Will you return a WRONG change?

Will you return a WRONG change? - A picture of some coins. Photo source: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/350862938_119d5c59a6.jpg?v=0 .
Singapore
December 11, 2007 4:28am CST
I was at the post office that day to collect a "tax letter". Before I went there, I had no idea what that was. I genuinely thought it was a letter from the tax office and I was livid that I had to pay for a letter from the tax collectors. As it turned out, a "tax letter" simply means that the sender has "forgotten" to stick on a stamp. Anyway, the fine was $1.25 for a flimsy envelope, excluding the time and effort to make the journey to the post office and join the long queue. I gave the staff 2 bucks and she returned me $1.25. I walked a step then turned around and asked her exactly how much the fine was supposed to be. She told me, "$1.25" and I replied, "Well, I gave you 2 bucks". You don't need your calculator to know that the change should be 75 cents. She thanked me then took back 50 cents. I could have kept the extra but that might have got her into trouble (even though the amount was not huge). I am quite an honest guy. I almost always return wrong change. The only exception sometimes is when the cashier is outright rude or impolite - then serve that person right - I would happily keep the extra. What about you? Will you return a wrong change? Any stories to share? =)
24 people like this
77 responses
@raychill (6525)
• United States
11 Dec 07
I've told this story before. A little over a year ago I went to the bank to cash a check. the check was for something like $124.21 or something. The lady gave me the money and I didn't really pay that much attention to it so I went to my car. I counted it in my car and I had $424.21. I was like ack! wait...that check was only $124 right? right? and I searched my car for the part that I had kept and I couldn't find it. So I drove home to find that part to verify that it was only supposed to be $124. I live about 5 minutes from that bank. Got home...found that part and it indeed was $124. So I took the money (still in the bank envelope she gave it to me in) and went bank to the bank. I had wanted to get the same teller so I didn't have to tell anyone else what happened cause I didn't want her to get in trouble. But she was busy so I had another teller and I showed her the check slip and said "I think she gave me the wrong amount". Now if you looked at the check you could see that it was a weird looking one where it could have been mistaken for a four. and I told them I'd went home to get the slip just to verify but I had wanted to return the money. I coulda used that extra 300 dollars, but I wouldn't have wanted that lady fired because of that. They thanked me for returning the money exclaiming how most people would never have done that. I got no reward. ha ha. I try to avoid getting that teller whenever i go to the bank though, I always feel bad.
@patgalca (18391)
• Orangeville, Ontario
11 Dec 07
Your reward will come to you when you least expect it, and may not even notice it. What goes around comes around and you will reap the benefits of your good deeds. You did the right thing, as hard as it was to do so. Three hundred bucks? Man, I would have been pretty tempted to keep it too.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Hmm... shouldn't you check AT the counter? How can you just cash a cheque and not verify the amount? This is just... unacceptable.:P But you mentioned a BANK. This is no joke. You don't want them to discover the discrepancy months later and chase the amount back from you. They will do that. Unless you don't mind them stealing the money you have with them or suing you with the lawyers they have on their payroll who have nothing to do.
1 person likes this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
11 Dec 07
Well the "Ha" after my reward comment was to indicate that I meant they didn't let me keep $100 of the $300 returned. Like... I wasn't actually expecting a reward. I'm still pretty broke, so I'll be thankful for the karma that comes from that experience. I didn't think about the money though, I really just thought about how much it would suck for that woman. that's what made me return it.
2 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
11 Dec 07
Yup. It happened to me many times. Every time I returned a wrong change, I will get different reactions. Some of them will smile and say thank you. Others wore a sour face. There was one incident wherein I bought an appliances. The cost is equivalent or close to US$100. I handed my money and supposedly, the cashier should give me a change of US$10. Instead she gave me US$90. I could easily go home with an appliances that's worth US$10. While telling the cashier about the wrong change, the store manager happened to pass by and saw what I did. He glared at the cashier and produced a VIP card for me. Since then, I always bought appliances from them and enjoying a 10% discount plus cash rebate. =)
@patgalca (18391)
• Orangeville, Ontario
11 Dec 07
Good for you! And good for them. It pays to be honest. Too bad the manager of my local grocery store doesn't think so. I've changed grocer's because of that idiot!
