I Did Something Really STUPID!

[DeeK]

A couple of weeks ago I donated a bunch of purses to Goodwill. Unfortunately, I figured out tonight that I hadn't totally cleaned out one of them.

My new Kohl's credit card came today and when I went looking for my old one I realized I must have left that, my medical cards, my voter registration and a few "buyer discount" cards in one of the inside pockets.

I immediately called and cancelled my Kohl's card (which I never used anyway) and checked my credit record to make sure there hasn't been any funny business going on. So far, so good.

I'm going to try looking at our local Goodwill store in hopes that the purses may be there, but I think my chances of finding them are pretty slim. My hope is that they look through the purses before they put them out for sale and that they just trashed my paper stuff. :( I am so mad at myself.

[armel]

I hear you and sympathize.

When I moved into my house, I donated these old suitcases from my storage unit to Goodwill. Of course I didn't bother to look in them because I "knew" they were empty.

Weeks later I realized I couldn't find my fake fur winter coat, matching gloves, hat and scart. Yep, I had stored it in one of those "empty" suitcases. And I loved that coat. <sigh>

So frustrating.

[leebee]

I used to manage a Goodwill retail district. We did a careful search of all purses, etc., that came in as donations. If we did find something (like a credit card, cash, etc.), our policy was to pull them and attempt to contact the person whose name appeared on the card. If we were unable to do that, the item(s) stayed in the store safe for a certain period of time. Then, if unclaimed, credit cards could be sent to the store of origin, cash would be considered a donation, etc. Call the stores in your area and ask to be in touch w/ their main office or a district manager. They should be able to check around the district for you. I know that you can't trust a lot of people, but I was amazed at how forthcoming my staff was when we found money (usually $10 or $20 stuck in a pocket or something). Especially if the goods are sorted at a central location in a skills-training situation, you may find that your items were set aside. Good luck!

[buffygirl]

I did something like that about 10 years ago. I sold some suitcases at a garage sale. Some friends of mine bought them. The man returned a notebook to me about a month later. Uh, the notebook was a journal I kept as I was going through my divorce and having a wild fling with a 24 year old hottie! :o I've never been so embarassed in my whole life.

[testkitchen45]

I did something like that about 10 years ago. I sold some suitcases at a garage sale. Some friends of mine bought them. The man returned a notebook to me about a month later. Uh, the notebook was a journal I kept as I was going through my divorce and having a wild fling with a 24 year old hottie! :o I've never been so embarassed in my whole life.
No wonder he kept it for a month. :D

[sugarbaby]

I was selling my old purses at a yard sale several years ago. An elderly man came looking for purses for his wife, and was about to buy one, but thankfully he put it back. After he left, for some reason I went to look in one of the purse pockets, and I had left a few super-absorbent sized tampons in there! Yikes! No wonder he put it back!

[Gumbeaux]

Naw, you didn't do anything that was stupid. What you did was an accident.

Donating a computer, with all of your financial and personal info left on the hard drive, to a non profit is stupid.

[ErinM]

I once donated a book to a consignment shop. They later called me to ask if I really meant to leave the $500 check I forgot to cash and was using as a bookmark in the book, or did I want that back? :o

It was so embarrassing, it was funny, because I tend to leave money in my pockets all the time...

[DeeK]

I used to manage a Goodwill retail district. We did a careful search of all purses, etc., that came in as donations. If we did find something (like a credit card, cash, etc.), our policy was to pull them and attempt to contact the person whose name appeared on the card. If we were unable to do that, the item(s) stayed in the store safe for a certain period of time. Then, if unclaimed, credit cards could be sent to the store of origin, cash would be considered a donation, etc. Call the stores in your area and ask to be in touch w/ their main office or a district manager. They should be able to check around the district for you. I know that you can't trust a lot of people, but I was amazed at how forthcoming my staff was when we found money (usually $10 or $20 stuck in a pocket or something). Especially if the goods are sorted at a central location in a skills-training situation, you may find that your items were set aside. Good luck!

I went to my local store this morning. They directed me to the district area downtown (A HUGE PLACE). They couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. They basically said the same thing.

The supervisor had me fill out a recovery form and said they would keep an eye out for it, but considering the amount of time it was *possible* that they got thrown out. Since it was mostly just restaurant cards, medical cards, etc... (and not something of monetary value), it probably went to the dump. That's fine too. I just didn't want it going into the store where it could be picked up by anybody.

I was truly impressed with how hard these people tried to make MY mistake right for me. It made a stressful situation just a little bit better (I'm still kicking myself though). :( :o

[LakeMartinGal]

Dee, be sure to check with your medical care provider re: any new entries in your medical record... Reader's Digest has an article this month on medical identity theft being the newest craze among bad guys...

[DeeK]

Dee, be sure to check with your medical care provider re: any new entries in your medical record... Reader's Digest has an article this month on medical identity theft being the newest craze among bad guys...

Fortunately, my medical ID number has changed since the one in my purse. My dental one hasn't though. I will keep an eye on that. It bugs me that they use SS# as your dental I.D. #

Our medical insurance changed to their own number system because of identity theft issues.

[LakeMartinGal]

Our medical insurance changed to their own number system because of identity theft issues.
Whew! :) That's a relief!

[buffygirl]

No wonder he kept it for a month. :D

*Snort* :p