News+Culture >> Browse Articles >> Personal Finance
Cashing in on Unclaimed Property
Source: BusinessWeek
July 01, 2009
Excerpt ~ For households struggling to pay bills, billions of dollars of unclaimed money sitting in government coffers could be a welcome windfall. Tough times compel people to rein in spending, cancel pricey subscription services like premium cable, mail in product rebate receipts, and collect food coupons. But the aggregate savings from those activities could end up looking like pocket change compared to billions of dollars in unclaimed property being held in state controllers' and the U.S. Treasury's coffers.
VanessaAWilliams
4 months ago
342 comments
jes, do whatever you have to get your money, if you can find anyone you used to room with to sign something stating that fact with a notary and it will be a formal paper.
Vanessa
jespinoza1978
4 months ago
992 comments
yeah, the $500.00 is actually from an old bailbond that I helped an ex with. The addresses Ithe claim is under is kinda the problem.At that time I did everything in cash and was rooming with a couple of people and all the bills were in their names not mine. so it is hard to prove who I am , I guess to the state. Even though I have provided ssn, drivers license and other materials that state I lived there.
I am going to try again.
VanessaAWilliams
4 months ago
342 comments
hmm, I wonder why you had to fight for yours, but I guess it's like SSI, you worked for it but they want to hold on to it and refuse you until you fight for what's yours. Hey, jess good to know at lest you found out you had some out there, even though you can't readily get your hands on it.
Vanessa
VanessaAWilliams
4 months ago
342 comments
If you've not tried this you really should. Last year my hubby was as usual watching the news, NBC this time, and saw their report on unclaimed millions. I went to their site and saw a link to the State of California, typed in my name and nothing came up. While I tried the married name I had at the time and found 7 claims for me, that told over a hundred dollars. I had to submit forms showing that I was who I was and it was one of the times I was glad I was a pat-rack because I still had personal items with my information on them. I took awhile with California in their financial situation but this year I received two checks. The first one was months ago and I wondered why it was so short of the amount I was to received. Last month I received another check which had stock interest that was adding to the original amount so I ended up with more money than I had actually thought I was getting.
Vanessa
jespinoza1978
4 months ago
992 comments
I have like 500 in unclaimed property that is out there. I recently tried to claim it and sent in all the info that they said was necessary. They declined my claim.
So for those out there trying to get back what is yours be prepared to fight for it.