Decrease In Claims Contribute For Growing Piles Of Unclaimed Money

By Author: Nicole Anderson
Total Articles: 82
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The issue of unclaimed money is a much larger concept than most think. It should be best to be termed as a menace despite what one may think. The federal agencies, in coordination with the states, are trying their best to unite the lost or unclaimed property with their rightful owners. The state believe that ignorance and lack of knowledge are the primary causes behind the decreased turnover of unclaimed money every year.

If you have unclaimed funds or have a doubt regarding lost money in any of the states then know the financial institutions managing these idle accounts have to pass on the rights to the state after a specified period for safe custody due to the unclaimed property act. It is the responsibility of the states to locate the rightful owners, but above all it’s the duty of the owner to claim it back from the state following the procedure. Some common cases that result in the accumulation of lost money with the banks and the states include items like forgotten bank accounts, unused gift certificates or cards, uncollected salaries, unredeemed insurance policies, stock dividends, safe-deposit bank contents ...
... etc.

Among the states that are dealing with the similar menace of lost property, New York is leading, with a pile which is estimated to be more than $5 billion. Even California is not far behind, but some safety precautions and measures that the state has established to keep a check on the growing pile have paid off as people are now turning up slowly in the state established booths to search for their lost property. The problem of unclaimed assets starts when a residence is changed without notifying the financial institution and, as a result, the savings with the bank stops earning interest after a brief period of time.

It may be true that now more people are turning up to claim their lost properties in the states, but the pile of unclaimed assets with the state treasuries are still increasing at an alarming rate. The states are trying to create a balance between the rate of reclaiming and the rate of increase in lost property but it is because of lack of knowledge among the people that the pile is still increasing.

Courtesy to the initiatives upheld by the state, Kentucky boasts of a $10 million return to its rightful owners this year. The state initiatives include a database that every state is now maintaining because of which, any person who has access to internet can search for his or her lost property in any corner of the state just by proving some personal details.

The states, in coordination with the federal agencies, have created a robust technique which is much simpler compared to the reclaiming process that existed earlier. State organized fairs in different parts of the state are educating people about unclaimed properties and their impact on the finances. These fairs serve people on a walk-in basis.