Did you know that you could have had money just waiting around for you to claim it? There are billions of dollars being held by state goverments going unclaimed. There are also lots (though probably not billions) of websites around that claim to be able to find it for you. To find this money, you don’t need a professional service, you can do it yourself.
Even if you’re budget conscious, there are all types of ways you could be owed money that you forgot or don’t know about:
Utility deposits, credit balances, store refunds
Uncashed dividend, payroll or cashier’s checks
Stock certificates, bonds, or mutual fund accounts
Life insurance policy proceeds
Undistributed wages
Checking and savings accounts
Gift certificates
Traveler’s checks
Safe deposit boxes
Royalty payments
Court payments or deposits
So why do people actually not claim money owed to them? Here is a list of reasons:
You have moved. Even if you left a forwarding address, moving is the number one cause of abandoned utility deposits and money in bank accounts.
You’ve changed your job status due to layoff, retirement or reassignment.
Your bank account has been inactive for more than 3 years.
You have stopped payments on an insurance policy.
You have an uncashed check older than three years.
You regularly throw away your mail without reading it.
An estate was settled for a deceased relative.
