Unclaimed NJ property
If you are getting it from the state website, it is real. Usually, it's people who open up an account with a bank or mutual fund or whatever. Then, especially if it's a small amount, they forget about it and ---out of sight, out of mind.
My mom has such an account on file. It is an account that she opened up for her tenant's rent deposit/security. She went on to assisted living (memory care) and I didn't know about the account. Tenant was kicked out for non-payment of rent.
So, I get the notice and research it. The account is in her name and the tenant's. I have no idea how to contact him if he is even still alive. (common name.)
So $600.00 sits in the state treasury, unclaimed.
Then, there was W.C. Fields. When he was in vaudeville, he would tour throughout the U.S. He would open up a savings account in every town he played in and put $5.00 in the account. That way, he would never end up, "broke" in some town.
He lost many of the passbooks and others went south, during the depression.
The outfit that contacted you went through the State listing of unclaimed property and contacted people on it, hoping to get a percentage of whatever they could recover. You shouldn’t need them to recover what is under your name.
joan_crystal said:
The outfit that contacted you went through the State listing of unclaimed property and contacted people on it, hoping to get a percentage of whatever they could recover. You shouldn’t need them to recover what is under your name.
Yeah, I figured that out and I'm not going to use them. I submitted a claim on the state website.
drummerboy said:
So I got a letter from an outfit in Paramus telling me I had unclaimed property in NJ with an offer to help me retrieve it for the kindly sum of 20% of the total value.
I went to the state of NJ website for unclaimed property and sure enough there are 4 items that show up for me. There are no details except for my old NJ address. (I've moved to Ohio.) One of the items is actually under my son's name.
Anyway, I filled out the online claim form and am waiting to find out what this is about.
I have no idea what this could possibly be about. Has anyone else ever gone through this?
It's totally legit through the state website. I reclaimed property from a few states where I lived.
I think the most I got was ~$400 from an old bank account. Another was a payment for stock dividends that was pretty small.
I moved a lot between college and when I got married, so some of my statements did not keep up with my new addresses.
So, I got an email from the NJ site that said I would be getting a check for about $300, though it doesn't give any other details. Surprised that they didn't ask for more identity documentation from me.
They asked for documentation when I filed for a deceased family member. (I was executor of the estate.)
So, I checked out the state site and I didn't find anything for myself BUT, I did find some unclaimed property for my deceased Mother in Law who last lived in NJ 45 years ago. I wonder what it could be? Are these things usually some sort of tax return?
A few years ago, I filed for what I believe was a small amount through the unclaimed properties website. They sent me something that I had to get notarized, etc. I didn't bother pursuing it.
I just filed again. If they are going to send me the money without having to jump through those hoops, that would be great.
Thanks, DB!
GoSlugs said:
So, I checked out the state site and I didn't find anything for myself BUT, I did find some unclaimed property for my deceased Mother in Law who last lived in NJ 45 years ago. I wonder what it could be? Are these things usually some sort of tax return?
Could be anything, money left in a bank account when it was closed, interest or dividend from an investment that went unclaimed, rebate of some sort that was owed but not filed for...
We had a handful of checks from Blue Cross that we never cashed. I was able to get that money through the state website a few years later.
On a different, but somewhat related, note; the discussion above refers to financial property. I have often wondered about ‘merchandise’ that’s been left by the owner, often with a service, then wasn’t picked up. A couple of examples: clothes left at a dry cleaner, electric device(s) left for repair at a shop; in the old days shoes left for repair at a cobbler. A bit more current examples would be lawn mower or snow thrower. I recall there was a fix-it shop that sold used vacuums.
Anyone have an idea of what the repair shop owner has/can do in such a case? I did a quick search but didn’t find anything on this.
Before everything went electronic, both my cobbler and my shoe repair guy handed you a receipt or ticket with an explanation. I believe after 60 or 90 days if you didn’t pick up, they were no longer responsible. I assume items got donated and maybe they got a tax write off.
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
Is there a link to submit an inquiry?
My daughter and I recently dealt with this department in NJ. It was pleasant and fairly easy. We each got a nice pile of money we didn't know about.
Tom_Reingold said:
My daughter and I recently dealt with this department in NJ. It was pleasant and fairly easy. We each got a nice pile of money we didn't know about.
Yes, my experience was pretty easy too. Surprisingly so.
I went to the state of NJ website for unclaimed property and sure enough there are 4 items that show up for me. There are no details except for my old NJ address. (I've moved to Ohio.) One of the items is actually under my son's name.
Anyway, I filled out the online claim form and am waiting to find out what this is about.
I have no idea what this could possibly be about. Has anyone else ever gone through this?