These FAQ are aimed at providing answers to the most frequently asked questions. They do not replace the full acceptance of our Terms and Conditions.
What is an Owner?
An Owner is someone who... lost an item and created a listing on France Objets Trouvés.
What is a Finder?
A Finder is someone who found an item. It might be an individual or a Lost Property Office that is partnering with France Objets Trouvés to manage lost property.
What does France Objets Trouvés do?
France Objets Trouvés is a nationwide lost property database that connects Owners with Finders, through an advanced matching algorithm.
Why do I need to create an account before creating a listing?
Creating an account is necessary so that we can be in contact with you if your item is found, or if the Owner of the item you found is identified.
Why do I need to fill in my postal address?
We might need your postal address since there are Lost property Offices, partnering with France Objets Trouvés, that would rather contact you via postal mail.
Why do I need to fill in my date of birth?
France Objets Trouvés is limited to those over 18 years old at the time of registration.
Can everyone access my contact details?
France Objets Trouvés respects your privacy. Therefore your details are NOT published with your listing. However, if our matching algorithm confirms the identity of the Owner of an item that you have found, we will forward your contact details to him/her.
Are all lost and found listings of France available on France Objets Trouvés?
France Objets Trouvés mission is to offer a nationwide lost property database by providing both individuals and Lost Property Offices with a dedicated access. Therefore, more and more Partners are going to join and input information in the database.
At this stage, if your search provides no satisfying results, you might want to contact your local Lost Property Office to perform additional verifications.
I noticed there are various France Objets Trouvés websites. Which one should I use?
France Objets Trouvés database is shared bewteen various France Objets Trouvés websites. Your searched is therefore narrowed by date and localisation. No matter what site you are using, all of them will help reunite Owners with their items.
Where is my listing published?
Your listing is published on franceobjetstrouves.fr, and also on our Partners' websites, therefore increasing your chances to localise your item or to identify an Owner.
What are the differences between franceobjetstrouves.fr and 'partner'.franceobjetstrouves.fr?
Websites under the format 'partner'.franceobjetstrouves.fr enable Lost Property Offices from local governements or public-oriented corporations to manage lost property efficiently, and to offer their customers with a state-of-the-art web interface.
Franceobjetstrouves.fr aggregates all listings from individuals and Partner's websites. Your search is therefore not limited to strict postcodes or localisations.
I have lost or found an item, what should I do?
If you have lost or found an item, you should create a free listing on France Objets Trouvés so that individuals who created a listing, and Partners can contact you if your lost item is found back.
The listings I have accessed feature hidden caracteristics. Why is this?
Some caracteristics of the listings are hidden so that not everyone can access the full details of the listings. Only Owners will be able to confirm ownership by matching those hidden caracteristics and thus securing the return process.
My listing was rejected, why is this?
France Objets Trouvés can randomly moderate some listings in order to make sure they are not in breach with our terms and conditions. If your listing was rejected, you are wlecome to modify it and submit it again for approval.
Are all lost and found items of my neighbourhood on France Objets Trouvés?
Due to the number of France Objets Trouvés, we cannot confirm that all local lost and found items are featured on France Objets Trouvés. However, France Objets Trouvés proves to be the easiest way to reunite with your lost item found by an individual.
Why do I get more than one results after publishing my listing?
It is possible that various serach results are displayed after publishing your listing. This is because more than one item might match your search after item type, date, localisation and caracteristics are analised by our algorithm. France Objets Trouvés fully depends on what the Users actually inputed: When there is a doubt, we provide you with various results so that you can search manually.
There are no results displayed after pubIishing my listing, what should I do?
If there are no results for your listing, you have two options. (1) You can come back onto your listing on a regular basis and click on "Search from this listing" at the bottom left hand corner of your listing. (2) If a corresponding listing is created after you have published your listing, this user will review the search results in which your listing is displayed. We will contact you in case of a successfull match.
What is the link "Search form this listing" made for?
At any time, you can come back onto your listing in order to perform a manual search for results. However this is not compulsory since, if a corresponding listing is created after you have published your listing, this user will review the search results in which your listing is displayed. We will contact you in case of a successfull match.
What is the link "More results (extended area, extended dates)" at the bottom of the search results, made for?
It is possible that the item you are looking for has been moved, or that the dates are different form what you thought. It is also possible that an Owner thought the item had been lost in a specific place but it was actually found elsewhere. "More results" allowes you to extend the search criterias.
What is the matching process?
The matching process is the process by which France Objets Trouvés algorithm analises the caracteristics of two listings in order to establish a positive or a negative match.
Is the matching process automatic or manual?
The matching process can either be manually performed by France Objets Trouvés or automatically.
Is the matching process 100% reliable?
The matching process cannot be 100% reliable, since France Objets Trouvés fully depends on the contents inputed by Owners and Finders. However it provides a strong piece of evidence. This is the reason why final verification is always left to the Owner who will decide whether the item listed matches his search, before making the final decision to pay connection fees.
How can I be sure that this is my item before paying connection fees?
When the match is positive, the Owner is granted access to the whole listing, as published by the Finder. At that stage of the process, the Owner has the exact same level of information as France Objets Trouvés. Based on this, the Owner can thereafter decide to pay the connection fees to get access to the Finder's contact details.
I have confirmed ownership of an item in a Found listing, what kind of details am I going to receive?
Once you have confirmed ownership of an item, and paid applicable connection fees, if any, we will forward the name and email address of the Finder to you.
How is the return of the item organised?
The item return is organised directly by the Owner and the Finder. France Objets Trouvés is not involved in the return process.
I have my item back but it is not in working order, what shall I do?
Unfortunately, neither France Objets Trouvés, nor the Finder or the Lost Property Office can guarantee that your item is up and running.
Is the item going to be mailed to me?
France Objets Trouvés is not involved in the return process. If your item is held by a Lost Property Office, it is likely that you will have to collect it yourself. If your item is held by a Finder, the two of you need to arrange the item return.
Do I need to get the Owner to sign a receipt upon restitution?
France Objets Trouvés is not involved in the return process. However, we recommend you take all necessary measures to make sure that the return process goes smoothly.
How much does it cost to publish a listing?
Creating and publishing a listing is totally free.
Can I promote my listing or make it stand out?
France Objets Trouvés is not a Classifieds site. Therefore, we do not allow our Users to promote their listings. We rely on our algorithm to get the listings to match.
What are the connection fees?
Connection fees are due by Owners when they confirm that the item listed by a Finder is theirs, in order to obtain the Finder's contact details.
Can I offer a reward to the Finder?
You can choose to offer a reward to the Finder and state the amount in your Lost item listing. This might help the Finder do whatever it takes to make sure you reunite with your item. You can reward the Finder when your item is returned to you.
If my item is held by a Lost Property Office, should I pay connection fees?
If your item is held by a Lost Property Office that is partnering with France Objets Trouvés, you won't have to pay connection fees. We will forward you the Lost Property Office details so that you can get in contact with them.