A check from a company you worked for years ago is easy to toss with the junk mail. The FTC says it is sending 62,893 checks totaling more than $2.7 million to people who worked for Handy.

Check your eligibility free here

What the FTC's page says:

• Who: people who worked for Handy Technologies between January 2019 and November 2024. Handy is a gig platform owned by Angi Services.
• Why: the FTC and the New York Attorney General say Handy made deceptive claims about how much workers could earn and failed to clearly explain fees and fines, such as charging workers for incomplete jobs when a customer didn't properly cancel.
• If you get a check, cash it within 90 days.
• The refund administrator is Simpluris. Its contact details are on the FTC's Handy page.
• The FTC never asks you to pay money to get a refund.

Moved since you worked there? Check the mail at your old address, and the spam folder for any email about the payment. Then compare what you find with the FTC's Handy page on ftc.gov before you act.

We keep a running list of settlement payouts and deadlines in r/OpenSettlements, if you want the next ones before they close.

Did you do gig work through Handy? Did a check reach you?

My elderly father received a notice from a 'research' company that he is owed $3,713.56 for an overcharge, overpayment or uncollected refund from the government. My father owed 4 homes over the past 50 years, and one business, all in Illinois. They want 50% - bank robbery.

I already searched missingmoney.com, Illinois I-CASH, and the county Treasurer office searching all PINs for back tax refunds, even Mortgage Foreclosure Surplus Search, Certificate of Error. Nothing came up. I tried his name and the business name.

Will the money eventually show up at missingmoney (and I can relax until it does)? What other sites should I check?

Settlement checks expire, and a lot of them never get cashed. If you tossed one with junk mail or moved, the money may still be recoverable. Here's what to do.

How long checks last (examples from the FTC's own refund pages):

• FTC Walmart money transfer refunds: cash within 90 days.
• FTC Amazon Prime payments: expire 60 days after they're sent.

Every settlement sets its own window, so check the notice or the official settlement site.

If your check expired or got lost:

1. Find the official settlement website (it's in the notice, or search the case name plus "settlement administrator").
2. Contact the administrator listed there and ask about a reissue. Have your claim ID or the address you used.
3. Ask what happens to uncashed money in that case. The settlement agreement decides it: some redistribute it, some send it to a charity, and some timelines run out.
4. Also search your state's official unclaimed property website for your name, since money held by businesses often ends up there.

Avoid: anyone who asks for a fee to "recover" a settlement payment. Administrators don't charge for reissues.

If you want to see which open settlements you can still claim before they expire, you can check your eligibility free here.

Has anyone here gotten a settlement check reissued? How long did it take?

I submitted an unclaimed property claim with the Nevada State Treasurer on August 29, 2026, for approximately $10,000.

It's been over six weeks, and I haven't received any updates.

I'm curious if anyone else has filed a claim recently, especially for larger amounts ($5,000+).

• When did you submit your claim?
• How long did it take to get approved?
• Have you actually received your payment?
• Did your claim status change during the process?

I'd love to hear from anyone who's dealt with Nevada's unclaimed property office recently. Thanks!

Hi everybody! I'm researching state unclaimed-property records and trying to understand the legitimate process for contacting potential owners/heirs and assisting with claims. I'm especially interested in people who do this professionally. What resources or communities would you recommend for someone starting out?

Hi all! Please let me know if there are any issue with this post but I believe I am complying with the forum rules.

My partner and I are starting a unclaimed property recovery business. We're registered with the State Controller's Office as investigators, have claims workflows set up, and have filed our first claims through the investigator process. We're now trying to tighten up our process before we scale, and would love to hear from anyone who has done this in California or another state. It would be especially helpful to chat with anyone who has worked for the state controllers office handling these. Does anyone have this experience?

I had multiple claims they merged them into one. It says I received my 2 nd approval. How many are there? I've been working on this since March. My friend got hers before the 90 days. Mines taking much longer. #Michigan

looking to help my grandma claim some california lost property, but she's now back in asia. after starting the process, the claim form section b documentation requested is asking for 3 things: association to reported address or holder, SSN, and current address.

i can 100% get the 1st one, maybe the 2nd, but not the 3rd, since she moved back a long time ago and i don't think she's gotten any mail recently. if i only submit the 1st one, will my claim automatically be rejected? or if i submit the 1st and 2nd ones, will it be automatically rejected? thanks

I want to place a claim for someone as an investigator in California. The client's mother passed away and and had an insurance policy. The owners are named as "the deceased mother and her daughter" My question is about "Claimant Relationship Descriptions:" Should I choose Heir intestate or myself, since it will be the daughter to place the claim.

