Holy Scratch, Mr. Moneybags!
Wow… I’m still kinda dumbfounded by this one. The Internet just proved to be something more than a porn and game delivery service! No, really! I’ll give you a second to stop laughing at me… seriously… shut up.
I’ll just launch right into this one.
I went out for a smoke and checked the mail around 5:00… am… yeah, night shift makes you do crazy things. Well… there was actually an envelope with my name on it that didn’t appear to be from someone trying to sell me insurance on my nonexistent car. It shows to be from U.S. Claims Service… so I wasn’t really that excited. I figured it was just another bill that I’d neglected to pay or one of the banks that I owe money trying to hit me up for my last nickel and left arm.
Upon opening the envelope, I read that, “we have located money owed to a EVERETT ABBOTT that once resided or currently resides at HC2 BOX 147S LIBERTY TX.”
Whoah… that is actually me! The information is real… so I read on. Apparently this company has no ties to the government (State or National) but claims that they are licensed in Texas with the Department of Public Safety. They go on to say that I am apparently owed a sum of $235.00 by Entergy Gulf States and it’s going unclaimed. Unclaimed money!! NOOOOOOoooo! Well… actually I laughed it off, because shortly after telling me what I was owed they tell me what they are owed for helping me.
Now… I’m an internet fiend and general pessimist. My first thought is scam and my second thought is SCAM! But… is it a scam that I am willing to spend $25 to test? That was my dilemma. Luckily, they gave me the option to use their website and my credit card to facilitate the money loss.
www.USClaimsServices.com is listed on the notice along with a fool-proof set of directions to help old folks part with their credit card information… but I am still wary. I use their web address to run a whois and google search to find that they apparently are a real business… there are a couple of complaints with the CA-BBB but nothing major… if you can believe it. But still (thine quivering lip), I am ever wary of parting with money… mainly because I don’t actually have $25 at the moment.
Once again, the internet and Google are there to save my ass… see, one of the sites that Google gave me was a Ken’s Blog. On this site I found a URL for Unclaimed.org, which took me to the Texas Unclaimed Property website. Within a couple of clicks, I was able to find that I was actually owed $235 by Entergy Gulf Coast. The site helps you fill out the claim form and either download/print it or have it mailed to you. Hell… I’m installing printer drivers as I type this so I can print mine and send it off…
I was so taken by this website that I proceeded to put in every person I know who has lived in Texas… and I actually found some interesting unclaimed funds notices… one person (Ms. Rabbit’s Sister) has several that add up to about $100… and there are a few that look like they could be my relatives. To anyone reading this, please… go to Unclaimed.org and check your local state for missing cash… I of course will be owed a 10% finders fee… in the form of a check or money order made out to “Lord Cash of Cashington 999 Cash Tree St. Cashburg, TX”… or… you know… PayPal or something.
Whoop! There goes the printer install! Lord Cashington, AWAY!