Show me the money
Finding missing cash could be as simple as getting online, writes John Rolfe
What do Scott Morrison and Karl Stefanovic have in common? Unclaimed money, and you could too.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is holding about $1.1 billion in lost shares, bank accounts and life insurance. State governments hold hundreds of millions of dollars of unclaimed money as well. ASIC has shares, bank accounts and life insurance. States hold funds from deceased estates, dividends, bonds, refunds and overpayments. Search the ASIC database and state registers on the federal government’s Money Smart site.
In writing this, I discovered I had unclaimed money. It wasn’t much, but it wasn’t hard to get back either. Searching my father’s name revealed he was owed five amounts.
Celebrities are also missing cash. Fashion designer Jodhi Tsindos, aka Jodhi Meares, is owed more than $2000 in two amounts, according to the NSW government state register. Former NSW Blues captain Paul Gallen has $437 to claim. It is from his former energy provider — yes, you guessed it, Origin. Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison appears to have allowed $610 slip to through his fingers, from a St George account.
Here’s a tip: if you’ve lived in different states try searching using the Victorian government service, as it lets you search every jurisdiction at once. You can reach it by typing tinyurl.com/ allstatesearch into a web page. You will still need to do a separate search on the ASIC database. Happy hunting.