(PHOTO: State treasurer's office)
It was a good year for returning lost property.
The treasurer’s office exceeded its previous record of returning $32.8 million in unclaimed property. Wisconsin State Treasurer Kurt Schuller continues to dole out misplaced or forgotten property to happy recipients in the state. No matter how much money he returns to the rightful owners, Schuller says, he just keeps finding more. “I started out the year with $405 million; I gave back $33.5 million and I still have $411 million to give back.”
Schuller says more than 26,000 Wisconsinites got a check from his office this year, that’s money they didn’t know they had. So, where is the money coming from; what exactly is unclaimed property? “We’re talking about stocks that were bought long ago in the family name, bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, insurance policies that demutualized, bank accounts that you forgot about — you moved, utility deposits.”
Schuller says there are many ways people lose track of money, but relocation is a big reason. He says when people move, businesses or old employers might not know how to contact them. Schuller says he used facebook to track down a woman who had $225,000 coming to her. The treasurer’s office is currently working with the state Veterans Department to get a hold of over 4,000 Wisconsin veterans who are unaware of their unclaimed property.
Schuller’s office returned $33,891,714 this year, over $1 million more than last year’s record of $32,836,258. Begin your search immediately by accessing the unclaimed property database 24/7/365 or call 877-699-9211 to speak with a claims examiner.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:46