Southampton and collect the bag.

Perhaps I'm just being very naive.

I suspect that they have so much lost/left property to deal with, to catalogue and deal with everything as you suggest would be a lot of faff and cost in staff time. 

Edited to correct the error pointed out below.

outtatune

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Aristotle24 said:

I do know that items like my organ donor card, gym membership card, and other similar type of cards were in the wallet. Also, several receipts from items that I bought in Norway.

I just find it strange that they felt it necessary to destroy all the contents without listing the items or giving me the chance to drive down to Southampton and collect the bag.

Perhaps I'm just being very naive.

P&O are the bunch that relatively recently illegally sacked hundreds of staff without warning or consultation, and re-hired overseas staff on less than the UK minimum wage. 

That was P&O Ferries. P&O cruises are a completely different company. They obviously think that the brand still has some kind of value or they'd stop using it. I'm not so sure.
https://www.marketingweek.com/po-cruises-distance-po-ferries-brand/

Aylesbury_Duck

outtatune said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Aristotle24 said:

I do know that items like my organ donor card, gym membership card, and other similar type of cards were in the wallet. Also, several receipts from items that I bought in Norway.

I just find it strange that they felt it necessary to destroy all the contents without listing the items or giving me the chance to drive down to Southampton and collect the bag.

Perhaps I'm just being very naive.

P&O are the bunch that relatively recently illegally sacked hundreds of staff without warning or consultation, and re-hired overseas staff on less than the UK minimum wage. 

That was P&O Ferries. P&O cruises are a completely different company. They obviously think that the brand still has some kind of value or they'd stop using it. I'm not so sure.
https://www.marketingweek.com/po-cruises-distance-po-ferries-brand/

Thanks, I hadn't appreciated the distinction.  I'll amend my previous post.