Lost Monies - How Do I Find It ? - July 2006

Are you completely sure that all the money you have ever been entitled to is accounted for? If not, then we have the tools to help you check.

The Business Recovery and Insolvency Business Unit of Lawler Partners is charged with maximising the return to creditors by realising assets. One of the easiest ways in which this can be done is by searching a couple of different websites for what are termed “LOST MONIES”. We have had great success in identifying monies long forgotten.

Below are the two major websites for NSW residents in relation to searching for lost monies.

ASIC’s Fido Website - www.fido.asic.gov.au

You can search ASIC’s consumer based website which lists unclaimed monies relating to the following:-

Banking - money from banks, credit unions and building societies

Life - money from life policies held with insurance companies and friendly societies

Company - money from the compulsory acquisition of shares resulting from takeovers.

NSW Office of State Revenue- www.osr.nsw.gov.au

You can search the NSW Office of State Revenue (“OSR”) website which lists unclaimed monies including dividends, principal and interest, trust account funds, expenses, refunds and overpayments, deposits, premiums, unpresented cheques, distributions from liquidations, proceeds of sale, royalties, commissions, creditors, debentures, convertible notes, superannuation benefits and retirement savings account benefits.

The OSR was the previous repository for unclaimed monies from banks up until 1989 for banks and 1999 for credit unions, building and friendly societies. Subsequent to this ASIC has become the principal body responsible for collecting the unclaimed monies and maintaining the listPlease also note that if you have had any dealings in or resided in another state of Australia, then could also search the following websites, some of which maintain lost monies registers:-

Australian Taxation Office - www.ato.gov.au

ACT Public Trustee - www.publictrustee.act.gov.au

Department of Treasury, Western Australia - www.treasury.wa.gov.au

Public Trustee of Queensland - www.pt.qld.gov.au

Public Trustee (NSW) - www.pt.nsw.gov.au

South Australian Treasury and Finance - www.pt.qld.gov.au

State Revenue Office, Victoria - www.sro.vic.gov.au

HAPPY HUNTING