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I have returned all company equipment in the past after getting laid off except for one ex company's laptop, now paperweight, I have had since January, because

I have returned all company equipment in the past after getting laid off except for one ex company's laptop, now paperweight, I have had since January, because they have not offered to pay return shipping fees and haven't bothered following up. Also got a free monitor from them. Their stock is floating around $3/share right now so I don't think they have the resources to pay for return shipping.

teeray 4y ago
I wonder how abandoned property works in this circumstance? I’m sure the courts will see the item as clearly the employer’s, but why should you be providing free storage for their equipment? You’re also assuming liability for that laptop (e.g. cat knocks over water glass onto it), so how does that work?
- Aeolun 4y ago
  I imagine the judge will side with you if you’ve made a reasonable effort to return the equipment.
  - extasia 4y ago
    Does reasonable include paying for shipping?
- autotune 4y ago
  My silent hope is the company goes out of business before something accidentally happens to the laptop and I no longer have to worry about it. I refuse to pay for return shipping on it as a matter of principle.
  - offsky 4y ago
    You could ship it by COD? If they don’t pay, it gets returned and you can assume it’s yours.
    - teeray 4y ago
      This is a great idea. I honestly forgot COD exists, since it’s so infrequent these days. But it does seem perfect for this situation.
andmikey 4y ago
Same situation for me (albeit left the job at the end of the contract, not laid off). I’ve had the laptop for over a year now because IT refused to pay return shipping. I’ve followed up a few times and been told it’ll be sorted, but never hear back…
ajma 4y ago
I was once at a company where the company was doing really poorly too. They still sent collection agencies after people who didn't return laptops and phones.
- yellow_lead 4y ago
  If this happens to you in the OP's situation you can dispute the debt.

teeray 4y ago

I wonder how abandoned property works in this circumstance? I’m sure the courts will see the item as clearly the employer’s, but why should you be providing free storage for their equipment? You’re also assuming liability for that laptop (e.g. cat knocks over water glass onto it), so how does that work?

Aeolun 4y ago
I imagine the judge will side with you if you’ve made a reasonable effort to return the equipment.
- extasia 4y ago
  Does reasonable include paying for shipping?
autotune 4y ago
My silent hope is the company goes out of business before something accidentally happens to the laptop and I no longer have to worry about it. I refuse to pay for return shipping on it as a matter of principle.
- offsky 4y ago
  You could ship it by COD? If they don’t pay, it gets returned and you can assume it’s yours.
  - teeray 4y ago
    This is a great idea. I honestly forgot COD exists, since it’s so infrequent these days. But it does seem perfect for this situation.

andmikey 4y ago

Same situation for me (albeit left the job at the end of the contract, not laid off). I’ve had the laptop for over a year now because IT refused to pay return shipping. I’ve followed up a few times and been told it’ll be sorted, but never hear back…

ajma 4y ago

I was once at a company where the company was doing really poorly too. They still sent collection agencies after people who didn't return laptops and phones.

yellow_lead 4y ago
If this happens to you in the OP's situation you can dispute the debt.