Christmas in July

While hosting a business radio show back in the 1990’s we would interview Carl McCall, then comptroller of the State of New York.  McCall, a former Ambassador for Jimmy Carter and an ordained minister had a sense of humor which made for good radio.  We would discuss the billions of dollars of unclaimed funds that were sitting in the state’s coffers and urged listeners to see if there was money to be claimed.  We did the interview in July and called the segment “Christmas in July”.  Ok, not an original title but the idea filled 20 minutes once a year.

I will come back to unclaimed funds in a moment…stay tuned!

The “Christmas in July” segment would be followed a few months later during the holiday shopping crunch when we would call the always helpful Radio Shack employees in the malls for the minute by minute crowd reports.  My theory was that if the always talkative Radio Shack guys had time for our call, the malls were not crowed.  Now my Waze app is certainly more efficient than calling Radio Shack and there are no more malls to drive to.  The new “Christmas in July” is Amazon’s big Prime shopping day (July 16 – 17 for those of you on another planet).

Despite Amazon making July theirs, I’m still reminded of the days we would notify listeners to search for their unclaimed funds.  So indulge me by pulling up your antenna and pretending that you are dialed in.  Imagine my voice and radio signal fading in and out and whatever you do don’t go in a tunnel or you won’t get the whole message.

Music up (Jiggle Bells)

Announce: “New York State alone has over $13 billion in lost money.  Every day the state returns over $1 million to those who file a claim.   Lost or unclaimed money gets turned over by organizations required to report dormant accounts to the Office of the State Comptroller. This money includes things like forgotten savings accounts, lost paychecks, and stocks or bonds.”

During the segment, I would type the names of every family member I could think of into multiple state websites in the hopes of hitting the jackpot.  My effort was always fruitless and I eventually I would run out of family tree.

Over this last Independence Day holiday, I went back to my state’s unclaimed funds website.  Some 25 years later I found myself filling out my name and preparing to click once again into disappointment.   I was reminded that the process has the same level of thrill and skepticism as a $5 slot machine in a Catskill casino.   Except for this time my name came up…twice.

Like most states, New York does not tell you the amount you have coming.  They will just list the source of the funds.  I am sure is not life-changing. However, the thrill of seeing my name come up twice was more than enough excitement for a holiday weekend without fireworks.  There was a forgotten stock distribution in an old trust company account and a rebate from a state settlement with a company I don’t even remember doing business with.  I have received my confirmation email from the state that my checks are in the mail.  Until I see the checks in my snail mail box I will keep the eggnog on hold in my icebox.  Merry Christmas and I hope you find something under your state tree.  Google your state’s “Unclaimed Funds”.

Examples of Unclaimed Funds Websites.

New York: https://ouf.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/?wicket-crypt=SLOqh3f3F_k

New Jersey: http://www.unclaimedproperty.nj.gov/

Florida: https://www.fltreasurehunt.org/

California: https://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_msg.html

Connecticut: https://www.ctbiglist.com/

Pennsylvania: http://www.patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/

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