2 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
11 Dec 07
You know this is funny because I was seriously tempted to go home with the US$90 that day. My initial reaction was that I was "lucky" already to have an appliances worth US$10. But honesty prevailed and I know my conscience will bug me.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
tsk tsk - You are in the running for best response!
Oh yes! Sometimes when I return the change, I regret it since that person seems so ungrateful. OMG, you got a vip card that way? How lucky!:{
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
11 Dec 07
You are very honest and you have a clean conscious my friend. I, however wouldn't! If it's a friend or small business then I will return the money, but if it's a store or a big company then they can easily afford it besides the amount of times they overcharge and rip people off, and to them it's pennies! The fat cats at the top can lose a few pennies as well as a few stone out of their wages. So for me it varies on the situation.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
11 Dec 07
However, it sucks to be that poor underpaid retail associate who gets penalized for their register being short. Granted, it was probably their fault but not always. When I worked in retail there were a few times my register was short...but there was always two people on the register and yet I got yelled at because I was the one who counted it... and a lot of times that money was taken out of our paychecks.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Hahaha, you have a point there. But if that poor guy or gal gets penalized... I don't know... do they get penalized for such things nowadays?
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
11 Dec 07
yup I do for I will think what if was me and my tray was not counteding out right and just keep wondering where I did something wrong no 50cents isnt much but it can throw that cash count off at teh end of the day
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 Dec 07
oh you just know it would I would really hate to be the person with short cash drawer and feel sorry whom ever this has happened too
1 person likes this
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
Might spoil your day if you were the staff and got a scolding and forced to fork out the difference.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
11 Dec 07
Hi lordwawizard! I did have experienced things like that very often. Just today, I went to the market to buy some fresh fish and I paid the fish vendor with a 5 hundred peso note and he was suppose to give me a change of 120 pesos, but instead he gave me a change of 220, so I have a hundred peso extra change. As I was turning my back on him, I was looking at my change and then it occured to me..he gave a wrong change. So, i asked him if he was giving me a discount or he committed an error. haha..He scratched his head and said, he computed wrong and was thankful that I gave him back the hundred peso extra. I do return wrong change and it makes me feel good inside. And I have not yet encountered a vendor or cashier who was rude to me and at the same time gave me a wrong change because if it happened, then there is a greater chance I might not give it back too. LOL! take care and have a nice day. :)
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
Hehe, I am not surprised. Some of them vendors have horrible mathematical skill! :P
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
12 Dec 07
Hi lordwarwizard! haha..you got that right my friend! Take care and have a nice day! :)
1 person likes this
@I_LUV_U (2519)
• India
11 Dec 07
Oh yes, I have done it and will always do it. It is one of the best opportunities we get to make this world a better place to live. The happiness you get in such self-less acts is much more than what you can buy or obtain from that little extra money you were mistakenly given. By such beneficent acts, you are not only boosting your self-esteem, but also earning that person's trust. More importantly, you are showing him that honesty and righteousness still exist on the earth. I strongly believe that such incidents can have a greater impact on the other person's mind. The next time, when he is in your position, he will more likely do exactly what you did. I have no stories to share, I remember having returned the wrong change sometime in my dim past, but cannot just recollect the particular incident now. Once, as I remember, in a bank I had to pay some heavy cash. As when I was taking the heap of money out from my pocket, a 100 rupee(Indian currency)note which somehow had separated from the pile slipped down onto the ground without coming to my notice. A gentleman behind who observed it, called me immediately and alerted of it. There was nobody else at the back, and he could have easily grabbed the note. I was really thankful for him, for what he did that day. That incident really inculcated more positive thoughts and feelings towards the world, in my mind. Also it taught me how one can serve a great deal of help through simple gestures. Also it increased my love for mankind. You are in the right path, march on.=)
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
tsk tsk - You are in the running for best response!
It is one of the best opportunities we get to make this world a better place to live. Haha, I like the way you put it. PS.: I need a horse and chariot. Any sponsors? :P
1 person likes this
@I_LUV_U (2519)
• India
9 Jan 08
A horse, chariot and 3 charioteers for FREE!! - public domain image.

