What would you do..Be honest now

United States
April 4, 2007 1:44pm CST
If you went through a bank drivethrough and asked to withdrawl $25, and after you left found out the banker gave you a twenty and a fifty by mistake, and they didn't realize it, would you keep the extra money or return it? This happened to me one time. The tellers were very busy and she didn't know she had done it, I didn't til after I left. I did keep the money. We were tight and it came in handy. I know it was wrong, but what can I say?
4 people like this
30 responses
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I know how you feel, but look at it this way. Sometimes God works in mysterious ways. You were provided with much needed cash when you were strapped. I truly believe that there are no accidents in life. Perhaps at a time when you have more money, you can take the time to donate something to your favorite charity in memory of that fifty dollars you got as a gift to help you make ends meet. As for me? I have an abundant life and I would probably return it to the bank.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Apr 07
Wow, thank you for that great answer. That makes me feel better.
1 person likes this
• Canada
5 Apr 07
I think it would depend on the circumstances. If we were strapped for Cash and I'd prayed for a solution, and then that happened, I think I would have kept the money and taken it as a sign. Our Angels and God work in mysterious ways and I do fel they provided you with some much needed money at a time when you needed it the most. For other occasions though, I think I would stop and hand it in, even if it meant going back.
• United States
5 Apr 07
If I didn't need the money I would have given it back. I was hoping it was a sign.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
5 Apr 07
I couldn't keep it, and here's why: I'm a bank teller. I know how much trouble I get into if my drawer is off, and I've been known to worry for days over money that I couldn't find. So if I were at another bank, I would definitely give the money back, because I wouldn't want to get that person in trouble. That said, I know you weren't thinking about that when you kept the money, and if it was necessary for your family then I'd understand it. I'm not saying "You're bad" for doing what you did, just that I wouldn't do the same. You know what I mean?
4 Apr 07
Big companies can afford the loss. I personally would keep or if I felt bad then I would give it to charity but I very much doubt that I would return it. I once found $250 in a bank machine but I felt so bad that I donated $100 to charity. I should have donated the whole lot but I was very poor at the time myself.
• United States
4 Apr 07
I know how you felt. At least you donated part of it.
1 person likes this
@dcroce (98)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I wouldn't have to think twice about it. 50 bucks in my pocket! but i do like the idea of donating something in return.
@youngam86 (151)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I'm not going to lie, I would keep the money. I know morally that it is wrong but money is tight having two children under the age of two. That extra 25 dollars means another box of diapers for my sons.
• United States
5 Apr 07
That's how we are too, don't feel bad.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
I'd return it, just because I've been a cashier before (not a teller) and it really messes up a day if you're out. On the other hand, I'm very tight right now, and it does make you kind of feel desperate when you don't have money. I can see why you kept it.
• United States
5 Apr 07
I'd have returned it. Yes, it was their mistake, and yes, you needed the money; but taking for your own use is still stealing in a way. I know that you didn't make the cashier make the mistake and can't help that she was busy. I also know that it wasn't your fault that she didn't catch on to her own mistake right away. However, when you did catch on to it, you could have taken the money back. Think of it like this, what if it was your money and you gave someone back too much change, they noticed the mistake, but walked on anyway. At the end of the day when your balance wasn't right you would feel very bad for your loss. You would even feel cheated. You shouldn't treat anyone else differently than you would want to be treated yourself.
• Philippines
5 Apr 07
To be honest and true to you I will give back the money cause I know it will hunt me especially if it worth a bit much. This happens to me too but not in a establishment like banks. I always return it cause I know my conscience. i do understand you if you didn't return it back cause I know some people who have done that and it help the to get through hardships.
@usama46 (861)
• Pakistan
5 Apr 07
i do nothing and leave from there and think it my luck god give me this.
• Nigeria
5 Apr 07
I will take it back.....it has happen to me several times
• United States
5 Apr 07
i would be tempted to,but no,i would return it. with cameras and whatnot nowadays,they can usually find out where it went most of the time anyway.
@MrSaleh87 (340)
• Egypt
5 Apr 07
I Don'y Think that ill give it back to him.... lol every one can to assume his mistake... if i have moeny ill back it to him for sure but if i haven't the devil will prevent me to give it back to him :D
@mjohnson (33)
• United States
5 Apr 07
If it were me, I would have given it back..I have worked in banking for almost 8 years, 4 of them as a teller. What people don't realize is that tellers can't go home until they find their money if their till is out of balance. Also, tellers can only be out so much or so many times before they lose their job. It is a very stressful situation when your till isn't in balance. I know that if I were in that teller's position I would desperately want the money returned. Another thing I believe in is Karma...what goes around comes around. I may have saved someone's job by returning the money and a good deed often brings good to you.
@denden (802)
• Philippines
5 Apr 07
I will return it because i know it is not good and i dont want it to be happen to me also.What you do unto others will do also to you.Do you believe in that?Me, i do believe in thats statement thats why im afraid to do such things.But if i dont know that they give me more then i realize it when i arrive home then i cant return it anymore.
• China
5 Apr 07
I don't know whether others will keep the money or not,I think I will keep it,heheeee.After all I think my action don't hurt anyone so it is ok.
@ironstruck (2298)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
its funny you should ask that, because it is exactly what happened to me last year.. I went to a bank machine to withdraw $100 and it gave me four twenty dollar bills and one fifty. So, $30 too much. I went inside to a bank person and told them and ended up being sorry that I did... They did not just exchange it for a $20 bill. She went to talk to about 3 different people about what she should do and ended up taking 20 more minutes filling out forms. All in all I ended up waiting for almost half an hour and missed an important appointment for my honesty. I thought after how much simpler it would have been to just keep the money in that case. They should have just taken the $50, given me a $20 and then look after their problem. But they were very inconsiderate.
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I once made my husband drive back to a store after I realized a cashier had given me $40.00 too much in change. The thing is, cashiers and tellers can either lose their jobs or they will take the money out of their pay. I would have felt bad if I had kept it. I was tempted though, hey, I'm only human and the money would have come in handy, but it would have bothered me.
@collstarx (1177)
• Indonesia
5 Apr 07
Please don't try again. Best regards
• India
5 Apr 07
Well if a thing like that would have happened to me i would definitely had done the same thing as you did.In this era people are very selfish and they are interested only in their own interests.twenty five fify dollars is aloy money and if you really want to make full use of it then help some poor rather than returning back.Make use if iit such that the need are helped.It would not make a difference to the bank but it would Make a lot of diffence in lives of people whom you will help with that money