You can charge whatever you want as a Maryland unclaimed money finder!
The only provision in the Maryland unclaimed money act regarding Maryland unclaimed money finders states that any agreement to recover money that has been held for less than 24 months is unenforceable.
That’s about it.
Maryland doesn’t give much information on their website regarding unclaimed money or unclaimed money finders.
I had to contact them directly to get information. One thing that stands out from what they sent is that the dollar amounts are not shown on their unclaimed money list.
I must say, they do have a very friendly and helpful staff.
Here is what they sent when requesting information:
“This is in response to your request concerning “Maryland unclaimed money finder” activities and/or obtaining a list of unclaimed property owners.
I’ll begin by stating that there is no licensing requirement to engage in locating in this State. Section 17-325 contains the only provision in Maryland’s Abandoned Property Act which deals with these activities specifically. It states that all agreements to pay compensation to recover or assist in the recovery of property made with 24 months of the date the property is paid or delivered to this office are unenforceable.
You may purchase lists of unclaimed property owners, but I add a very important note of caution. Section 10-617 (f) (2) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland requires a denial of inspection of the part of a public record that contains “information about the finances of an individual, including assets…”. While lists of names and addresses may be purchased, for example, this statutory provision requires us to excise any information which purports to state the value or description of property. Such information would not be denied if requested by the owner or a duly authorized agent.
Lists would be available on computer print outs or tapes. For information on fees, I have enclosed a copy of the Comptroller’s Fee Schedule.”
Basically, what they are saying is what I summed up above.
As for the fees for the list, that is a little confusing:
They say there is a base fee of $500 per request, then .05 for each additional request over 10,000 requests.
Then there is a charge of .05 per request subject to a minimum $225 charge.
If you want to read the whole Maryland unclaimed money price list be my guest, but it seems like you’re spending a lot of money on a list that has no dollar amounts.
It turns out to be a crapshoot.
My advice if you live in Maryland and want to become an unclaimed money finder…just look in other states.
For example, we’re in New York. However, we don’t search in New York unless requested to by friends or family because there is no dollar amount listed.
Instead, we look in places like Alaska, Colorado, California, etc.
I am suggesting that you do the same.
If you are interested in becoming a Maryland unclaimed money finder, or a finder for any other state(s), and would like to learn more about this great opportunity, please click here.
How do you find numbers from people you find off of the list
Hunter, there are many ways but we start off with a Google search and see where it takes us.
There are also sites like whitepages.com where you enter the persons name and see what information it gives you.
You Perform What’s Known As Skip Trace- truepeoplesearch(.)com is free.
-Good Luck!-
Hello , I live in Maryland and worked for a collection agency in Delaware before and what we used to do is go onto the comptroller’s website on a android smart phone and enter a last name screen shot and then just print the whole page . Free. Lol they were very cheap.. I also found out that they have a site for pension and retirement lost forgotten funds as well . The ones we did were well over 2 years old. Would it be more credible and trusting if I was to get licensed and bonded ? With collections I had my FDCPA license in all states and that is not given to just anyone . I was 1 out of 2 of us that had it. Can someone be licensed and bonded in all the state’s ? Do you know how much it would cost me to do ?
I do not know if you can get bonded it all states. The only state I am aware of that requires that is Vermont. As for licensed, you can register with many states and if you are a private investigator many more, but the states do not require a “license” specifically.
Hello Mark,
I purchased your Ultimate guide yesterday and I’m in Maryland. Do I need to register with Maryland even if I don’t plan on doing there? Or do I just register in the states I want to focus on? What states will you recommend a beginner starts in?
You need to register your business in Maryland, but you do not need to register as a finder there if you are not searching there. Yes, it would be only the states you are searching in that require that. CA is easy to get started in, but not the easiest in dealing with people. Ohio and Arkansas are good states and it is easier to deal with the people there. That has been my experience, but yours may differ.
Hello Mark I was wondering, how I would go about finding US Saving’s Bond’s. My late Aunt never married and had no children of her own. Back in the 1960’s she bought saving’s bond’s for my older brother, myself, and my younger sister. My brother and his wife took my Aunt into their home until she died. but before she died my sister in-law told my Aunt that she should make her the Executor of her Will and Testament. So my Aunt did this. They are money hungry people. I haven’t been in touch with them for many of years. I’ve tried to contact them but to no avail. there is two key factor’s. #1 my Aunt told me she had savings bond’s for me when I was12 years old. #2 My Real mother also told me my Aunt had savings Bonds for my brother, myself, and my sister. Thing is my brother is by my mothers first marriage making him my half brother. my mother remarried and had me. she divorced my father, and remarried again. Which is where my younger sister comes in. My brother of course got his Savings bonds and cashed them in. but I never received mine or any acknowledgement. Concerning my saving’s Bonds. I Do know my half sister had to keep hounding our brother and sister In-law until they gave her some money to shut her up and leave them alone. also none of us are on speaking terms. Mark if you could give me some idea of what to do on this matter I’d Greatly Appreciate your help. I had planned on putting these bonds into my son’s account. Not so much for myself. I’m now 62 years old. I’d rather my own son have them. but I’m lost here. Thank you Mark for listening. Mr. John Robert McCauley.
John,
This is where you would normally go to search for Savings Bonds, https://www.treasurydirect.gov/news/pressroom/pressroom_comtreasuryhunt.htm , but you will need social security numbers.
Thank you,
Mark
Hi Mark my question to you is would you sell your information in Manuel form.My printer is broken so I can not print out the material.If you were to ship it out how much would it cost. Thankyou mike
Michael,
You will need a printer anyway for this business so it will probably be better just to get a new printer and print it out. It would probably be cheaper than if we had to print it up and mail it out.