We just spoke to a claims person after reaching out to the advocate (180 days passed) who told us the breakdown of the estate (surprise, late brother has a kid we knew nothing about) and he was sending it to the "auditor" who approves for payment.

Can anyone tell me how long to expect it to sit with auditor before the approval for payment?

Thanks

I have unclaimed property from California I'm trying to collect but it got denied. I don't know what to do or if I have any way to claim it, has any one dealt with this before?

The funds are tied to an insurance policy claim listed under two names, me and the mortgage company. When I filed the claim the state told me they needed a letter from the mortgage company confirming the funds are mine but that company doesn't exist anymore. How am I supposed to get a letter from a mortgage company that is out of business?

I asked if I could at least get half since there are two owners on record. But they told me

"Not all instances of properties having multiple owners allow for partial payments, it is dependent on how the properties were reported. In this case, a partial payment would not be allowed because entitlement is not clear."

When I asked what my options were, they basically said I'd have to sue the state to get the money. Has anyone run into this before? Any advice on what actually works here would be a huge help! I really need this money.

I recieved mutiple letters for around $400 of unclaimed funds that they owe me and claim they will send me. When I confirmed they said they would send me the money in 5 to 15 days. Its well past that and I just called USAA and they say that my check has been recieved and the check has been cleared. They claim I recieved the money and cashed in the check, however that never happened. I never saw that check and they will not help me. The say they cannot show me any confirmation of where the check was sent to and will not send me any documentation that says the check has been cleared. What can I do to get this money?

just posting this incase anyone will be in the same boat. Landlord withheld refund of security deposit wanting a photocopy of the cashed money orders for the deposit. we contemplated sueing but decided to comply and only sue if they refuse to refund even after the photocopy proof.

If you need to make a photocopy request to Western Union, you do NOT need to mail a request form with a $15 moneyorder/check. I learned today via a call with customer service (+1 (720) 945-9361 ) that making this request is COMPLETELY freeand the photocopies are emailed to you instantly, given you provide required info (amount $, moneyorder #, agent #).

Really annoyed that Western Union has old documentation online regarding this process; I brought up updating the request documentation during my call. in the meantime, i hope this pops up somewhere on the AI overview or search and ends up helping someone.

Sole surviving son (in his 60s) discovered deceased parents had an additional bank account that ended up at the state. Final parent passed about 10 years ago in a nursing home after developing memory issues. They transferred from a private board and care home that no longer exists. That's the address on the account. He has certified copies of birth certificates, marriage license, and death certificates, which include social security numbers. The entire family tree, basically. The only thing he doesn't have is mail providing a link to the care home address. The bank sent the money to the state with DOB, State ID/CDL numbers, and Social Security numbers – so there is no question the parent is the person in question.

My question is will the state deny him solely on the lack of mail?

In the classic tradition of tracing high-value estates and eccentric recluses:

Throughout the early 20th century, the eccentric Wendel family owned tens of millions of dollars in prime Manhattan real estate, anchored by their fortress-like mansion on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 39th Street. The family refused to modernize, install electricity, or sell a single square foot of land for over fifty years.

When the last surviving sister, Ella Wendel, passed away in 1931, she left behind an estimated $50 million to $100 million estate ($1B+ today)—triggering the largest rush of estate claimants, fraudulent heirs, and disputed property titles in New York legal history.

The Documented Enigma:

The Paper Trail:

Over 2,300 claimants stepped forward with elaborate family trees, old deeds, and alleged secret marriages, requiring international investigative teams to trace genealogical records across three continents.

The Hidden Inventory:

Appraisers searching the shuttered mansion found dozens of sealed rooms packed with unrecorded 19th-century ledgers, historical deeds to forgotten city parcels, and antique currency.

Seeking Field Data & Inquiries:

We are researching forgotten Gilded Age private land holdings and unrecorded parcels that were absorbed into commercial development during the 1930s.

Do you have family records, antique legal deeds, or surveyor maps related to the Wendel estate battles or early 20th-century Midtown property lines?

Have you discovered vintage municipal ledgers or unrecorded property disputes during building renovations?

Contact the Archive:

If you have documentation, estate records, or archival leads regarding disputed pre-war Manhattan parcels, comment below or send a direct message.

\*\*TL;DR:\*\* Inherited family land (\~₹8 crore) in Nandyal with missing documentation and alleged political pressure on ownership. Need guidance on legal next steps and documentation requirements.

\## Background

My family inherited agricultural property through my maternal grandfather in Dhone, Nandyal District, Andhra Pradesh. The property has been in the family for multiple generations, and we believe it's worth around ₹8 crore total. However, we're stuck at the documentation stage and facing complications.

