Hi All, I just got a letter in the mail from US CLAIMS SERVICES stating that I have money sitting with the state. It's only a couple of hundred dollars but they want to charge me to get this money. Has anyone claimed money from the government before? If it's my money, I don't see why I should have to pay someone to get it. Thanks in advance
I don't think there is a charge to get it. This is probably a company trying to look official so the can get a fee from you. Most states have a website where you can see if they have money for you.
There is no charge to get the money. TONS of companies exist with "official" sounding names. They tell you they will get the money for you, for a %. The state does not go out of their way to notify you that you are owed money - these companies do. They bank on the fact that you will never know where the $$ is, so you'll take a % rather than doing the work. Start at your state's website (www.state.XX.us) where XX is your 2-letter state abbreviation. Do a search for unclaimed funds, etc. My brother had $600 waiting. He had moved and cancelled his car insurance, but had forgotten he had overpaid and the insurance co wasn't able to get in touch with him. Legally they had to remit the $$ to the state. He only found out about it because a relative saw his name published in the money-owed section of the newspaper. You fill out some paperwork, provide some proof, then get your $$.
Jeez, just go to the State of CA unclaimed property website and fill out the necessary info for free. I recently claimed a small amount and got the check a couple of weeks back. Go here: http://www.sco.ca.gov/col/ucp/
I got nuttin'. Which is good. For the halibut, entered someone else's last name - one of his (very, very, very late) uncle's got 203 unclaimed shares, (share for share exchange) - at 47.35 a share (as of this writing) - his widow's got 9612.05 in stocks she doesn't know about. My dad's sister's ex-husband's (recently deceased) wife (recently deceased) descendants can probably claim the 682.56. A roommate from 24 years ago is owed 35.42. Holy Cow! Another buddy is due 8.40!
