Finder's reward: This is the amount of money earmarked for lost property

The finder's reward is not just about a gesture of gratitude - the amount is regulated by law, as experts describe.

What those affected who find an object must also consider.

Anyone who has ever lost a

knows how happy one is to get it back as quickly as possible. Conversely, if you find a handbag, a ring or a purse * without information about the owner, for example, you should contact the lost property office or another competent authority quickly to hand it in. It is even easier if the

is labeled with name and address, for example - then the item can also be returned directly to the owner.

As the German Press Agency described in an article on the topic, where you have to make the report depends on the

.

Anyone who finds an object on the train or in local public transport must report the find to the respective operating company.

The respective authority is responsible for finds in official buildings.

If you find something on the street instead, you have to contact the local lost property office, the citizens' office or the police.

If finders leave their data behind, they can later assert their lost property rights.

Also read:

Misappropriation of the find "no cavalier offense"

Misappropriation of finds is “not a

”, as Stiftung Warentest

in an article on

on the subject

wrote

Among other things, it said: "According to the law, finders are only allowed to keep items with a value of less than 10 euros." This also applies, for example, if you find five euros on the street - and only for amounts up to ten Euro.

Finders would have to report more valuable finds as soon as possible to a lost property office, the police or the citizens' office,

reported

"If you don't do that, you will make yourself liable to prosecution."

Finder's reward required by law

What about the

? The amount is regulated by law, according to the information provided by Stiftung Warentest. Specifically,

reported

this: “If a lost

worth up to 500 euros, the finder's fee is 5 percent of that. It is 3 percent for more expensive items. ”Lower rates would apply to items found in public transport or in authorities. “A find there usually has to be worth at least 50 euros before the finder gets anything at all. In addition, he only receives half of the

wages. ”

According to

,

it is

difficult

with found objects that have no material value. In such cases it is at least fair if the owners voluntarily pay a reward.

Also interesting:

Lost and found: what if the owner does not contact you?

What happens if you have returned the found item to

the lost property

,

for example

, and the owner does not contact you within six months?

Then finders should keep the thing afterwards, according to the experts at Stiftung Warentest.

If the finder is not interested, the item will be auctioned off.