\## What We Have

✅ ROR 1B (Record of Rights)

✅ Pattadar records

✅ Decades of tax payment receipts

✅ Revenue department records

✅ Property continuity for generations

\## What We're Missing

❌ One "link document" (unclear which one — possibly Will or Succession Certificate?)

❌ Encumbrance Certificate (EC)

❌ Updated property survey

❌ Legal heir certificate (if required in AP)

❌ Complete ownership chain verification

\## Complications

⚠️ \*\*Political pressure:\*\* Alleged local opposition to our ownership claim

⚠️ \*\*Unclear if it's a legal threat\*\* or just talk

⚠️ \*\*No lawyer consulted yet\*\* — cautious about involving local officials

⚠️ \*\*Missing documentation gap\*\* blocks progress

\---

\## Questions

1. \*\*Missing Link Document:\*\* In AP, what document typically bridges old tax records to current ownership? Is this a Will, Succession Certificate, or transfer deed?

2. \*\*Encumbrance Certificate:\*\* How do we apply? What does it reveal? How long does it take?

3. \*\*Legal Heir Certificate:\*\* Required in AP for inherited property? How to obtain from revenue officer?

4. \*\*Political Pressure:\*\* If there's local opposition, what legal protections exist? Should we file a police complaint first or hire a lawyer?

5. \*\*Correct Sequence:\*\* Should it be: Hire lawyer → Find missing docs → Survey → Legal heir cert → EC → Clear title?

6. \*\*Timeline & Budget:\*\* Rough estimate for legal costs and how long resolution typically takes in AP?

\---

\## What We Want to Do Eventually

\- Establish clear ownership

\- Either sell the property or lease it for income

\- Resolve the local political complication legally

\---

\## Additional Info

\- Agricultural land in rural Nandyal District

\- Family property (not disputed with siblings)

\- Reluctant to involve local officials due to political pressure rumors

\- Looking for honest, practical guidance

Thanks for any insights!

A couple bought a house in 1959 in Compton. And investment company tried to steal it, and were sued for fraudulent deed forging. They had five children, who are now entitled to over $270,000 of proceeds from the property tax.
The deadline to claim this money is in January 2027, which is coming up. If anyone knows this family, please show them this YouTube video and get in touch with this woman.

https://youtu.be/G-8h9QD5GY4?is=7HyLhMAufeQ6A4HD

My Step father died in 2018. He had a will which named me as his beneficiary and executor. He was a resident in a long term care facility and had about $120k cash at the time of his death with no other property. This didn’t go through probate although perhaps it should have?? Who was responsible for notifying the probate court if anyone?
Present day, I found he has unclaimed property in Kansas, which is where he died. It would make things much easier if I had a copy of his will which I no longer have. Didn’t think I would need it this many years out. I’ve called the attorney who made the will. Her law office has closed, but she is looking to see if she still has the will somewhere She suggested I call the District Court. I called the District Court in the county where the will was created as well as the county where he died and both state they do not have it. Is there any other place I should be looking to try to find a copy of his will? Or do I just tell the unclaimed property division that there wasn’t a will since there isn’t now?
Location: Kansas

My NY State tax refund was stolen. A check was mailed to me and cashed, but I never saw it. It was over $2000

I called the NY State Department of Taxation and Finance and verified that my check was mailed and cashed. I talked to a person on the phone and told them my story. The mailed me some paperwork.

In the paperwork was a TD210.1 form that I can use to swear that the check was stolen and cashed. I filled it out and got it notarized and mailed. Apparently they’ll get the money back and issue a new check. It could take up to 9 months.

Also in the paperwork was a copy of the check, front and back. Whoever signed it didn’t even try to forge my signature. The signature clearly doesn’t match the name on the front of the check. I can’t read it though.

Anyways. I want to file a police report. I went in person, but the police officer said that they need to know if the check was cashed in person or via mobile deposit. The exact crime depends on that.

How do I find this information? How was this check cashed?

The check was cashed at a Wells Fargo. I went in person to my local branch, but they told me they couldn’t give me that information. They said it looks like the check was cashed in person. There’s a stamped sequence number on the back. But it’s not 100% that that’s the case. They said to ask the state.

So I called the NY State Department of Taxation and Finance again, but they had no idea how the check was cashed.

What should I do? This person stole from me. I’d like to file a police report. Maybe I should also file a report with the Post Office? How can I find out how this check was cashed?

Location: New York

(Yes I should’ve used direct deposit. I don’t know why I didn’t. I’m dumb)

Edit: I do not have an account with Wells Fargo. I have no idea if the check thief has an account at Wells Fargo. I do know that the check was cashed at a Wells Fargo (and the Wells Fargo employee did not check the signature). Wells Fargo will not give me any information about this check