Found medical bills in a used office chair I bought

I picked up a second-hand office chair last week. When I took the seat cushion off to clean it, I found a stack of old papers tucked inside the frame. They were someone's medical bills and insurance letters with their full name and address. It feels wrong to just throw them out with my trash, but I also don't really want to track down a stranger. I'm stuck on what the right thing to do here is.

3 comments

3 Comments

kevin_bailey1mo ago

Yeah I found tax documents in a thrift store book once. I just looked up the name online, found a phone number, and gave them a quick call. Left a message saying where I found their stuff and that I'd shred it for them. Felt way better than tossing it. They called back super grateful, said it was a huge relief. Easy fix.

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wendy_green851mo ago

My cousin found a folder full of old pay stubs at a garage sale last year. She searched the name on Facebook and sent a quick message to the owner. He was really grateful and even bought her a coffee to say thanks.

the_olivia1mo ago

Honestly I used to think it wasn't my problem if I found someone's papers. Like, they lost it, right? But hearing how much it helped that person, just making one call, really flipped my view. It's such a small thing to do for someone else's peace of mind.