AITA for leaving an iPad at a B&B, then threatening with the police when the owners ignored me?

A Reddit user faced a frustrating situation after leaving an iPad behind at a B&B and struggling to get it returned. Despite numerous attempts to contact the owner, they were ignored for weeks until finally involving the police, only to be made to feel like the bad guy. Read the full story below to decide if this response was justified.

‘ AITA for leaving an iPad at a B&B, then threatening with the police when the owners ignored me?’

I left my iPad in a B&B more than 5 weeks ago. The owner rang me on the day to let me know that I left it – and I missed the call while on my motorbike. They sent me an email to let me know they had my iPad, but by the time I got the email, I was hundreds of miles away and couldn’t go back to get it.

I tried to call them back, but couldn’t get through. I replied to the email, but that didn’t get a reply either. Over the next several weeks, I tried emailing them through Booking dot com, through their own email, AND through their website’s email form.

I always told them who I was, gave my address and phone number, and offered to pay for postage, packaging and any fuel they would need to get to the post office. I also called their number every few days, and left a few messages too with my mobile number.

I didn’t hear anything at all, for 18 days. Not a thing. Apple *Find My* was telling me it was still at the B&B so I knew they still had it. And because they called me on the day, I knew they had my number (plus, they had all my details through Booking dot com too).

I called my travel insurer who said as I knew it was there and they were holding on to it, I should register it as a theft with the police and get a claim number. I really didn’t want to get anyone in trouble so I emailed the police station local to the B&B and asked them to help me get in touch with the owner, and that I was sure it was a misunderstanding.

Turns out, the B&B owner WORKS FOR THE POLICE THERE. They were informed of my email and I suddenly got a grumpy message from the B&B owner. They made out I was the bad guy.

They kept saying that they were really busy, that they’re trying to run a business and have a busy family life etc, that they were disappointed that I had gone to the police over it, and that it’s ‘human nature to get sidetracked, just like it’s human nature to forget an iPad’. Which obviously, I totally get. It is.

And then they ghost me again, for another TWO WEEKS. Absolutely no contact, despite even more repeated messages on the only phone number that I have for them. So today, after I say I will have to take it further because I’m out of options, they’re suddenly at the post office and they’re sending my iPad home.

All the way along, I’ve been made to feel like an arsehole by this person – I totally get that I made the mistake in the first place, but I don’t know what else I could have done.

If it was a toothbrush or a washbag I’d not have bothered, but we’re talking about an expensive bit of equipment that I use for work! Plus, because I didn’t hear anything from them, I’m not sure how else I could have handled it.. AITA?

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Cool-Equivalent986 −  NTA. Keep all the messages you sent them and write a review once you get your iPad and confirm it’s in good shape.

RycheAndRoll −  NTA – especially since they reached out to begin with…and you gave them multiple chances to make it right without involving anyone else.
And the “busy” excuse doesn’t hold water… yes, lives are busy, but they didn’t have 10 minutes (or less) to return an email or call… that doesn’t sound right.

Scary_Sarah −  NTA I forgot something twice at two different air B&Bs and they both sent it to me immediately. Of course I venmo-ed for shipping and some extra for their time and gas driving to the post office.

VirgoQueen84 −  You YTA people are crazy as hell! OP never said they were obligated to do anything but they BLATANTLY ignored his calls and emails until he involved law enforcement! OP even offered to pay for all the extra. If they couldn’t be bothered to send it to OP a simple answer to the numerous calls and emails would have sufficed!!! OP doesn’t sound unreasonable

ToughAd7338 −  You handled it well. You should leave an honest review of their business on Google and Booking and wherever else you can. This is shady business practice and I wouldn’t want to stay somewhere where the host doesn’t care about my time and belongings. It’s not like it was a f**king sweater, it was an iPad which people need to do work and business, etc.

sfgothgirl −  NTA. if you have a b&b you have to on occasion return things that people left it’s just part of the job.

Wooden_Door_1358 −  NTA they didn’t need 3 weeks to go to the post office.

ChakraMama318 −  NTA- if they are ignoring you then you have to make a police report in order to get your insurance money for another one. As someone who works for the police dept- they know it.

brilliant_nightsky −  NTA but do be one when you leave your review.

Commercial_Music_931 −  Of course they worked for the police too. It makes them feel like they’ve got power and are untouchable. That they don’t have to act like decent human beings because nobody can touch them.

Fk them dude. Glad you got your iPad back. Leave a scathing review with screenshots if able. They mess with you? Mess with their income a bit. A review like that would certainly keep people away.