People missing out on millions of unclaimed money because of difficult website and little publicity

SOUTH Australians are missing out on millions of dollars a year in unclaimed payments and refunds, which end up in the hands of the State Government. SEE WHAT YOU’RE OWED

Diane and Robert Mathews, of North Haven, is owed $739 by Simply Energy. Picture: Keryn Stevens.

SOUTH Australians are missing out on millions of dollars a year in unclaimed payments and refunds, which end up in the hands of the State Government.

The government has collected $26.6 million in unclaimed money owed to people or business over the past decade.

However, it has returned only $3.6 million to the rightful owners.

The money comes from a variety of sources, such as overpaid bills, unclaimed rebates, payments to farmers and contractors, and proceeds of the sale of properties for unpaid council rates.

Under the Unclaimed Moneys Act, companies and other organisations have six years to find the people they owe money to.

If that fails, the companies hand the money to the Treasury Department.

The department publishes the names of those owed money in the Government Gazette.

People and businesses can also search the department’s website — treasury.sa.gov.au/search-um — to see if they are owed money.

If the money isn’t claimed within a further two years, the government keeps it.

About 15,000 people and businesses were added to the list in the first two months of this year.

Government bodies are also missing out, with Origin Energy owing $8040 to Mt Gambier’s Mulga Street Primary School, $2290 to the SA Ambulance Service and $69 to the SA Housing Trust.

19/3/16. Diane Mathews, 69, of North Haven, is one of thousands of South Australians who are owed money but don't know it because the State Government makes no effort to find her. She is owed $739. Diane with her husband Robert. Pic: Keryn Stevens

Paralowie resident Peter Clarkson is owed $1406 by Origin Energy. He was unaware of the money until Messenger found his name on the list and contacted him.

He had never heard of the government’s website and said getting his money back would make a big difference to his budget.

“For sure, yes, definitely, because I’m a disability pensioner,” Mr Clarkson, 56, said.

He said the money was probably from his wife paying bills twice by mistake.

Semi-retired North Haven resident Diane Mathews, 69, said it was “appalling” that so little of the money was claimed.

Ms Mathews is owed $739 by Simply Energy, but could not find her name on the government’s website.

“It should be made much, much easier,” Ms Mathews said.

She has changed electricity companies five times and said the money was probably a rebate she did not claim.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Rob Lucas and independent MLC John Darley have called on the government to better promote the unclaimed money website and make it easier to use.

A Treasury spokesman said the website was easy to use and the department had not received any complaints about it this financial year.

He said there were no plans to change the website or the Unclaimed Moneys Act.

Find your money

Search below to see if you are one of the 15,000 people and businesses added during January and February.

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