source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Hittite_Chariot.jpg
Granted. Hehehe..
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
11 Dec 07
I have returned change when I was given to much. Alot of people don't really look most times they just take their change and go. Would you have returned the change if you hadn't counted it until you got home? My mom also returned change she gave the woman a 20 for her stuff and the woman evidently thought she gave her a 50 and gave her over $35 dollars abck iin change my mom got to the car and realised she got to much change back and went back into the store and sure enough the woman had placed the twenty in the 50 drawer..She thanked my mom because she said if her drawer had been short changed she would have had to pay it and possibly lost her job.
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
No way if I am back home.:P
11 Dec 07
I do and I don't.. It depends on my mood and who served me, I generally do give it back but sometimes I either don't notice until it's too late or I keep it because I sometimes think it's more than it's worth. (example) going back and having to wait a while just to give back the extra change/note... Very rarely this happens though, ~Joey
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
Yup, especially if it is a small amount, we tend not to look too closely.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
11 Dec 07
I have returned the wrong change before a few times.This is the way i do it.If i am at a store and i give them money and they return change if i look at it right then and it is wrong then i will return it right away, however there are times that i am in a hurry and i do not count the change.If i do not count the change right then and i am off to the next chore and later find out that the change is wrong either to my good or theirs, I will not take the time to go back,If they short change me or if i short change them.I just forget about it.I just don't see the need to take time to make a few pennies right.I would never cheat them on purpose and i do not think they would either but common mistakes are made everyday, so i figure if i am far away already just let it go...of course if it wer a lot of money than it would be different, i would take the time to go back.
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
Yup, I will do the same too.:)
• United States
6 Jan 08
The other day my bank gave me two dollars more than I should have gotten. I drove away from the window and pulled over as I always do and counted my money and was surprised to find that they had given me two extra dollars more than I should have gotten. My Mom taught all of us kids if you didn't earn it than it is not yours. I went back to the window and gave the money back to her. This is what I always do whenever I am given more money back than what I am supposed to get. She told me thanks and explained that the end of the shift if her drawer is short that she has to make it up.
• Singapore
8 Jan 08
Hey, that was real neat of you. ^^
1 person likes this
@crickethear (1417)
• United States
19 Feb 08
I would return the change. My conscience would bother me too much. We all make mistakes, and even though it can be an inconvenience, especially if you have walked out the door and gotten into your car. But I rather be incovenienced then have my conscience eating at me all night, and not getting a good night sleep because of it.
• Singapore
19 Feb 08
Oh yea, conscience is a big word.:P
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Hahahahaha.. Never play play with those "big" shots. I think you can don't collect the letter and save that extra bucks :P For me, I normally do not check my change on the spot and would not even know if they short change me or give me a bonus. Unless I am too "bored" with the queue that I remember how much change I need to take back. Often I realised any wrong change too late and sometimes too lazy to go back and settle it. Why bother unless the amount is really huge. LOL.
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
Even it felt strange. I thought they would automatically send the letter back to the sender since there is a return address. They didn't.
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
11 Dec 07
If I noticed that the change is wrong, i would definitely return it even if it is just $0.01. Somehow, I do not feel good if I were to take the wrong change especially when I know that the person who had made the mistake would be questioned later for the shortages... So far, i am proud to say that I have returned all the wrong changes that I have received.
