FAQ

• 1️⃣ Who’s who?

  What is a Loser?

  
  A Loser is a person who has lost an item.
  
  

  What is a Finder?

  
  
  A Finder is the legal term referring to a person or service that has found an item.
  What is the role of France Objets Trouvés?
  
  France Objets Trouvés connects people who have lost an item (the Losers) with those who have found it (the Finders or Lost and Found Services), through a shared database.
  
  France Objets Trouvés acts as a support, information, and networking platform.
  It is neither a public service nor a government authority and does not hold or handle the reported items.
  

   

• 2️⃣ Creation of your user account

  Why create an account before posting a listing?

  
  Creating an account is necessary in order to contact you when an item matching your search is identified, or to allow the owner of an item you have found to contact you.
  
  

  Why provide my postal address?

  
  Some partner Lost and Found Services contact owners by postal mail. Your address therefore allows them to contact you.
  
  

  Are my contact details published in my listing?

  
  No. Your contact details are not published in your listing.
  They may, however, be accessible to partner Lost and Found Services.
  If you post a found item listing, your contact details may be shared with the owner in order to arrange the return.
  

   

• 3️⃣ The different France Objets Trouvés.fr websites

  Are all lost and found items in France listed on France Objets Trouvés?

  
  The ambition of France Objets Trouvés is to offer a single database by providing management tools to lost and found services of local authorities, institutions, and partner companies.
  
  To date, not all lost and found items in France are yet listed on the platform.
  If your search is unsuccessful, it is recommended to contact directly the lost and found service of the relevant location.
  
  

  There are several France Objets Trouvés websites – which one should I use?

  
  All websites within the France Objets Trouvés network share a single database.
  Regardless of the website used, listings and searches are pooled.
  
  

  Where is my listing published?

  
  Your listing is published on franceobjetstrouves.fr.
  When it is published on a partner website, it is also visible on France Objets Trouvés in order to maximize matching opportunities.
  
  

  What is the difference between franceobjetstrouves.fr and autresite.franceobjetstrouves.fr?

  
  Websites such as autresite.franceobjetstrouves.fr are partner websites operated on behalf of lost and found services.
  They publish the items they manage directly and allow users to view lost item listings.
  
  The franceobjetstrouves.fr website aggregates all listings from the network.

   

• 4️⃣ Listings

  I have lost or found an item, what should I do?

  
  Post a listing on the website.
  
  

  How do I post a listing?

  
  

  1. Create an account via “Sign up”
  2. Select “I lost an item” or “I found an item”
  3. Enter the generic name of the item
  4. Complete the category and characteristics
  5. Review and publish your listing

  Your listing is distributed on France Objets Trouvés and across the partner network.
  
  

  Why are some characteristics hidden?

  
  Some information and photos are intentionally hidden to prevent fraudulent identification.
  If you are the legitimate owner, the matching system will allow you to contact the Finder or the relevant service.
  
  

  My listing was rejected, why?

  
  Checks may be carried out to ensure compliance with best practices.
  In the event of rejection, an email is sent to allow you to modify your listing.

   

• 5️⃣ Search results

  Why can multiple results appear?

  
  Several similar items may match your search (locations, dates, movements, similar characteristics).
  
  

  No result matches my listing, what should I do?

  
  

  • restart a manual search from your listing;
  • wait for a matching listing to be published automatically.

  
  

  What is “Search from this listing” used for?

  
  This link allows you to restart a search based on your existing listing.
  
  

  What is “More results” used for?

  
  France Objets Trouvés distinguishes between:
  

  • the most likely results;
  • extended results (extended dates, moved items).

   

• 6️⃣ Item identification

  What is a match?

  
  It is the process used to identify a similarity between a lost item listing and a found item listing.
  
  

  Is matching automatic?

  
  The system suggests matches, but validation is always human.
  
  

  Is matching 100% reliable?

  
  No. It depends on the information entered by users.
  The final decision always belongs to the owner or the holding service.
  
  

  What contact details will I receive?

  
  Once the match is confirmed, and after payment of any applicable fees, you will receive the contact details needed to contact the Finder or the relevant service.

   

• 7️⃣ Financial aspects

  Is posting a listing subject to a fee?

  
  No. Posting a listing is free of charge.
  Flat fees may be required by certain partner Lost and Found services at the time of return, according to their own terms.
  
  

  Can a listing be highlighted?

  
  No. Listings are neither ranked nor highlighted.
  
  

  What are management fees?

  
  These are flat fees that may be charged by certain partners to process the return (administrative handling, item handover, etc.), according to their own terms.
  France Objets Trouvés does not impose these fees and does not set their amount or conditions.

   

• 8️⃣ Item return

  How is the return organized?

  
  The return is organized directly between the Loser and the Finder or the holding Lost and Found Service.
  France Objets Trouvés does not intervene in this arrangement.
  
  

  Is the condition of the item guaranteed?

  
  No. France Objets Trouvés cannot guarantee the condition of recovered items.
  
  

  Is the item sent or handed over in person?

  
  This depends on the holder of the item.
  France Objets Trouvés does not intervene in this choice.
  
  

  Is a receipt needed upon return?

  
  It is not mandatory, but strongly recommended (return certificate or registered mail).