State's billion-dollar 'treasure hunt' beckons
State's billion-dollar 'treasure hunt' beckons
GREG JONES and
THERESA CAMPBELL | Staff Writers
news@dailycommercial.com
Few know about "The Great Florida Treasure Hunt," but a handful of Lake County residents and organizations have been given a map.
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Unclaimed Property, holds unclaimed accounts valued at more than $1 billion, mostly from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings. Unclaimed Property also includes uncashed checks and tangible property such as jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles, from safe deposit boxes.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater recently announced 61,271 new unclaimed property accounts, worth more than $25 million, are being received as part of a settlement with AIG related to unclaimed life insurance benefits. This represents only the first of what is expected to be additional remittances to be made by the insurer.
"These new accounts represent dollars loved ones set aside to secure financial stability for their families. Holding companies accountable means these dollars will now be returned to their rightful owners across the state," Atwater said.
He urged Floridians to take part in what his office calls "The Great Florida Treasure Hunt." To search for or claim unclaimed property, visit www.FLTreasureHunt.org, or call 1-88-VALUABLE or 850-413-5555.
To check out the system, a Daily Commercial reporter accessed the web site and dropped in random names. While it doesn't say how much in assets are being held, it does list their sources and explains how to claim them.
One such listing was unclaimed money owed to Leesburg High School by Coca Cola Refreshments USA Inc.
"This is good news," school Principal Bill Miller said when he was told of the find. "You usually don't get calls like this. Give me a couple of days to look into this."
Chris Patton, the information officer for the Lake County School District, said the finance department will work with Miller and help him fill out paperwork to claim the funds. Other Lake County schools also are listed on the wib site.
"The finance department checks that periodically, and the department is going to help fill out the paperwork," he said.
"We were thrilled," said Jan Zacharchuk, executive director of the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, when told the chamber had unclaimed vendor checks from Chick-fil-A. "Now we are going to get it and life is good," she said.
The Daily Commercial also found Blue Cross & Blue Shield policy benefits owed to Dana Jones of Clermont; Philip Morris vendor checks neing held for the IGA store in Tavares; checks from the Jacobs & Goodman law firm awaiting the Leesburg Chiropratic Clinic; United Healthcare Insurance bebefits owed to John Whiteside of Leesburg; and accounts payable checks from the Schenck Company owed to the Umatilla Tavern.
Friday, January 18, 2013 - www.dailycommercial.com/18jan2013state