Today, a wallet is not just an object in which we carry cash. Very often it is something much more important to us. It is in it that we carry documents, debit and credit cards, necessary business cards and often photos of people close to us. What do you do if you lose your wallet? Or have you found someone's wallet on the street? What should you do in such a situation? We answer in today's post.

Lost your wallet? Don't panic

Although a lost wallet is a big hassle, it's worth keeping calm. Think about where you last used it. Perhaps you paid for your purchases in a shop or at a petrol station. We have so many things on our minds every day that there is a good chance it was absentmindedly left where it was last used.

In the case of a lost wallet, speed of response is crucial. It is not worth counting on the honest finder calling us himself, sending the lost item to the address on our documents or returning the find to the police. It is best to immediately go to the place where you last used your wallet. If the wallet is no longer found there, we should move on to the next step.

Secure your cards and documents

If your wallet has not been found, the next step you should decide on as soon as possible is to secure your debit and credit cards. Immediately call the bank and block all cards, because although the thief or the person who has found our wallet will not withdraw cash without knowing the PIN, they will easily perform a number of contactless transactions that will debit our account.

Call the bank's helpline or go to the nearest branch. Remember that if we do not block the cards quickly enough, the bank can charge us for all transactions that occurred without our consent up to €150. Once the card has been blocked, the bank will send us a duplicate within a few days. The old card, even if we find the wallet, will not be active again.

Similarly with documents - register your proof and all documents with the relevant authority as soon as possible. Nowadays, it is easy to take out a loan on your ID card, so it is better to protect yourself against the consequences of losing your wallet. If our documents are not found, we must apply for their re-issue.

Acquitable finder

We already know what to do if we lose a wallet, but what if we find one? In such a case, we should observe the so-called duty of an honest finder. In practice this means that if you find a wallet belonging to someone you do not know, you are obliged to report the find to the relevant authority - the police or the Lost Property Office.

If you find your wallet in a means of transport, for example on a train or ship, you should give the lost item to the person in charge - in this case the driver, train manager, captain of the ship, etc. We can also take the found payment cards to the nearest branch of the bank where they were issued.

When we return the found item at the appropriate branch, we should be issued with a certificate. We should also remember that the finder is entitled to a so-called finder's fee of one-tenth of the value of the found items. We may reserve such a claim when handing over the lost item to the relevant authorities or, if we manage to identify it, to the owner of the lost items.