Call the issuing bank and notify them so they can shut off the card and send the owner a new one. That's what they would do anyway if the card owner called them and reported it lost. Then shred it.

quote:

Originally posted by dbgeek:

quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:
Who’s parking lot are you in? Can you turn it in to the store the parking lot belongs to?

I'd turn it in to the store/place the parking lot belongs to.

IMHO, if you're trying to help the loser (loss-ee?) out and are honest enough to be doing this, having it pass through the hands of multiple others who you don't know to be as honest seems counter productive.

Happened to me once in a gas station parking lot. Unusual name on the card. Googled it. Was a football player for the local university. Home address listed on the web. Not far from the gas station. Took it over. Wife answered the door. Super puzzled look on her face when I handed her the card. With a short explanation.

I vote for shred and move on based on it being enough time lapsed that you're asking us what to do about it. About two years ago, I found a credit card someone dropped in the parking lot on my way in to the grocery store. I picked it up and brought it to the customer service counter. On way my way out, I got stopped and thanked by the guy who dropped it. The timing was just such that he realized he lost it, came back for it, collected it, and the manager saw me about to leave and pointed me out as the guy who picked it up and gave it back. It was kinda cool. Reasonably sure the right guy got it back as the name on the card was Vietnamese and the guy was, in fact, Asian.

Didn't we have a thread on this not to long ago where the OP talked about trying to contact the issuing bank and getting nowhere trying to return it, maybe even at a branch.

Consensus was, that the bank will not want it back, nor will they have you return or mail it in nor will they close the account or do anything since you are not the cardholder.

So shred it and move on, the only good deed is doing just that.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Now I'm curious whether anyone has ever contacted a customer service number about a found card. When I've had to report a hacked card of my own, I've had to provide my name, card number, and other identifying information, often to some sort of A.I. entity that may or may not understand what I'm saying even before ultimately getting transferred to a human being who then asks for the same information.

When you've called about finding someone else's card, how did that go?

I've done this when I found a complete wallet. Visiting the address on the DL was a dead end, so I called the CC companies. None would give me any information about the wallet's owner, but canceled the cards and said they'd put a note with my # in the file in case he called in.

There was also a Sam's Club card in the wallet, so I visited Sam's customer service, explained the situation, and the manager was happy to give me the phone # on the account (his girlfriend apparently).

When I didn't get any response from that, I finally called a buddy in the PD who ran the license and told me I was better off giving the wallet to him and not meeting the owner.....

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
[N]or will they close the account or do anything since you are not the cardholder.

Which is exactly what I would expect, or at least hope. I’m surprised no one else has brought up this possibility, so for once I’ll be the suspicious one.

Imagine this: I’m annoyed with my ex-girlfriend, and since I had access to all her credit cards, I’ll call each of the CC companies, claim that I found the cards, and hope they’ll cancel them without any further notice or checking.

Something we’d want the companies to do if it’s not the card holder who contacts them?

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
if it was your card that was lost, what would like some unknown person who found it to do with it?

I'd like to think someone would make the effort to return it, even if I'd already taken steps to cancel it.

quote:

Originally posted by dbgeek:
I'd turn it in to the store/place the parking lot belongs to.

That was a thought, but it was 7am at the post office. Nobody there to get any attention from.

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
It depends on your town. This is a small and friendly town. It is quite possible the owner has no idea he/she dropped a single card.

People here will post on a town facebook page with the person's name and what was found. Very frequently the owner is located quickly.

Mine is a relatively small town; that's why I initially figured I'd have a shot at finding the owner. I struck out quickly.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
I vote for shred and move on based on it being enough time lapsed that you're asking us what to do about it.

Yessir, done. The owner has had enough time to realize it's gone and report it to his bank. Short of actually finding him, the least-hassle-for-everyone thing to do is to shred it and move on.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
[N]or will they close the account or do anything since you are not the cardholder.

Which is exactly what I would expect, or at least hope. I’m surprised no one else has brought up this possibility, so for once I’ll be the suspicious one.

Imagine this: I’m annoyed with my ex-girlfriend, and since I had access to all her credit cards, I’ll call each of the CC companies, claim that I found the cards, and hope they’ll cancel them without any further notice or checking.

Something we’d want the companies to do if it’s not the card holder who contacts them?

They'll cancel your card for even less than that. But if someone calls up and says I have the card, here's the number, the cvv, the expiration date, I'm going to head into Best Buy and get a new TV, or you can cancel the card, what will they do?

If your ex-girlfriend has your cc information, you've already lost that battle. The cc company canceling that card is the least worst thing that can happen at that point....

Use the hell out of it to buy all the things you've denied yourself over the years, run up a six figure tab. Then you won't have to look for the owner, they'll come looking for you!

If I found it, I'd say "not my problem" and shit-can it. Chances are the owner noticed it missing and has already gotten the new card.

Jackpot - buy guns & ammo

Call the 800-number and cut it up!

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
If I found it, I'd say "not my problem" and shit-can it. Chances are the owner noticed it missing and has already gotten the new card.

This is the most practical answer. As soon as the owner discovers it missing he’ll call and cancel or do it via an app. If the finder contacts the issuer they’ll tell him to chuck it and cancel the card. I knew the chances when I returned the card I found. There were signs the card hadn’t been missing but for a few minutes and the owner’s house was not far out of my way. Even then, the card was likely cancelled before the owner learned it was returned. I returned it partially for the entertainment value.

I found a check card still in the cash machine. Turned it over to a deputy. Said he’d locate the owner and advise them to close it out and he would then shred it.

The answer is obvious, and the poll results concur.

You found a card, don’t let trouble find you.

Being civil and generously giving your time might not be the best thing to do. Better not get involved and let the owner sort things out by himself. Just feel ok and that the card is not getting into the the wrong hands. Well done.

Unfortunately that is the way of the world these days.

My wife received a puny deposit on her bank account from an unknown source, no email or reason for it.
Scams are so common these days that she is scareed of trying to contact the source. The amount is also not worth the trouble or her time.

0-0

If it's the parking lot of a business, bring it to the customer service counter in case the owner knows where they might have dropped it.
Otherwise, the local Police Dept.

Happened to me a couple of years ago. Found it in Best Buy parking lot. Went to local PD, door locked. Thought that's odd. Called them, they said nobody there to help me, she'd dispatch an officer. One came, seemed like half hour later - prob wasn't that long...At any rate, it was my experience that wasn't worth the trouble, mine or PD's.

I agree with others, if you felt the need to do something, call the credit card issuer.

Shred it. But others in my small country town do this, yesterday

Call the credit card company and report it then destroy it and get on with your life.