# Rewards

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 9, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005 "2000-01-09T23:12:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005/1 "2000-01-09T23:12:00Z")

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What if you offer a reward, for a missing relative, is it legally enforceable (sp).

Supposing you help find the person or whatever the reward is for, and the offerer later refuses to pay?

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**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005/2 "2000-01-10T00:00:00Z")

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All I can say is… Get ANY transaction down in writing! Especially if you need to be reimbursed for any expenses you racked up.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005/3 "2000-01-10T00:15:00Z")

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They can refuse to pay. Actually if you read the fine print on my reward posters you’ll see what you get isn’t what it says. Often, youll only get a certain amount to repay your costs involved. Check the fine print.

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**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005/4 "2000-01-10T00:42:00Z")

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This is a contract law question, and the answer turns on whether there is consideration for the promise.

In order for a valid contract to created, there must be an offer, acceptance of that offer, and consideration. Consideration is something of value given in exchange for the other party’s promise. The offer is the statement that a reward will be paid for finding the lost relative. Acceptance under circumstances like this need not be communicated to the offeror. The acceptance of the offer can be the performance of the contempleted task. Here, this would be assisting in finding the relative. That leaves consideration.

I haven’t researched this, but I think in most cases, consideration would be present. For example, you hear the reward offer, and search the woods, comb the desert, do a computer address search, or accomplish whatever else is necessary to find the relative. You succeed, and a happy reunion follows. Your work is the required consideration for the contract. The reward must be paid.

One exception would be if you are a cop or someone else already under a duty to find the relative. Since the legal duty was already there, your efforts would not be new consideration, and no contract would be formed.

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rewards/6005/5 "2000-01-11T04:49:00Z")

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Thanks Random, I never thought about the cop angle