2026 pricing guide
What Does It Cost to Recover Money You’re Owed?
For most people, checking the free state and federal databases yourself costs $0 — just your own time. The $59 Kit (one-time price) is optional: it’s done-for-you letters and scripts for the other places money hides, not a replacement for the free search. A finder firm charges a percentage of whatever they recover, only after the fact, and is never required for the free part of this.
Last fact-checked: July 20, 2026
| Question | $0 DIY state & federal search | $59 MYO Kit | Finder firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it costs | $0 | $59 one time | A percentage of what they recover — nothing if they find nothing |
| What you actually get | Free access to official unclaimed-property and federal databases | Fill-in letters, scripts, and a tracker for bank fees, medical bills, airline refunds, and more | Someone else does the paperwork and follow-up for you |
| When you pay | Never | Up front | Only after money is recovered |
| Does it search unclaimed property for you? | Yes — that's exactly what it's for | No — the Kit covers other money categories, not the state search | Yes, that's the service |
| Best for | Anyone willing to spend 10–20 minutes searching a few sites themselves | People who also want done-for-you tools for bank fees, medical bills, or airline refunds | People who don't want to do the paperwork themselves, on a specific already-identified find |
$0: the free databases
This is always the first move, and it's always free. MissingMoney.com is the official, NAUPA-endorsed multi-state unclaimed-property search, updated daily. Unclaimed.org is NAUPA's own directory, routing you to any state MissingMoney doesn't fully cover. Beyond state-level property, a handful of federal agencies run their own free databases for pensions, failed banks, VA insurance, and more. See our companion guide for the full, verified list. Sources: MissingMoney.com; Unclaimed.org
NAUPA says it plainly
“There is no fee to search for and claim your unclaimed property—if you use your official state program.” That's the whole cost story for this column: zero, with no catch, no time limit in most states, and no reason to pay anyone before trying it yourself. Source: NAUPA: is it really free to search
$59: what the Kit actually adds
The Money You’re Owed Kit is not a paid version of the free unclaimed-property search. It doesn't need to be, since that search is already free. What it actually is: a bundle of done-for-you tools for the other common ways people are owed money that don't have a single free government database behind them (bank & card fee reversal scripts, a medical bill dispute kit, an airline & travel refund toolkit, and more), plus a claim tracker to run each one to the finish.
The current price is $59 one time. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee: if you are not satisfied, email us within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked.
Don't buy the Kit expecting it to search unclaimed property for you
If your only goal is checking whether a state or federal database has money in your name, that's the free section above. Do that first, at no cost. The Kit earns its price on the categories of money that don't have an official free lookup tool.
The finder's cut, and when it makes sense
Most states allow licensed or registered “finder” or “locator” firms to charge a fee for tracking down unclaimed property and handling the paperwork. NAUPA describes the fee as “usually a percentage of the total find,” not a flat rate, and not something charged if they don't recover anything. Source: NAUPA: is it really free to search
How much that percentage can legally be varies by state, and not every state sets a cap. California is the one state we can cite a verified statutory number for: under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1582(a)(2)(C), a valid finder agreement signed after the property has already been paid or delivered can't exceed 10% of the recovered property's value. That's California's rule specifically. We're not generalizing it nationally, since other states set their own caps (or none at all). Check your own state's unclaimed-property office for the actual rule where you live before signing anything. Source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1582
When paying a finder's cut might still make sense
If a firm contacts you about a specific amount already sitting in your name (something the state itself may have already flagged) and you'd rather not deal with the paperwork, a legitimate percentage-based fee taken only from money you wouldn't otherwise have gone looking for isn't unreasonable. It's a worse deal if you were always going to check the free databases yourself anyway; in that case, the fee comes straight out of money that a 10-minute search would have found you for nothing.
What a finder should never do
Ask for payment before the money is recovered. That's the line the FTC draws between a legitimate finder and a scam impersonating one. A real finder's percentage comes out of the recovery itself, not your wallet up front. Source: FTC consumer alert, March 2026
Which one should you actually use?
Work through this in order.
- Start with the free databases, always: MissingMoney.com, Unclaimed.org, and the federal-specific ones. This costs nothing and takes about 10–20 minutes.
- Also dealing with a bank fee, medical bill, or airline refund fight, not just unclaimed property? That's where the $59 Kit adds something the free search doesn't cover.
- Already been contacted about a specific unclaimed-property match and don't want to handle the paperwork yourself? A legitimate percentage-based finder can be a reasonable trade, as long as you pay nothing until they deliver.
- Anyone asking for money before you see a dime, regardless of which of the above they claim to be? Walk away. That's the scam pattern, not a real fee structure.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free to search for unclaimed money?
Yes. NAUPA's own guidance states there is no fee to search for and claim your unclaimed property if you use your official state program, such as MissingMoney.com or Unclaimed.org.
What does the $59 Kit actually cost, long-term?
$59 is the current one-time price, not a subscription, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Does the $59 Kit search unclaimed-property databases for me?
No. The free state and federal databases already do that at no cost. The Kit covers separate money categories that don't have a free government lookup tool, such as bank fee reversals, medical bill disputes, and airline refunds.
How much do finder or locator firms charge?
It varies by state and firm. NAUPA describes it as usually a percentage of the total find. California caps it at 10% of the recovered property's value under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1582; that's a California-specific figure, not a national one, so check your own state's rule before signing a contract.
Should I ever pay a finder fee instead of just searching myself?
Only if you'd genuinely rather not do the paperwork on a specific amount already identified in your name. If you were always willing to spend 10–20 minutes searching the free databases, doing it yourself keeps 100% of the money instead of paying a percentage of it away.
What's the one rule that tells me a fee is a scam, not a real finder charge?
Payment timing. A legitimate finder is paid a percentage after they recover money for you. Anyone asking for payment up front, before you've received anything, is running a scam, not a real finder service, per the FTC's own consumer warning.