ckc_ucl Posted October 28, 2006 at 06:27 AM Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 06:27 AM Nimen Hao, I left my belongings in a Beijing taxi last night... Is there any way in which I could get them back or should I just kiss them goodbye? Quote
imron Posted October 28, 2006 at 06:38 AM Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 06:38 AM Did you get a receipt? If so, it will have the taxi number and also a phone number to call if you have problems. If not, can you remember the colour of the taxi? Beijing taxis are colour-coded by company. All the new ones will be Yellow + some other colour (e.g. blue, green, brown). If you can remember the colour, it shouldn't be too difficult to find out the company name and a contact phone number. Then I guess it's just a matter of calling the company and hoping for the best. Some taxi-drivers are amazingly honest. Some aren't. I guess it will depend in part on how valuable your belongings would be to a stranger. If you had a mobile-phone included in the belongings, you could try calling that. If it is switched off, I wouldn't fancy your chances of ever seeing it again, as it means the SIM has probably been removed/replaced. Quote
roddy Posted October 28, 2006 at 06:44 AM Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 06:44 AM Yeah, Imron's on the right track. There's also these people, but they're more about dealing with complaints than helping people find lost property, and if you can't identify a company, much less a driver, then you're on a bit of a loser. What did you lose, exactly? Quote
ckc_ucl Posted October 28, 2006 at 07:14 AM Author Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 07:14 AM Imron & Roddy, thank you for your speedy & comprehensive replies. I shall try what you suggested but I don't hold out much hope... I lost a pouch containing my dorm key, mobile phone & camera. All are replacable, though the camera has some sentimental value. Quote
roddy Posted October 28, 2006 at 07:27 AM Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 07:27 AM Would your dorm key have made it clear where you live? If that's the case and you haven't had it handed back to you in 24 hours then it's probably not coming back. Given that it was lost with easily saleable items, I don't fancy your chances. Quote
hunxue Posted October 28, 2006 at 08:51 AM Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 08:51 AM I lost a cellphone to a cab several weeks ago. According to my roommate, it's as good as gone without a cab receipt. I bought another cheap phone the next day. I still don't bother getting receipts but I double check my pockets before getting out of cabs Now if I could only find my overpriced electronic dictionary... Quote
roddy Posted October 28, 2006 at 08:56 AM Report Posted October 28, 2006 at 08:56 AM I still don't bother getting receipts but I double check my pockets before getting out of cabs That's what I've always done. Plenty of people religiously get receipts, but unless you can actually stop the cab before it's driven away you're at the mercy of the driver - if they want to say they didn't find your phone, there's not much you can do about it. There's also the taxi driver radio show you hear them listening to sometimes, with lost property annoucements - "Mr Zhou left 5000Y and his computer in the back of a cab at Beijing West Railway Station yesterday, if you have found it please call . . ." - I've always wondered if they ever actually reunite anyone with anything. Roddy PS Bet I go and leave my phone in a cab tomorrow . . . Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.