Public Service Announcement 2:

Did you know, in the state of California, that the Controller's office holds any unclaimed money you may have coming?

Stuff like, oh, lets say you had insurance with Auto Insurance Company. At some point you terminate your account because you're moving to another town and want something more local to your new residence. Unbeknownst to you though, AIC might have made an adjustment to your account and you ended up being due a refund of $(enter amount here). AIC mailed you a check, but since you moved, it doesn't end up in your mailbox and instead got returned back to AIC.

That's the kind of money that our Controller's office is holding for you!

It's very common for people to move and forget they have a bank account hanging out there with a small balance left. If you don't officially 'close' the account, then the bank really doesn't know anything except that you aren't using it day-to-day. The money just sits there until 3 or 4 or 15 years later, when the bank cleans up their stuff and shoots you a check to close your account. Only they're sending it to the last known address from 3 or 4 or 15 years ago.

Your money? Ayup. It's at the Controller's office!

Here's something else you may not be aware of: There are companies out there whose sole business activity is to keep an eye on the State's unclaimed property website and to notify anyone they can locate themselves. They let the person know there is money out there with their name on it, and this nice company will help them get their own money back . . . for a fee.

Some of these companies are legitimate, some are fly-by-night. Depending on your circumstances though, this service (and fee) could possibly be unnecessary.


The State Controller's Main Information Page.

The Unclaimed Property Search page.

The most straight-forward scenario for the easiest results is: Company ABC owes you less than $1000, and it is listed in your correct name with information that is easy to substantiate (mailing addy, etc.) Fill out the on-line form, provide the required documents and bingbangboom (plus several weeks) you get a check from the state. No fees deducted.

If you are claiming property on a decedent, then it's a bit more tricky, but still do-able.

If your claim is over $1000 then a notary is required, but again, still do-able.

So. What are you waiting for? Get the hell over there and start searching for your own money!!

Here are some search tips I suggest:

Try different spelling variations on your last name
Try searching for just the few first letters of your last name
If your name is common, use middle initial
If you ran a business (even sole proprietors) look under that name.
Bookmark the search page and search once a month!!
Search on behalf of family and close friends (the ones that wouldn't consider it snooping if you hit something and were to tell them to go look themselves)
Don't assume you're not on there.

I do this for my work, and every month there's another new claim listed. I search by the owner's last name only, his last name plus first name initial, the business name, the first few letters of the name, the OTHER business' name . . . you name it. So far I've found him $2199.08 between his personal name and the two different business' names.

I've found The Mike $78+ from his old mortgage company. His parents about $300 and one of his brothers a few hundred. My adoptive parents have a few hundred with The Farm Bureau and my real mother has a few bucks coming from a bank and from the phone company. If they don't follow up it's on them, but they know now.

If any of you reside in another state (HI HOLLY B!), go to your state's Controller website and see if you can search too.

Why the hell not? It's like free money, and who among us wouldn't love some free money?