lost and found

September 17, 2012 10:16 AM

Found a wallet with a bunch of German identification (passport, drivers license, ID cards). How can I get this stuff back to him? Is there a better way than just mailing it to the address on his passport? If I do mail it should I use USPS? I'm in NYC.
posted by laptolain to Human Relations (12 answers total)

Best answer: Call the local NYC german consulate/embassy (I always forget the difference), as that is likely the first place the dude called when he realized it was missing. They will surely assist you in returning it to him.
posted by elizardbits at 10:18 AM on September 17, 2012 [11 favorites]

Yeah, German consulate in NYC.
posted by rtha at 10:19 AM on September 17, 2012

I also came to say German Consulate in New York
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:19 AM on September 17, 2012

Call the German consulate--they're the ones he'll be getting in touch with when he realizes he's lost his passport.
posted by snorkmaiden at 10:19 AM on September 17, 2012

Also you will likely make a new friend, as european tourists are generally pretty surprised and thrilled when new yorkers do nice things for them.
posted by elizardbits at 10:20 AM on September 17, 2012 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: ok thanks I used the contact form on the consulate website. hopefully they will get in touch before this guy cancels all his stuff.
posted by laptolain at 10:23 AM on September 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

When I found some Italian ID documents in the street in London I traced the owner on Facebook. MeFi's msali translated a message into Italian for me and I was able to get her things back to her the next day.
posted by essexjan at 10:44 AM on September 17, 2012 [5 favorites]

Consulates are diplomatic offices in large cities. Embassies are diplomatic offices in a nation's capital. That's the difference, more or less.
posted by dfriedman at 1:40 PM on September 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Google the person (and Facebook, and Linkedin) and see if you can find an email address, then email them.

Ask for apfelkuchen in exchange.
posted by zippy at 7:25 PM on September 17, 2012

dfriedman: "Consulates are diplomatic offices in large cities. Embassies are diplomatic offices in a nation's capital. That's the difference, more or less."

Except in NYC there can be embassies to the UN. Which confuses the whole thing.
posted by Grither at 5:55 AM on September 18, 2012

According to Wikipedia, a diplomatic mission that has a permanent mission (like to a country's capital or the UN) is an embassy and is led by an ambassador. The office that handles personal and business paperwork and bureaucracy is a consulate and is led by a consul-general. You can find a consulate in major cities as well as part of the embassy as a hold.
posted by mmascolino at 6:29 AM on September 18, 2012

Except in NYC there can be embassies to the UN. Which confuses the whole thing.

Yes, this has long been the source of my confusion!
posted by elizardbits at 7:58 AM on September 18, 2012