USVI-On-Line

Did anyone catch Dateline NBC last night? They were doing a story on unclaimed property. One guy had over $1,000,000!

I searched today and, unfortunately, came up with nothing for me. But, I did find my father-in-law, my cousin, and a friend's husband on the list. Who knows how much they have coming! Check it out at...

Dateline.msnbc.com

And let me know if you find anything!!

I actually found my name on one of these lists a while ago. It turned out to be money I had taken out of the salary I got for directing a play at a University. Since the University was state run, part of my check automatically went into the state pension fund.

Since I am not a state employee, eventually my contribution was marked as "abandoned." It had been accumulating interest for all those years, and was a very funny surprise.

I do mailings for an insurance company who sends out letters asking people and pharmacies to claim never-cashed checks. Some are sizable. It's interesting.

Sadly, I am owed nothing.

What's interesting is that all three people I located on the lists are at the address listed by the state. I don't get that?? Why not just send a letter ot two to these people, I'm sure they'd like their money if they knew it was there!!

My name was on one of those lists a couple years ago. My step dad found it on a newspaper listing put out by the state of IL. It was some money that was in my fathers name & my name from years ago when he died. It was about $350 and overlooked for about 25 years! Was a small amount originally, but with interest it made it to the $350.

Tracy, I think it would be prohibitively expensive to mail a letter to everyone. There are tons of people with abandoned property. Here in MA, the treasurer's office publishes an insert that goes in the Sunday paper a couple of times a year listing all of the residents with unclaimed property. That's how I found out about my money. The Treasurer's office also has a website that you can search. Here's a link for MA residents:

http://abpweb.tre.state.ma.us/abp/frmNewSrch.aspx


If the non-cash abandoned property stays abandoned, it's eventually auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the state. Every once in a while the paper publishes photos of some of the stuff being auctioned---it's pretty interesting! Old coins, antique jewelery, etc.

Everyone just needs to check the state treasury web sites in any state they have lived or done business in. This can get tricky especially when it comes to life insurance and health insurance checks which end up in the Treasury.

Hubby recently got back about just over $3K from a state he hadn't lived in in nearly 15 years. It was pretty nice to get that back.

If you aren't owed any money its cause you are probably anal retentive like I am and don't let that stuff fall through the cracks to begin with.

In hubby's case it was for stock sales that he had COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT and were sent to the wrong address... um yeah.. that's why I pay the bills.

The other thing is to check for dead relatives too. Especially if you're an heir. You'd be surprised. Blue Cross had a check for my long dead grandmother that they had apparently tried to send her more than a year after her death. It was just sitting there. The family filed for the check. Wasn't a lot but $150 is $150.

So check your name (various spellings), your relatives names and check everywhere. You'd be surprised what comes up. You also have to do it periodically. Just cause there wasn't something there the last time you checked doesn't mean that stuff doesn't pop up occasionally.

Good luck!

Tracy, thanks for the tip!

I found an aunt's name on there that has been dead for many years. I lost touch w/ my cousin's that were her heirs so I printed out the info and snail mailed it to them. I was not included in her will so I feel that I did my good deed for the day!!!

Years ago I got some lost money that had been sitting in a state fund completely unknown to me. It's a real treat to get that money whatever the amount!

I hope more people will find something for someone they know and tell about it. Great link!!!

tracy,
thanks! my husbands name was on it! some sort of insurance premium refund. have no idea how much, it said but over $100 Cant imagine it would be too much more than that, but hey, maybe it's a dingy rental!

You did more than a good deed today! We have checked before (few years ago) and didn't find anything!

My uncle was on there also-so if he will return my father's call (one of THOSE family situations! ), he will have something coming to him also!

Thanks!

...

I am not sure, but i either discovered a mortgage payment that went the wrong way or some kind of something from way back when we refinanced....hmmmmm
thanks for the tip!

hm, my husband was on there, too. not surprising, since the dry cleaner is always calling to tell me he left money in his pants pockets!

Two accounts. Kool, maybe it will be enouh to fund a trip

This is really awesome - I'm so happy so many of you are finding money! Might be enough for a trip or even just a painkiller!!

Thanks, Tracy,

Just made claims in PA for my late brother and my other brother. They are for unclaimed insurance checks. We'll see what happens.