About Us
Millions of dollars goes unclaimed by British Columbians every year. Forgotten credit union accounts, unpaid wages, overpayment to debt collectors, as well as unclaimed proceeds from courts, tax offices and estates.
In 2003 the Province of British Columbia entered into an agreement with Vancouver Foundation to administer the unclaimed property program. The services are now provided through the BC Unclaimed Property Society and controlled by Vancouver Foundation, while The Province of BC retains the governance role.
What is unclaimed property?
"Unclaimed property" refers to money being held by an organization who has not had contact with the owner for an extended period of time. Retailers, credit unions, utilities, corporations, insurance companies, and governmental entities are some of the many sources for unclaimed property.
Unclaimed property typically includes:
- Credit Union accounts
- Wages
- Insurance payments
- Court payments
- Intestate estates (death without a will)
- Overpaid debt collections
- Real estate deposits
Unclaimed property does not include:
- Physical property such as vehicles, jewelry, electronics, land, etc.
Where does unclaimed property go?
The BC Unclaimed Property Society holds the funds and publishes a list of unclaimed property on our website. We actively search for rightful owners of unclaimed property.
Unclaimed property is always available to its rightful owner. Some of our accounts date back to the late 1800s. If entitlement is verified, these funds would be paid to the claimant.
Each year, a percentage of funds that are unclaimed are donated to Vancouver Foundation for charitable purposes.
Learn more about our community support through Vancouver Foundation.