Oops I brought some of her husband's papers home with me by mistake

@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
February 27, 2009 12:25pm CST
On Wednesday night, I went to my friend's house, the one who used to take professional singing lessons. She has a piano and she offered to help me practice my piece for the Spring concert, and also to look at the song books I had so we can try a few out of them. Well we did not start until eight thirty pm as her husband works the midnight shift and he needs his sleep. So I did get about half and hour of practice and then I lent her one of my songbooks so she can copy some of the pieces (her one is rather torn up - years of using it.) then I packed up the rest of my books into my carrying bag and went home. Well i left them in the bag and just took out the sheet music I was going to use for the concert. Then yesterday, that is Thursday, I checked and found that I had also picked up the manuscript for their Tv, plus the ADT files and labels by mistake. So in the afternoon, I told my husband I was going to return them, so off I went. Then when I got home, I discovered an envelope and some stickers of theirs in the bottom of the back. It was too late, so this morning I went out again to drop them off at their mail box. So when you discover that you have picked someone else's stuff by mistake, do you return them as soon as possible or wait for a phone call, etc. ?
4 people like this
12 responses
• Australia
23 Jun 09
I'm sure we have all done something similar before. Paper sticks together, and if you are in a hurry, it can be easy to get it all mixed up. At least you returned the items as soon as you could. I know of people who would have just thrown them out and pretented not to know about them. I'm like you, I'd return them as soon as I was able to. I'd like my things returned if the situation had been reversed, so it just makes sense that I'd do what I'd like others to do.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
24 Jun 09
I do not like keeping things that do not belong to me so I return them as soon as possible, even if I do not tell them I took them by mistake. The reason is I do not want someone to question for what was not intentional and my mind goes sort of blank and I forget things when I am nervous. I also hope that someone else returns what they did by mistake as well. It is only being nice.
1 person likes this
3 Mar 09
You made a genuine mistake. You need to take them back as quickly as you can. Your friend will understand.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 09
I did. She did. But next time, I will let her put it in the bag.
• Canada
3 Mar 09
If I ever find myself in this position, I call the person, let them know I have their stuff, how I got it, and then I find a way to return it as soon as possible. I don't understand why anyone would wait for a phone call, when they have someone else's stuff. Just fess up, get it returned, and be done with the whole mistake. Then get on with your life, and they'll get on with theirs.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 09
Actually I did not call her. I just discovered the next day that I had them, and told my husband I was going for a walk and return somethings I brought over by mistake. Besides I could not phone anyway, since she was working and her husband works the midnight shift and he was sleeping. And we are good friends, and I do know that I do have the time.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Depends on where the person lives. If it's my brother's stuff, either we will meet half way or he'll get it next time we see each other since he lives about an hour away. If someone in town, sure I'll return their stuff asap.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 09
I do not think they realized it was missing, because she had to go to work the next day, and he came home from the midnight shift and went to bed. So by the time I brought it back and put it in their mail box, they did not know anything was missing.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I always try to do so right away--it might be important stuff! And if they find it missing, they may not think of me right away, they might think they misplaced it and hunt all over the house for it or even fight about it! Much easier to call them then return the things ASAP!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Feb 09
I did not realize I had them until the next day. I suspect they knew I had them, and so I went and returned them as soon as I found out. So that was all right. Anyway I will see them again on Sunday.
@suzzy3 (8341)
27 Feb 09
You did the right thing returning the papers straight away,it is a good job they were not incriminating.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 09
It was just a short walk to her place, and it was no trouble and I need as much excuse to get out for a walk anyway.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Well, if I can call them then i let them know as soon as I find out and tell them I will return it as soon as I can. If it is long distance and I can't contact them threw the computer, then yes I wait for the call from them so I can tell them if that isn't the reason they are calling.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Feb 09
I just walk and drop them off it is close to where I live. Otherwise, I will just email them or call them and say I will bring them over when I can or they can come to my place.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
27 Feb 09
It would only be the Courteous thing to do returning it as soon as possible. After all it might be something that they really needed. It sounds like your mistakenly picking up The TV manuscript, the ADT files and labels by mistake Gave you a good bit of exercise when you had to make the extra trips back to their home. I hope it wasn't too cold.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Feb 09
It was only about a ten minutes walk, way below the danger of frost bite. They did get a new Tv a while ago. It was cold and my legs were just starting to feel it when I got there. I hope it warms up later this week.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
27 Feb 09
OF course ya return as fast as you can for that person might need that for work.!
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
28 Feb 09
That has not happened to me lately but yes i would return it to them right away.I am really bad about picking up a pen to use & later finding out i stuck the pen in my purse, most times though it has been a business & i do not bother but i hate when i do that..I just don't think about what i am doing i supposs..
@Bd200789 (2994)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I return them as soon as I can, but I call first. That way they won't be searching for the items.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Mar 09
He sleeps during the day and she is out working, so I really do not want to disturb them. Usually if they live far away and I got a ride there, then I will call them.
• United States
1 Mar 09
I return it as soon as possible.
1 person likes this