Others charge to get this money. Members here do not.
You may have already gotten a letter about this. Companies that call themselves "asset recovery" or "locator" firms watch the state's lists of unclaimed money. They offer to get your money for you — in return for a share of it. If one of those letters showed up in your mailbox, you are not alone. Many members tell us they have gotten one.
These companies are allowed to charge. Under Florida law, Fla. Stat. 717.135, a recovery company can take up to 25% of money the state has held for more than two years. Once their costs are added in, the total can reach 30%. Most unclaimed money has sat for years, so the 25% share is the real-world case.
Here is what that share looks like in real dollars:
- On a $5,000 claim, 25% is $1,250.
- On a $20,000 claim, it is $5,000.
- If the money was turned over within the last two years, the share is smaller — up to 15%.
- For a small amount under $250, the charge is limited to $25.
Members of The Senior Desk pay nothing for this. Not a percentage. Not one dollar. We are not one of those companies. We show you where your money is listed and point you to the official state website. You claim it yourself, straight from the state. We never file a claim for you, we never act for you, and we never take a share.
These companies are not breaking any rule — they stay inside the limit the state sets. The point is simple: you do not have to give anyone a share to get money that is already yours.
Why this is the first thing the club does
The Senior Desk is a free club for seniors. The most useful thing it can do the day you join is look for money that is already yours, so that is where membership starts. There is nothing to buy and nothing to pay.
What found money means
Unclaimed property can include old checks, refunds, deposits, dormant accounts, and other money turned over to a state when the owner could not be reached. It is not a loan, benefit, or insurance product.
The search is free. If there is a possible match, The Senior Desk points you to the official state unclaimed-property website so you can review the listing and claim it directly with the state.
What happens next
Some members only want the found-money check. Others use the same relationship to ask about Medicare, final expense coverage, retirement timing, or what changes around age 65.
Insurance help is handled by Marc Nock, a licensed insurance agent, NPN 21010294. The found-money check and general education from The Senior Desk are free.