FAQ
Q: Where does the unclaimed property come from?
A:The unclaimed funds that the Society holds can come from the following areas:
- credit union accounts
- wages
- insurance payments
- court payments
- intestate estates (death without a will and next of kin cannot be located)
- overpaid debt collections
- real estate deposits
Q: Is there a time limit in which to make a claim?
A: Unclaimed property is always available to its rightful owner. For example, we have several accounts that date back to the late 1800s. If someone can prove ownership, we return their property. Please note that the longer a property goes unclaimed the harder it could be for the individual to provide the required evidence.
Q: Will I receive earned interest with my property?
A: No, you will not receive interest earned on your property. Interest is not paid to claimants under the terms of the Unclaimed Property Act.
Q: Do you charge a fee when I claim my money?
A: No, we do not charge a fee for our services.
Q: Are you open to the public?
A: Our office is not open to the public. Please contact us by phone, fax, mail or email.
Q: How can I find out what kind of property/land you have?
A: When we refer to "property" we always mean money; we do not hold any land or any other material property.
Q: Are you part of the Government?
A: In April 2003 the Province of British Columbia entered into an agreement with the Vancouver Foundation for the delivery of these services. The services are provided through the BC Unclaimed Property Society and controlled by the Foundation. The Province of BC retains the governance role.
Q: Does each province have an Unclaimed Property Society?
A: No, the Unclaimed Property Society is unique to British Columbia. Alberta, Quebec Ontario have Unclaimed Property departments within their provincial government.
Q: How do you locate people?
A: The Society has access to ICBC, Healthnet and BC Online. These sites provide us with only an address, which we use to try and connect unclaimed property with rightful owners.
Q: If I received a letter from you, does that mean you have money that is mine?
A: Not always. When we search for people, we are looking for anyone with the same name as the name we have on file. It is up to the individual to provide the required ID and information to prove they are the same person listed in our database.
Q: What type of evidence is required to make a claim?
A: One piece of evidence which matches you to the property, plus two pieces of government issued personal identification.
How do I find out the dollar value of my property?
A: Due to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act we cannot release the dollar value. In order to appear on our website, the unclaimed property value is $50 or greater. Once entitlement is confirmed, you will be advised of the exact amount.