You can charge up to 15% as a South Carolina unclaimed money finder.
However, they do not make it easy to search for South Carolina unclaimed money.
If you live in South Carolina and want to search as a finder, it is probably better to search for money in another state.
Please see the below information from the State Treasurer to see what I am referring to:
“S.C. Code of Laws §27-18-360 et. seq of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act provides restrictions on agreements to assist in the recovery of property reported as abandoned.
The maximum fee that can be charged is 15% of the value of the property.
Additionally, agreements to assist in the recovery of property made within twenty-four months of the property being remitted to this office as unclaimed are unenforceable.
Please note that this section does not provide an exception to the Family Privacy Act requirements discussed below.
Under the provisions of the S.C. Code of Laws §27-18-240 et. seq of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, we are required to make the name and last known address of each person listed as the apparent owner of the property remitted to the State as unclaimed available for inspection during normal business hours.
If you choose to inspect the records at our office, please call (803) 737-4771 to make an appointment.
You can make a written request under the Freedom of Information Act for a c.d containing the names and last known addresses of the apparent owners of the funds being held by this office.
Please include a cashiers check or money order for $25, made payable to the State Treasurer’s Office, with your written request.
Please be aware that S.C. Code of Laws §30-2-10 et. seq. of the Family Privacy Protection Act prohibits the use of personal information obtained from a state agency for commercial purposes.
Commercial solicitation is defined as “contact by telephone, mail, or electronic mail for the purpose of selling or marketing a consumer product or service”.
Before we can release names and last known addresses of the apparent owners of property remitted to this office as unclaimed, we must have a reasonable assurance that these records will not be used for commercial purpose.
Therefore, if you choose to purchase the list, you will need to provide us with written assurance that the records will not be used for a commercial purpose.”
So, they are basically saying that you can purchase the list, but you can not use it to solicit anyone on it for commercial purposes.
This basically makes the list completely useless and there is no reason to get it for unclaimed money finder purposes.
If you want to read the complete Act please click on South Carolina Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
However, you will not find the Family Privacy Act information in it.
That comes from the Treasurers Office themselves.
Some things just don’t make sense and are not worth fighting. You don’t have to limit yourself to only finding South Carolina unclaimed money.
There are plenty of finder friendly states that you can search in even if you live in South Carolina.
They are just a postage stamp or phone call away, and that is all you need for this business.
If you are interested, please click here for more information on becoming an unclaimed money finder.
jesse mcgaha says
looking for assets for annie mcgaha
ann says
trying to find my hidden cash
moneyfinderbiz says
Ann,
Start at http://unclaimed-funds.org/ to search the states and then go to http://unclaimed-funds.org/free-search/ for other search options.