Unclaimed or lost money refers to funds that have not been successfully returned to their rightful owner.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as moving house, changing your name, opening a new bank account, or simply overlooking an account or payment.

Even with the best record-keeping, it’s easy for funds to slip through the cracks. If you’ve ever changed jobs, relocated, or forgotten about a cheque, superannuation, or a deposit, there’s a chance you could have unclaimed money waiting for you.

A Money Recovery Agent (MRA) assists individuals and businesses to recover unclaimed funds securely and efficiently. At My Refund Finder we prioritise transparency and your peace of mind by adhering to the following practices:

• No Upfront Fees: We operate on a 100% No Win – No Fee basis, which means you only pay us if we successfully recover your lost money.

• Clear Fee Structure: Our fees are clearly outlined in easy-to-read Terms and Conditions, ensuring no hidden surprises.

• Bank Account Security: At no point do we ask for your bank account details to transfer recovered funds. Once your money is recovered, we issue a trust account cheque in your name, so you can deposit it directly into your account.

• Transparent Process: In most cases, the government authority releasing your funds will notify you directly with details of the total amount being released to us as your agent.

• Timely Disbursement: After receiving the funds, we deduct our agreed fees and forward the remaining amount to you within 14 days.

Our goal is to make the recovery process simple, safe, and fully transparent for your complete confidence.

At My Refund Finder, our mission is to locate and reunite the rightful owners with their lost or unclaimed money. Our experts use a variety of openly available and legally compliant sources, including government databases and public records, to identify potential claimants.

If we’ve reached out to you, it’s because our research suggests you may be entitled to unclaimed funds.

Rest assured, every step of our process is conducted ethically and in strict compliance with Australian and international laws that protect your privacy and rights as a consumer.

We prioritise your security and transparency throughout the claims process:

• No Bank Details Required: We never ask for your bank account details. Once your funds are recovered, we issue a cheque in your name, giving you full control of your money.

• Registered Australian Business: Our ABN is clearly listed on all documentation and on our website, allowing you to verify our legitimacy for peace of mind.

• No Win – No Fee Guarantee: You only pay us if we successfully recover your funds, ensuring a risk-free experience.

We believe everyone deserves the chance to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, and we’re here to make that process simple, secure, and stress-free.

Most definitely not!

We understand that in this day & age that is something to be wary of!

That is why we ensure that we have systems in place to help you feel comfortable in working with us.

✔️ When we submit the claim for your lost funds, the holding authorities require a signed letter by you to say you authorise us to work on your behalf as refund agents. Therefore, there is full transparency from the very beginning of our relationship between you, us & the holding authority. The holding authority will also send you emails of the claims progress as it is being processed.

✔️ We are legally bound by the law as an Australian business to follow financial regulations. It is an offence under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to give false or misleading information or documentation. We are also legally bound, as an Australian business to return all unclaimed monies owed to you - minus our fee as agreed upon in writing.

✔️ We have a legitimate Australian ABN which we work tirelessly to remain untarnished with a solid, trustworthy reputation in this sector.

✔️ You can call us anytime on our business phone number to discuss what we do, or to follow up on your claim. We are also happy to hop on a zoom call so you can see us & get to know us. In fact Taylor loves getting on zoom & having a chat!

✔️ Our Director, Suzanna Bartlett is a practicing, CPA, Financial Accountant, so her reputation is very important to her.

✔️ We will NEVER ask for your bank details - once the money is released into our trust account, the bank verifies that we have the correct paperwork from you to withdraw your unclaimed funds & then we can issue you a trust account cheque.

✔️ No win - no fee.

Privacy laws prevent us from sharing the full details of the funds until we verify that you are the rightful owner. This ensures the security of your personal information and protects your claim.

Unclaimed money can arise in many ways, such as unpresented cheques, dormant bank accounts, unclaimed superannuation, company takeovers, rental bonds, local council refunds, share dividends, or insurance policies. These funds are held in trust by law until claimed. However, there is often a time limit, after which the money may become government revenue.

If we’ve contacted you, it’s because we believe you have unclaimed funds waiting. Once your identity is confirmed, we’ll work to recover these funds on your behalf and reunite you with what is rightfully yours.

If you choose not to claim your unclaimed funds, they will typically remain in a government account. However, depending on the authority holding the money, there is often a time limit before the funds are absorbed into government revenue, making them unavailable for recovery.

For those who prefer not to claim their funds for personal reasons, we offer a unique service to donate the money to a charity of your choice. This option provides a meaningful way to ensure the funds are used for a good cause, bringing satisfaction to many of our clients and making a positive impact.

The time it takes to recover your funds depends on various factors, including the location of the funds and the specific government or institution holding them.

• For funds located in Australia, the process usually takes approximately 8-12 weeks once we have submitted your claim.

