Idiot tourist left passport in cab... HELP!

Submitted by snookerduck t3_yipl7c in nyc

It's me. I'm the idiot tourist.

I've just arrived in NYC from the UK for my honeymoon (woo!) and have started the week brilliantly... I've left my passport in the back of a yellow cab on the way to the hotel. I blame post-wedding exhaustion and jet lag! But yes, I am an idiot...

Thankfully I have a photo of the cab's medallion number. We've tried 311 but they're closed until tomorrow - I will ring tomorrow first thing, but I've submitted an online form for lost property in the meantime. We have also tried to find the cab's garage but the 311 website can't find it. We've got details of how to apply for emergency travel paperwork and will do this tomorrow if 311 are no help.

I'm not sure what else to do in this situation. Is there anything else you guys think I should do or any helpful tips about how to recover lost property?

Thank you so much!

UPDATE: the cab driver just came back to the hotel with my passport and it's safely back in my possession! Thank you to the anonymous passenger who found it and handed it over, and thank you to the absolute legend who drove his cab all the way back to get it back to me!!! Faith in humanity is restored. Thank you to you all as well for the brilliant suggestions and tips - I'll be well prepared for when this inevitably happens again :D

1,020

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

eekamuse t1_iujula9 wrote

Look up the medallion number here

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc_medallion_info/html/tlc_lookup.shtml

"Use this number to look up the cab’s management company, a service available on 311. Call the company and, after giving the medallion number, provide as many details about the cab, driver, and your item as you can."

77

Due_Dirt_8067 t1_iuk6fsl wrote

I’ve done this and had luggage returned within 24 hrs

31

em_nyc96 t1_iujutmr wrote

Worst comes to worst go to the British consulate and ask for an emergency passport. But you’ll have to apply for a new regular passport when you get home, emergency passports expire after a shorter amount of time than normal ones

47

RogueStatesman t1_iujtw0l wrote

You can try the Police Lost & Found centers. Taxi drivers are supposed to return lost items to them:

Bronx
43rd Precinct
900 Fteley Avenue (between Story Avenue and Banyer Place)
(718) 542-0888
Brooklyn
76th Precinct
191 Union Street (between Hicks and Henry Streets)
(718) 834-3211
94th Precinct
100 Meserole Avenue (between Lorimer Street and Manhattan Avenue)
(718) 383-3879
Manhattan
17th Precinct
167 East 51st Street (between Lexington and 3rd Avenues)
(212) 826-3211
Central Park Precinct
86th Street Transverse, Central Park
(212) 570-4820
Queens
107th Precinct
71-01 Parsons Boulevard (between 71st and 72nd Avenues)
(718) 969-5100
115th Precinct
92-15 Northern Boulevard (between 92nd and 93rd Streets)
(718) 533-2002
Staten Island
120th Precinct
78 Richmond Terrace (between Wall Street and Hamilton Avenue)
(718) 876-8500

28

gcaledonian t1_iuk59of wrote

You’ve been here five minutes lol.

Good luck getting it back!

28

cantcountnoaccount t1_iuk9mds wrote

Musician Bela Fleck left master tapes in a cab. You’re not the first nor the last to make this mistake. The masters were returned unharmed. Good luck!

14

Calm-Heat-5883 t1_iuk50q7 wrote

Ask for help at your hotel reception desk. They have numbers for you to reach. Problem is the taxi driver won't check the backseat every time someone exits the taxi. So the next passenger might have taken it. Unless they handed it to the driver. You might have to go to the embassy tomorrow to get an emergency one to get you home

11

drpvn t1_iuk2hcy wrote

I’ve done this as a local.

5

DawgsWorld t1_iuk626f wrote

This is George Constanza. Forgive me, but I am the king of idiots.

3

sysyphusishappy t1_iujuh43 wrote

Another reason why ubers are better than yellow cabs.

−19

em_nyc96 t1_iujv5gu wrote

Yeah I left my iPhone in a yellow cab years ago and never got it back lol

10

BlankishGaze t1_iuk3gmq wrote

Not true. I had a similar situation once. Uber driver said get lost

9

edwinstone t1_iuk4kag wrote

Yeah because it's the Yellow Cabs fault. Bozo.

3

Hairy_Necessary6700 t1_iuk9g91 wrote

I’ll have to agree, it’s easier to challenge fees with Ubers, cabs on the other hand can take whatever route tolls and all, and charge you a shit tonne and you have to challenge in person. And no one has time for that.

−1