Thread: Morality? Where does yours lead?

Today I faced a bit of a conundrum.

I was out this morning doing a last bit of shopping before Christmas and on my way home, bags in hand, I spotted something lying on the ground in front of me. It was a bank card belonging to some woman (by the name) unknown to me.

I could have left it where it was – nothing to do with me right?

I could have taken it and used it - €50 a pop without any need for I.D. or a PIN, just tap and go. There would be very little chance of it already having been cancelled.

It was outside a shop, likely the last time it was used. I could have brought it in to the shop and left it there in the hope that the person would return there looking for it.

I could have brought it to the bank concerned, just 2 minutes out of my way, and left it with them.

I could have brought it to the local police station, a little further away (maybe 10 minutes’ walk) and left it with them.

So what did I do?

I picked it up, had a quick look around me to see if I could see anyone it may belong to but there was no-one, so I put it in my pocket.

I brought it home and put it through my shredder.

Why did I do what I did? I’m questioning if I did the right thing.

Of the options available to me, I didn’t know the people I could have left it with and it could have been misused; and if I’d left it where I found it the next person to find it could also have misused it.

This person is likely to have a very shitty Christmas without access to her bank card; no matter what I did it seems she wouldn’t have recovered it in time. Maybe the shop would have allowed for this but I didn’t know the shop and had no way of judging the shop assistance’s honesty.

At least I’ve ensured her account wasn’t raided.

What do you think of my solution? Did I make a mistake in my reasoning?

If nothing else, you ensured the account couldn't be accessed through the lost card. That's an acceptable solution.

Integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. Ya done good.

Was there a customer service number you could have called on the back of the card?

You could have called them, and they could have informed the owner and started the process of sending her a new card.

If I lost my card, I would have appreciated getting such a call from the company. Knowing someone did me a nice favor would have reaffirmed my faith in humanity.

Originally Posted by sam luis obispo

Was there a customer service number you could have called on the back of the card?

You could have called them, and they could have informed the owner and started the process of sending her a new card.

If I lost my card, I would have appreciated getting such a call from the company. Knowing someone did me a nice favor would have reaffirmed my faith in humanity.

You’re probably right.

Her bank was also my bank so I had the contact details. I could have brought it home and contacted them online. What can I say? I acted impulsively.

On the other side, I’d assume that as soon as she realised she’d lost her card she would have initialised the process of cancelling and getting a new card, the time frame being similar.

Yes, maybe finding a way to return it to her could have restored her faith in humanity in some way, but is that faith generally warranted? I’d like to think so but…

Maybe this says something about my lack of trust in others today and this is why I brought it to the forum.

Originally Posted by Jackoff

You’re probably right.

Her bank was also my bank so I had the contact details. I could have brought it home and contacted them online. What can I say? I acted impulsively.

On the other side, I’d assume that as soon as she realised she’d lost her card she would have initialised the process of cancelling and getting a new card, the time frame being similar.

Yes, maybe finding a way to return it to her could have restored her faith in humanity in some way, but is that faith generally warranted? I’d like to think so but…

Maybe this says something about my lack of trust in others today and this is why I brought it to the forum.

I was envisioning a scenario where I did not know I had lost the card, and would appreciate knowing that the bank had already been informed, that it had been found before somone had put on bogus charges, and that a replacement was already on its way.

Every bank is different, but some will immediately shred the card if you bring it in. If she goes to the bank, most can give her a new card over the counter and cancel the old in 15 min. I think your choice was best.

Originally Posted by youngLorne

Every bank is different, but some will immediately shred the card if you bring it in. If she goes to the bank, most can give her a new card over the counter and cancel the old in 15 min. I think your choice was best.

Really?

A new card over the counter?

I find that hard to believe, but then again different countries have different rules.

Here, cards are sent in the post. It takes time to make a new card and more time to send it in the post. There is no alternative as far as I’m aware.

The default PIN is also sent through the post, but separately from the card to avoid card and PIN being intercepted simultaneously.

The whole process usually takes a few weeks.

You can go in to your bank and access your account without your card, but this would be a laborious process where you have to furnish all sorts of I.D. to prove who you say you are.

Ya probably regional - CIBC replaced my Visa over the counter this fall, PIN set on first use, I had to show my drivers license.

Bank cards could be different I guess.

On the other hand monthly meto cards in Lisbon still take 36 hours, so just depends where you live.

Stay safe man, hope you get your ban, it's good to get away from the virtual world sometimes (and good to come back sometimes too).