Cash to go

[MoonCat]

Ironclad Alibi's thread reminded me of this from waaaay the hell back in 1982:

I had planned a trip to England and made arrangements to purchase some British currency from a bank here, so I would have some of the proper cash on me for cab fare or whatever as soon as I arrived (the rest of my money I took in the form of traveler's checks).

So a couple days before my trip I went to the bank and was given the currency in an envelope. I can't remember if I counted it there but I suspect not, because when I opened the envelope later, at the back of the cash I found some other customer's IRA deposit check

The next day I returned the check to the bank. The teller I gave it to went pale when I explained what had happened, and asked me if I knew which teller had given me the cash. I honestly couldn't remember. I've always wondered what happened to her.

[Eevie]

How do you make a mistake like that? Glad it went to someone who's honest, that could've been really bad!

[MoonCat]

How do you make a mistake like that? Glad it went to someone who's honest, that could've been really bad!

My guess is they put the cash down on top of a check they had recently received and picked it up, along with the cash, to put into my envelope. Makes me wonder if the teller searched all over the place trying to find that check.

[wolfie]

Maybe they re-used an envelope and didn't check thoroughly enough to be sure it was empty.

Not only is the teller lucky that you returned the check, but you're lucky that YOU found it before leaving, rather than British Customs finding it on arrival. After all, a certain TLA has a VERY different meaning in Britain than it does in the U.S.

[MoonCat]

Maybe they re-used an envelope and didn't check thoroughly enough to be sure it was empty.

Not only is the teller lucky that you returned the check, but you're lucky that YOU found it before leaving, rather than British Customs finding it on arrival. After all, a certain TLA has a VERY different meaning in Britain than it does in the U.S.

Well, back then they didn't even look at what I brought with me (remember this was in 1982). I went through a gate where a customs officer looked at my passport and asked me how long I would be staying and what was the purpose of my visit. I guess I looked and sounded harmless because they didn't inspect my bags or purse or anything.

Probably done differently today. I would love to go back, though.