Entitlement retrieval companies

[Bigcol]

BTW,
one was a Law firm in Melbourne
and the other was a Accountancy Firm in Brisbane

you guess which one was dodgy

[jff45]

yep, had the same thing once......... except 1 was registered in NZ....... with an Aust ABN.....

thats what gave it away............

also, you didnt say in you varied posts just WHERE did they find your money........?
and how come you couldn't find it????

that would have been the reason for people automatically calling it a scam.......

but, you knew that already probably

They're not likely to tell you where it is knowing that you can claim it yourself without paying them a commission.
It's their business to retrieve these sums for a payment.
If they're sending me letters it's because they know I can't find it in the usual online databases that are available to everyone.

[Bigcol]

in this day and age - EVERYTHING since 1975 and before is on the web somewhere..........
so unless you have a long lost Uncle (in Nigeria perhaps) or relatives in another country who have died, and left the money..... without a will or without know heirs

to me, "me thinks something fishy in Denmark" - or you wouldn't have asked the question on a national forum............

but if you however are sure they are up straight and ridgy didge, then contact them and give them your details or whatever you have been asked for
what have you got to loose????

your gaining a significant sum - or they would not have contacted you - my guess would be $50k or more.......

but I still think is sus myself......
and would be running it past any and ALL authorities I could think of...............

[the evil twin]

The process isn't suss Col.

In the first line of his first post the OP stated he had checked the businesses and he was happy they were legit.
I do the same when we get these letters and haven't had a dodgy one so far.
We found three lots ourselves (ASIC) but used the company for another one and a fifth we couldn't provide sufficient proof as it was too long ago and the amount wasn't worth the hassle in the end

It has become a major business because of Gov't grabs for the billions, yes, billions of bucks that was lying around.
I think the legislation enacted in 2012 or thereabouts gives the Gov't use of unclaimed money after 3 years now or somesuch.

I agree it is on the 'Net but finding the appropriate body or even knowing in the first place is the catch.

An example is a couple of posts on here where people have found "lost" money at ASIC albiet small amounts.
I suggest they probably weren't aware of the ASIC search until this thread.

Bottom line is my experience is Yes, the companies are usually legit and Yes the amounts are correct but you have to prove it is yours otherwise noone gets a cent

[bishbashbosh]

The poster didn't say how his identity was stolen.

Do you really believe that 2 legit unrelated companies who coincidentally come up with exactly the same amount of money have both set up these companies with ABNs, letterheads, phone fax & email info just to get a photocopy of my drivers licence to try to steal my identity with it?

Oh lordie - Im sorry - I seem to have rubbed you up the wrong way. I think you've taken my responses the wrong way..

I was only offering you my thoughts and looking out for you.

To be honest you do what ever you want with these companies and I hope you get what you're owed.. I don't think you'll get jibbed but I was only highlighting the possibility as in this day and age anything can happen..

That's all..

"Slaps forehead"

[Agronaught]

Dude,

You don't want peoples advice, don't bloody ask for it. You have made multiple posts in this thread that could be interpreted as hostile, the first time I've seen it on this forum.

Good luck.

[taslucas]

...............!

[jff45]

Dude,

You don't want peoples advice, don't bloody ask for it. You have made multiple posts in this thread that could be interpreted as hostile, the first time I've seen it on this forum.

Good luck.

No hostile intent whatsoever.

Please go back and read my 1st post. I clearly state that I have checked the companies and found them legit. I didn't ask for any advice on whether people thought they were scammers because I had determined that they were not.

I did ask if anyone had had experience with these types of companies i.e. Entitlement retrieval services.
Clearly, only one person had that experience and kindly shared it.

Might I suggest that you take a look at the other threads that I've started on this forum and tell me whether you think I've tried to be a productive member or not..

Edit: Your post was the 1st reply and you suggested I check with the ACCC. I immediately replied to remind you that I had checked them out to be legitimate businesses.
Could I have made it clearer using other words?

[Drewboyaus]

I wouldn't be using these services. I got a similar letter a while ago and instead went to the State Trustees office website in Vic and was able to locate all my money.
That is all they are doing but will charge you 20% for the privilege. The businesses are legitimate.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[jff45]

I wouldn't be using these services. I got a similar letter a while ago and instead went to the State Trustees office website in Vic and was able to locate all my money.
That is all they are doing but will charge you 20% for the privilege. The businesses are legitimate.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

Thanks for sharing your experience. I did all the possible publicly available searches before posting here.
If you don't use their service and you can't find it yourself then you simply lose out.. 80% of a couple of thousand you weren't expecting is better than nothing.

Of course they're legitimate. I've been trying to explain that across several posts..