• For overseas funds, it can take several months due to varying international processing times.

As we are often working with busy government departments, response times can vary and are beyond our control. However, your expert, Refund Specialist will routinely follow up with the relevant authorities to minimise delays and keep you informed every step of the way. Our goal is to ensure you receive your funds as quickly and efficiently as possible.

To claim unclaimed funds, you must provide certified copies of documents to meet the requirements of the holding authority. These typically satisfy two main criteria:

Proof of Ownership: You’ll need to establish a connection to the original postal address linked to the funds. Suitable documents include a driver’s licence, rates notice, utilities bill, or correspondence from a financial institution, accountant, or solicitor.

Proof of Identity: Examples include a certified copy of your birth certificate, passport, driver’s licence, or other official identification.

If the funds belong to a deceased estate, a certified copy of the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration will also be required.

Each case is unique, and requirements may vary across holding authorities. We’ll assess your situation and provide clear guidance on the necessary documents to ensure a smooth claims process.

A certified copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been signed and stamped as a "true and correct copy" by an authorised person, such as a Justice of the Peace, doctor, lawyer, accountant, or public servant.

Certified copies are required to verify the authenticity of the documents used to support your claim. This ensures that only genuine and accurate information is provided to the holding authority.

Keep in mind that each authority may have specific requirements for who can certify documents, and we’ll guide you on the acceptable certifiers for your claim.

Government departments sometimes request additional identification or details after a claim has been submitted. This is a normal part of the process to ensure the rightful owner is verified and the claim meets their requirements.

We understand that this can feel like an extra step, but it’s essential to adhere to government specifications.

Rest assured, we work diligently to gather and submit the necessary information to ensure your claim is processed as swiftly and smoothly as possible.

If the funds are not successfully recovered, you won’t pay a cent. Our service operates on a 'no win, no fee' basis, meaning we only get paid when we achieve results.

We take on all the risk, so you truly have nothing to lose. For added peace of mind, this guarantee is clearly outlined in writing as part of our Terms & Conditions at www.myrefundfinder.com.au/terms, for your records.

While you are welcome to attempt the claims process on your own, we cannot share our information with you due to privacy regulations. As part of our due diligence, we must verify your identity and ownership of the funds before proceeding.

The process of recovering unclaimed money can be complex, and we have established connections with the relevant departments and streamlined processes that make it easier and faster for you than if you were to attempt this on your own. Most clients prefer to leave the work to us, especially since we only charge a fee if we successfully recover the funds. Our fee is is payable only once you have received your funds. There is no risk in engaging our services, as you only pay if we succeed.

From experience, most people abandon the self-recovery process of unclaimed funds due to the complexity & document heavy process which can be time-consuming & overwhelming for a lot of people! Consider us your project managers & we guide you on everything that needs to be done & do most of the heavy-lifting in submitting your claim.

There are no out-of-pocket expenses for you to reclaim your lost funds, and you won’t be asked for any payment throughout the entire process. Fees are only due once your funds have been successfully recovered and are deducted directly from the claim proceeds.

Once we receive the total amount of funds from the relevant holding authority and they are cleared, our fee of 20% is deducted, and a cheque for the remaining balance is sent to you.

First and foremost, if the company has asked for your bank details to ‘deposit’ funds directly into your account, this should raise concerns. At no point during the claims process will we ask for your bank account details (unless you specifically request a direct deposit). We issue a cheque for the recovered funds so you can deposit them into your account yourself.

When choosing a company, here are some important questions to ask:

• If the funds are never recovered, and I’ve hired the company, am I still charged any fees?

• How and when are the fees paid?

Finally, ask yourself: Are they a good fit for you? Do you feel comfortable with the company, their answers, and their professionalism? If you’re happy with your choice, go ahead. If not, we’d be happy to help and would welcome the opportunity to reclaim your lost funds. Feel free to contact us directly using the details provided on our website.

Currently, there is no formal, legal regulatory body specifically overseeing the unclaimed monies sector in Australia. While there are some private organisations offering certifications and memberships in the field, these are not government-endorsed or legally required.

From the very beginning, you, as the Account Owner need to sign a document authorising us as your Money Recover Agents (MRA) enabling us to claim the money are your behalf, this means that the government authorities are aware of our part as your MRA, so at all times, our involvement is visible & transparent & therefore we are held accountable & legally bound by the law as an Australian business to follow financial regulations such as the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 . We are also legally bound, as an Australian business to return all unclaimed monies owed to you - minus our fee, as agreed upon.

At My Refund Finder we prioritise the highest standards of integrity and compliance with all applicable laws as mentioned. We ensure that all aspects of our process conform to these laws and other relevant financial regulations to protect your privacy and secure the handling of your funds. Your safety and peace of mind are essential, and we are fully committed to maintaining ethical practices throughout our operations.