Chirky

I would have done exactly what you did. My conscience is seriously ridiculous. I feel bad when I lie to telemarketers.

Two weeks ago, I went to a bike shop and spent $194 on some upgrades for my bike. Included in that $194, though, was a $1.50 powerbar for my post-ride snack.

I took my purchases outside and got them all situated in my car. I was ready for my powerbar, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

I dug through my things, looked through my purse, and checked all the compartments in my car where I thought maybe I had placed it. Nothing.

I went back into the bike shop to see if maybe the powerbar hadn't made it into my bag at the register. The cashier said he hadn't seen one.

I headed back to my car and searched it again with the same results. I went back inside and told one of the employees that I didn't think the powerbar had made it into the bag. He told me to just grab one, telling me he trusted me. I grabbed a new powerbar and headed home.

The next day as I was driving somewhere, I had to hit my breaks suddenly. I was amazed to see a powerbar come flying out from under my passenger seat.

Oops. I had officially stolen a $1.50 powerbar.

When I went back to the bike shop this past weekend, I bought some more goodies, including a couple more powerbars. I asked the cashier to charge me for one extra. Thankfully, he didn't ask why.

I am so not kidding that I worried about some kind of major accident preventing me from getting back to the bike shop to pay for what I'd accidentally stolen. I'm just glad I can say my name is clear today!

I couldn't have kept it. The guilt would have been crippling. I don't LIKE to think that I'm an honest person only be cause of the throat-closing guilt, but it's hard to say without controlled studies using that ever-popular scientific method. (I think it includes notebooks.)

Oh, I would have told them and given it back. For not other reason (I'm really not that fantastic of a person) than I'd be terrified of them figuring out their error and taking it back, only for it to have been long-ago spent on shoes or other things. So I'd have to figure out how to cough up an entire paycheck, so no. Just take it now. Save me the headaches.

I would have called and told them. It would have eaten away at me, but you are also talking to someone who went back into target when I noticed they forgot to charge me for the cokes in the bottom of my basket. THE GUILT KEEPS ME AWAKE! And I like my sleep. :)

WAAAAAAAAAAAY to paranoid to keep it. But oh how tempting!

Usually, they let you keep it and don't pay you next month. It's too much hassle to fix it and get the money back.

Sorry toots!

~Jef

hmm I think I would have let them know. I have been in a different situation though, I took training once and the bill came out to $3 grand. Then, the training place calls me and tells me hey, your company gets a 20% discount... we'll just refund your payment, 2 days later, a $600 dollar check in the mail.

yep, I kept it.

i would completely and totally play dumb. but i would also leave it there for a few weeks.

then, if no one said anything, i'd probably make a call

*sigh*

i'm just not a bad ass anymore

But you could've bought a new diffuser! Just kidding. I would've given it back as well. I have an over active guilty conscience -- I feel sorry about things other people have done. I'm also the person to get caught doing something like this. 100 people would've been able to keep it with no problem. Me, I'd get busted.

When I left my last job, I received a paycheck two weeks after I was already gone (and it wasn't my last check -- it was in addition to it). Clearly a mistake, I did question them on it, and they said to keep it as a "farewell gift", which is odd, considering I left them high and dry, but not without ample notice.

You did the right thing. Now, had you received a windfall by mistake from the bank, the strategy (for future reference) is to leave it in your account until they take it back. You can keep all the interest it makes, but you'll be liable for the money when it comes time to fix the mistake.

Like Jennie, I would have had to return it before spending it all on booze and dresses with pockets.

My husband's employer recently did that and I made him call and tell them as soon as I noticed. I was scared they'd think we weren't going to tell, because they would notice eventually. I used to do payroll for an office and have totally screwed things up before. You always catch it when its time to reconcile the account. ;)

I believe in Karma and would rather be broke and eating cold beans out of a can than have that kind of karma come back and kick me in the fat wallet!
Kudos to you for doing the right thing!! I wonder if anyone will say they would have remained mum??

I would have contacted them right away and told them about the mistake so it could be fixed and given back.

When I was in grade school, any time the teacher returned our graded papers back to us and I found that she gave me a higher grade than I was supposed to have received (because she missed marking some of my wrong answers), I'd tell her. All of my teachers were stupified that I was pointing it out and saying that my grade should have been lower. They were all, "Why point it out? If you hadn't said anything I would never have known." Usually they'd let me keep the higher grade as a reward for my honesty, which was nice.

I would have done what you did. I know this because I did: I once returned a (very expensive text)book to the college bookstore when I realized they had failed to charge me for it. And then everyone told me I was crazy and that I had no moral obligation to let them know - it was their mistake, after all: I hadn't tried to shoplift or anything. So then I felt all stupid. Stupid, but honest.

Oh, also? You've been memed.

Sorry :)

Oh, also? You've been memed.

Sorry :)

I would have done the same thing but that doesn't make it easy!

I'd call HR and tell them about it too.

First, because it's the right thing to do and

Second, they'd figure it out at some point and how do you explain keeping it. I like to believe in brownie points, whether they exist or not.

Bossy loves you ethical types. Truly.

As you can see, the people who read your blog and as honest and moral as you are. That says something very nice about you. And yes, the same thing has happened to me as well. Of course, I let them know. That is just the right thing to do. End of story.

Yeah, I would have called them, too. Because it isn't mine, and that is that.

I can't help but be honest, is that a flaw or a cute and nice bonus? I've pointed out items at stores that I wasn't charged for, handed in cash I found on the floor, and would have told immediately that I was over paid. SIGH, I better get points for being this honest in life.

I am so honest it's scary. I fully believe that if I steal, somehow I'll lose the money anyway, so I don't steal at all.

I also can't lie or cheat because my conscience won't allow it.

I would have given it back and then blogged about it... hey, wait... are we the same person?

Don't you wish at least 1 person had said they would have kept the money, so that way you could have felt superiorally moral? Although it is encouraging that so many people in this world are honest; or at the very least scared of getting caught.

Whatever dude, I'd keep the money. I'd withdraw it from my account so that way if they asked about it I'd say what money? I would also question that if they'd made the mistake of losing money in the first place then maybe they'd made a mistake in thinking that they had deposited it into my account when in fact it had gone into another account. Finders keepers.

I would have done the same thing you did, all the while dreaming of how I could have spent that extra money and heaving a big fat sigh.