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
Guess it's a conscience thingy.:)
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
I am proud to say that I am an honest gal too. =D I always return the extra change given to me (if I realize it) whether or not the cashier is polite or not. I do not feel comfortable keep money/things that is not mine. I think there might be times when I might been given the extra change or was shortchanged without myself realizing it. Usually, when I am in a hurry or in deep thoughts, I will not double check the change. I will just take and go. I know that's a very bad habit and I am trying to kick it. A few weeks ago, after jogging, I went to buy icy soya milk at Mr Bean. It was quite late in the evening and I was one of the last few customers. I guess the aunties were tired and gave me $5 extra change. I gave her $5 and was expecting a $3.50 change back because the icy soya milk costs $1.50. She gave me $8.50 instead. She thought that I gave her a $10-note. I immediately returned it to her. She was so happy and thankful that she kept saying 'Thank You' non-stop. It's nice to meet such appreciative people. =D
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Dec 07
I am proud to be your friend too.:P And lol, a small windfall there hor? :PP
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
11 Dec 07
I do that a lot and many people think am crazy, but i just enjoy doing so to remind people in my part of the world that there are still some good hearted people who will not cheat even if the mistakes were not of their own
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Oh yes, there is still goodness in this world.:)
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18391)
• Orangeville, Ontario
11 Dec 07
You know something like that happened to me recently but I can't for the life of me remember what it was! (I didn't sleep well last night so not thinking straight). I know I went back and when I walked away I thought to myself, "I coulda, woulda..." but I didn't. I was honest. Sometimes, however, I don't notice these things until I get home. I do AC Nielson scanning and I usually need my receipts when I am inputting the information. It is then I will notice if they made a mistake - usually against me forcing me to make a trek BACK to the store. Funny how we are quick to get mistakes AGAINST us rectified but are content to accept the mistakes that work in our favour. Sometimes. You did the right thing and I probably would have too. But I got home and looked at a receipt and saw they made a mistake in my favour I certainly wasn't going to make the trek back. In fact, if I called the store on the telephone and told them they would say "don't worry about it", if it's a small amount. I bought a nice Aventure bracelet at a health food store a long while back. It broke after a few weeks. The policy is the company will fix it at no charge. While it was in for repairs I dished out the money for another one (but different in appearance). It broke, but it was my own fault so I just left it. Six months later and I am still waiting for the first one. I inquired, they inquired, no bracelet. I was told I can go in and pick out another one for free. I was in a lot better mood when I was wearing the aventure bracelet so I will go in there SOME day this week and pick out a new one.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
I agree - no way will I go back all the way just to return a change.:P
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
11 Dec 07
Oh yes, every time. There is no way I could live with myself 'stealing' 75c knowingly. Ok, it is a very small amount but it is the principal of knowingly doing something wrong like that which would eat at my heart. To be honest, the 'boot is on the other foot' most of the time because I hardly ever check my change other than seeing that I get about the right number of notes in the change. The coins I never look at even though in the UK we now have £1 and £2 coins that approximate to $2 and $4 US.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Oh yea, a man gotta live by his PRINCIPLES. :P
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
11 Dec 07
Since that rarely happens to me I had to think about this. I would like to say I would do the honest thing. Then again around here the lines for anything are long and slow moving. If that were the case I would probably just forget it.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Sometimes you wonder where all those people come from. :P
1 person likes this
@nkhanna (922)
• India
11 Dec 07
hi friend.one same kind of incident happened to me a few days back.me and my partner went to have juice.he had an orange juice and i thought of having ice cream.so i ordered both.The total bill amounted to as per the menu was $3.5i gave him $5.and he returned me the change.i was talking to my partner so without even cheking it i put it in my pocket.however when i reached another shop to buy something i noticed that the man had returned me $3.5.i was shocked.then we both went back and returned the money.he thanked us a lot.many a times i guess this happens but hardly few return it back.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Wow, you went back! If it was long over, I don't think I would go to the trouble of going back - unless it is a small business and the staff/owner is nice. :P
1 person likes this
@lorelai (1558)
• Italy
11 Dec 07
I am maybe pretty naive but when the change is something small I don't usually count it.Just once I went to this shop and I had to pay 2 euros for something and I gave 10 euro bill because I didn't have any change, I was talking to a friend and wasn't really paying attention to the change so took the change and forgot about it. Then we went for a drink in the another part of the town where I paid for the drinks end there was this 10 euro bill in my wallet and I didn't realize right away where it came from. Just then it came to me that the cashier in the previous shop made a mistake and gave me the change for 20 euros although I gave him only 10 euro. I didn't go back to the shop because I realized what had happened just more then 1 hour later. I felt pretty bad because 10 euro is not really such a small sum and if the cashier had to pay from his own pocket it cost him more than 1 hour of work.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Dec 07
Usually I don't count too but she gave me: $1 (gold coin) 20 cents 5 cents It's hard to miss since I was expecting 75 cents. The gold coin is very obvious for my case.
1 person likes this