Newspapers are Now Listing Unclaimed Money
The mound of unclaimed cash is far from depleated as personal memos, outreach programs and other methods of reaching every possible American is proving less effective. More forgotten cash is being recovered everyday than what is returned to the owners after much effort. In order to intensify the mission, various states in the U.S. are now listing unclaimed money in newspapers.
Newspapers have a very wide reach and are read by almost every American. If the campaign to return the unclaimed money rides on the intense penetration of the newspapers, then the states hope that it will result in increased awareness about the issue. Also, newspapers are helpful in reaching to the population staying in remote locations and not having internet and other publicity facilities.
States Seeking Newspapers’ Help
In an effort to return the millions of dollars of unclaimed funds to the state residents, Connecticut State Treasurer published more than 34,000 names in newspapers last year throughout the state.
In February, Texas published a lit of nearly 44,000 people who had some amount of unclaimed money or property in their name. Comptroller Susan Combs mentioned that the traditional statewide list of unclaimed property owners, usually published in October, has been replaced with six regional lists. She added that the regional unclaimed property lists produced 20 percent more claims than the publication of statewide list last year. Texas has returned $21.2 million to the owners so far.
Maryland Comptroller’s Office took the right decision and published an insert in Maryland’s Frederick News-Post. The 144-page insert contained the list of 60,000 identified owners of more than $42 million of unclaimed funds.
Colorado is another state that has decided to ride on the reach and popularity of newspapers by publishing the Colorado Payback list in Saturday’s newspapers. Colorado State has funds worth $50 million in the form of unclaimed cash and wants the individuals and businesses to understand the gravity of the problem. Through the use of newspapers, the Colorado government wants people to come out and claim any lost cash in their name.
Advantages of Newspaper Listing
States are realizing that publishing newspaper listings offers various advantages. First, the list proves to be very handy for the people who stay in remote areas and do not have access to internet. Secondly, the list published in newspapers can be referred to anytime. Thirdly, it can be carefully scrutinized.
Many senior citizens who are not comfortable with the internet and cannot visit the state treasurer office are finding it easier to go through the newspaper listings. Newspaper also publishes the details of the offices which can be contacted in case anyone finds unclaimed property in his or her name.
Online search is easier than the most people think, and the website www.cashunclaimed.com makes it easier to go through one of the largest databases in the world about unclaimed property. Those, who have an access to the internet can log on and search by the name of their spouse, relatives, friends, colleagues as well. The website also has plenty of useful tips to stake a claim and recover the forgotten cash in your name.
